My downsize is 900 or so square feet, essentially, and a single level house. But the front screen porch is not included in that total, and and basement is not either. Then I refinished the attic for guests. Well, at a point I realized I was not sleeping well downstairs, for a number of reason. I far prefer upstairs sleeping, curtains open, morning light streaming in. So I sleep upstairs, though the single bathroom is downstairs. I have so much extra useful square footage, that this feels like downsize light. Wis75, though I grew up in Arizona ranch houses, I can’t imagine life without a basement for storage.
DMD, a friend ended up with a knee replacement after moving to a single level house. She was not especially fit, and swore that moving to a single level house led to her knee surgery.
Snowball, your place sounds perfect. As long as you have single level entry, a potential sleeping space on that level and a bathroom, you are prepared for a health downturn or disability.
Perhaps knowing you won’t have much storage space makes getting rid of more stuff you really don’t use easier to do. Saves on the moving costs as well. Being home most of the time means being sure to have room to be separate and to be in different spaces.
We downsized last year and ended up getting a storage unit. Around our 1 year anniversary here I plan to go back through and reassess the things I needed to store. Some of it, like holiday stuff, must be kept. But extra bedding beyond what we have in the house, some furniture, and as always my grandmother’s china…
I just visited a friend who is getting divorced. She chose to leave just about everything in the house to her husband, and she says she’s happy without it. (After all the discussion here, I did think it was funny that one of the only things she did take was her mom’s China). We were talking about people who live in small places, and really enjoy “less stuff, more life” as a philosophy. i like the idea of it, but I admit I am struggling with getting rid of things as part of preparing for retirement.
An old friend and her husband decided to downsize to a 1BR condo @ 750 sq ft. from a 3000+ sq ft house. She sold her house within a month and is now giving away all her furniture, china and lots of antiques on her Facebook page, donating the rest. I don’t think I can do something quite that drastic.
I’m starting to plan a downsize for the near future. The maintenance of my home is killing me. I have to do it all myself and I finally had to start paying a bunch of different crews to do maintenance between large yard with high maintenance plantings, pool, constant clearing of garage (it accumulates too much stuff from my work), and on and on.
But, I’m interested if anyone else is having this problem. My D, who just graduated from college, is really upset that I might sell the house. I don’t see her living here as she establishes her career and I don’t see her ever being able to keep up the maintenance. I don’t think she has any concept of what it takes. She thinks I’m just being lazy and complaining about it. But the key problem is our home is on a very special and valuable piece of property and she thinks we have to keep it in the family. Well, obviously she wants to inherit it…but it’s making me feel guilty about it and second guess whether I should keep the asset. Maybe turn it into a vacation rental for income during retirement?
@coralbrook, that sounds frustrating for both you and your D. It’s tough when maintenance is high and you’re ready to downsize but the next generation isn’t quite comfortable with that and hopes the property will remain where it its so they can inherit it.
Our kids haven’t had to deal with this except they know that my folks are probably going to be selling their place in the “near” future. They enjoyed romping around the property with their cousins and both kids have some nostalgic sighs about it, but haven’t done anything beyond that.
@coralbrook Have you tried showing her the numbers on $ required for upkeep and maintenance, taxes, etc. vs. having the value of that asset invested? I get the nostalgia and all. That’s understandable but often people, especially young adults, just don’t get all the money and work involved. It might be a helpful and informative financial exercise to walk her through the numbers. Of course, that doesn’t even address the added stress and responsibility that comes with a sizable, higher maintenance property.
Another issue is that my home is the “gathering place” for my close friends. All of our activities, including our dance classes, happen here. I’m worried that my close friendships might suffer a bit. I don’t think the actual friendship will be harmed but our ability to get together almost weekly for fun stuff will change. I’ve got the house with “room” for cooking together and hanging out. I guess I’m scared of the changes and cannot even figure out where I would move.
Maybe I should just go straight into Sr Assisted Living and skip the middle ‘downsize’ step:)
My sister had dance classes at her house. After awhile, she switched to going to a studio so she had more flexibility about whether or not to attend. She still entertains quite a bit and has a great home for it. I’m sure you can find something appealing that would be easier and less expensive to maintain if you start looking.
@coralbrook Obviously this doesn’t help with the sentimental part, but based on what you have described there seems to be a good bit of room between where you are now and extreme downsizing. Could you find a house large enough to dance and entertain without the pool, high maintenance yard, etc.?
I desperately want to downsize but not to the extreme as some here - but I don’t think my kids have an issue as long as in town. But if you live on special property it’s harder. It’s likely a point in D’s life where lots is changing and mentally it is comforting to think that “home” won’t change - even though as you get older you realize home is not a building.
I host Thanksgiving for our family every year; it is my holiday and do not want to give it up! One of the reasons we went with the new townhome community, even with the driveunder garage, is there is a beautiful club house with full kitchen, big screen tv, lounge area and enough seating for my crowd of 24-30 once we add a couple of folding chairs and tables which I had to do at my old house. Plus, the clubhouse is within eyesight of our unit, so we will cook at home and walk the food over; we can also warm in the oven at the clubhouse. The best part is, I don’t have to clean my house after Yes, we will still have the dishes and trash, but someone else will have cleaned before my guest arrive, and will mop floors and such after; win win for me!!
@snowball Given the specific date of an event like Thanksgiving, do you ever worry about securing the club house for your exclusive use on that date? What if there are two snowballs in your community?
I have discussed it with the community, and will be contacting the HOA shortly. The joke was I wanted it in our sales agreement that I wanted to rent it every year!
We can make do at the townhouse if it doesn’t work out, but it shouldn’t be a problem as the community will not built out for 3 years; we are one of the early birds.
Both my kids have talked about wanting to keep my/their childhood home. I built it when I was 22 and have now lived there for 35 years. Both were born and raised there and the extended family lives close by. My S is already in the DC/MD area and I expect my D might end up down that way as well. I do know neither will begin their adulting here, there are no jobs or opportunities. My house is in a beach community and will serve as a great vacation home if they can afford to buy it from me. Unfortunately, my real estate is basically my only retirement; I will rent it and live in the garage apartment for probably ten years or so, at which point it won’t make sense for me to be saddled with the property upkeep if they can’t somehow finance the purchase. First world problems.
Yes, we will still have the dishes and trash, but someone else will have cleaned before my guest arrive, and will mop floors and such after; win win for me!!