Downsizing Tips for Seniors
As we age, it’s common to begin having difficulty maintaining our homes, even if it’s the home we’ve been living in for many, many years. Perhaps the laundry room is in the basement, and arthritic knees make it difficult to go up and down the stairs. Or, maybe simply keeping up with the housework and yardwork has become an overwhelming task. There might even be rooms in your home that you just don’t have any use for and haven’t stepped foot in in months!
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it’s time to consider that downsizing your home and moving into a smaller home or apartment, or even a senior living community, might be a better option for your overall quality of life. After all, you’ve earned your retirement years, so isn’t it time to enjoy all that life has to offer without the worry of maintaining a home?
The Benefits of Downsizing Your Home
As mentioned above, one of the key benefits of downsizing a home is that empty nesters generally find they just no longer need all the space in their current home. Moving into a smaller home or senior community makes for an easier, maintenance-free lifestyle. You’ll find that you’re less stressed when you’re allowing someone else to take care of all those “do-it-yourself” types of tasks and repairs.
There are also certain financial benefits that come with downsizing. The cost of living in your current home is always on the rise, even when it’s appreciated in value. When the furnace or the roof needs replaced, for example, these are costly repairs that can take a toll on your bank account.
How to Start Downsizing Your Home
When you’re ready to downsize, remember that you don’t necessarily have to part ways with all your belongings. Renting a self storage unit for some of your more cherished items or the items you’d like family or friends to have someday is the perfect option. Here are a few more downsizing tips to keep in mind as you start going through your items:
- Get a floorplan for your new living space if possible. If you can get the dimensions of the new space you’ll be living in, this will help you create a plan so you’ll know exactly how much you can bring with you. You’ll know how much storage space you’ll have access to so you’ll know what types of things you might need to place in a self storage unit until further notice.
- Create lists to stay organized. Write down timeline for when you would like to get each area of your home de-cluttered and ready to move. Lists can also come in handy to keep track of what items you’ll be placing in storage, what items are going directly to family members, and what items you plan on donating or selling.
- Go room by room. It’s important to start off small and do your downsizing tasks in batches. Start with the closets in each bedroom, for example, and then start going room by room, organizing items into piles for storage, family, and donate/sell. Going through years’ worth of belongings is not a task that you should think you’ll be able accomplish in one day.
- Have the family help. Getting your family involved can be a rewarding experience for everyone. They’ll be there to support your decision to downsize, and you can designate certain items to them while you’re all involved in the task.
Get ready to enjoy your retirement years to the fullest extent by downsizing your home! You’ll potentially save money, reduce your stress, and create new memories in the years to come. When you’re ready to downsize, National Storage are here to help with a variety of storage unit sizes in our locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. Contact us today for more information!