Our home holds a special place in our
hearts. Especially if it's where our kids have grown up or where we have
experienced many of life's milestones.
We become connected to our space in far
more than just a physical sense. Our home is where we feel safe to be ourselves
and relaxed in our own skin. Where we can put on our ugliest track pants and it
doesn't matter in the slightest.
Inevitably though, there comes a time
when our existing home no longer serves us the way it once did. A large home
can go from being a place full of life and the beautiful chaos that goes with
it, to a burden that constantly requires cleaning and repair, with rooms you
haven't entered for months.
What was once our safe space can become a
weight on our shoulders. A never-ending to-do list of jobs that are always just
a bit too hard to face today.
It's at this point that thoughts of
downsizing come to mind, instantly followed by contrasting brainwaves of
doubt...
"Wouldn't
it be nice to have a smaller place that wasn't so much work! / But what if the
kids want to come and stay and we don't have room?"
"I
wish our life was more simple, we have so much stuff! / But where do I even
start trying to declutter?"
"We
really need a smaller place that's easier to get around / But I don't want to
move away from family! How am I ever going to find something I like!"
Many owners end up in this merry-go-round
for years. Moving is hard at the best of times, but throw in a lifetime of
memories tied to an existing home, not to mention a house full of furniture and
nicknacks, each requiring a decision (keep / donate / throw away) and it's easy
to understand how inertia wins the day and moving remains a pipe-dream that
feels a million miles away.
Don't lose hope
It is possible to win this battle and
move forward. You moved to this home once and you can do it again. And as the
old saying goes, home is wherever you are.
And you might as well live somewhere you enjoy. Somewhere that works for your
lifestyle. A place that will suit you for the next 10-20 years, so you don't
have to move again anytime soon!
Key steps to a successful
downsize...
Visualise
the end result
One of the reasons we end up staying in
our existing home is that every day we are surrounded by reminders of why
moving will be hard. To counter-balance this, you need to be able to visualise
an ideal outcome.
Start going to look at houses in your
area that would suit your needs, even if you aren't ready to buy anything yet.
Do this so you can find a visual representation of what good would look like
for you. Once you have that, it's easier to start tackling the de-cluttering
jobs, knowing where your hard work is helping you get to.
Ask
for help
You don't have to do this on your own.
It's ok to ask for assistance. Whether it's family, friends, student job search
websites, or local handyman services. There could be people in your life right
now who are dying to help you make this transition but are waiting for an
invitation to help.
Get
the conversation out in the open
It isn't easy to encourage a relative or
friend to consider downsizing. No one wants to be offensive or cause upset. So
if you are harbouring thoughts on downsizing in the future, open that
conversation up to other people in your life. They might be thinking the same
way. Ask their opinion and talk about your concerns. We often get better at
solving problems once we voice them out loud.
Avoid
making assumptions
Sometimes we presume something won't work
before we have access to all the information. For example, downsizing owners
often get concerned that a move could leave them homeless, not realising that
in this market it is often possible to secure long settlements, up to 6 months
or more, providing you with plenty of time to secure the right home to suit
your needs as a cash buyer.
Considering
your options?
Contact us today to arrange a free,
no-obligation consultation. We can answer any questions you have on the selling
process and provide tips on how to add maximum value before going on the
market.
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