The Ultimate Guide to Downsizing in 2020
In this article we look at some tips for the ultimate guide to downsizing in 2020.
19/02/2020
Everyone is looking towards living a fulfilled life. This may involve a lot of moving, realigning your dreams, and making crucial decisions that will work towards making unrealistic dreams achievable. Countless are the times when you have to grapple with home maintenance issues, including constant repair costs, not forgetting the increasing utility bills at the end of every month. These get you thinking… “ should I get a smaller house?” Well, downsizing has different meanings for different people. It may mean doing away with that expensive storage facility that is housing your not-so-expensive belongings.
Having some space you can call your own that is not costing you an arm and a leg can seem far-fetched. But then again, you have to consider the anxiety that comes with dealing with your landlord and the stress of urban life. As the name suggests, downsizing means trading your home for a smaller and less expensive home that is more affordable depending on your needs. Of course, you’re bound to face the costs that come with moving, not forgetting the various moving challenges and difficulties. But this shouldn’t send chills down your gut yet because in this article, we’ll look at some tips for the ultimate guide to downsizing in 2020.
1. Before Downsizing, Plan!
Making decisions on the go is a risky business that could see you lose money and waste time while in the process. The first thing you’ll need to do is set clear and realistic goals when it comes to downsizing. You may be living alone and this can help make things a bit easier. But if you’re with family, you’ve got all the more reasons to include everyone in your plans. This will help to eliminate conflicts down the road. One thing to note is that packing your home into boxes is easier said than done, but it’s a challenge that can be avoided by early preparation.
The first thing you’ll want to do when downsizing is to look for reputable home sellers in your area or the area you’re considering moving into. For a fast and smooth transition, Brant Philips from HoustonCapitalHomeBuyers.com suggests working with property investors who buy and sell homes for cash. This way, from mobile homes to tiny conventional homes, you’ll have a wide range of options to choose from. Planning early will also help you avoid the many fly-by-night troubles associated with moving. Before you buy, you can even take up a rental mobile home as you get your moving sorted out by allowing more time to find the ideal home for you.
2. Downsizing Means Maximizing On Space
If you’re moving from a bigger house to a smaller one, you’ll, of course, have to deal with your many items that may or may not fit in your smaller living space. The layout of the new house may not provide you with the elbow room you need. This means carefully selecting what you bring into the new house and what you leave outside. But don’t fret, there are always solutions to what may seem overwhelming decisions. For instance, before moving, you may decide to sell some stuff, donate, or ultimately trash some.
3. Setting up New Utilities
Every move requires that you set new utility accounts and close the old ones. When downsizing, you’ll need to move into a smaller home apartment. Let’s face it, bigger is not always better. Bigger means more costs; more utility bills, more maintenance tasks, and repair costs. Moving into a smaller apartment may help in lowering your monthly utility bills and home maintenance costs. Changing your utility accounts is not a complicated business. This will involve notifying your utility providers of your new move by sending them your new address and canceling the previous addresses.
4. Deciding On Your Lifestyle Needs
Before you get busy on downsizing, you must decide on what’s important and what’s not in matters relating to your lifestyle. Downsizing means opening a brand new chapter in your life that may either work towards making your life better or worse. However, this will be dependent on the decisions you make before downsizing. The lifestyle you’ll want to embrace will also play a significant if not important into your desired living space.
5. Seek Help
The easiest way to get things going is to seek professional help. Downsizing means moving from bigger to smaller. This may significantly affect you psychologically, meaning that you may need some counseling before making any move. In addition to this, it may be that you have no idea about your next move. There are agents out there who are willing and ready to point you into the right path. They’ll show you cheaper house listings that are affordable and in addition to this, they are qualified in this area and know what you need.
If you're looking to make a move that will see you relocate into a smaller space, then this article is for you. But there’s a lot that goes into downsizing than meets the eye. It’s a stressful ordeal and a time consuming one for that matter. However, the above pointers will help point you in the right direction by providing you with the insights you need before downsizing.