As you approach retirement, you may be thinking about downsizing and moving to a smaller home. Maybe you’re already an empty-nester and you just don’t need a large home anymore, either for practical or financial reasons. To decide if you’re ready, consider three factors.
House is Too Big
You may have needed a big home when your kids were growing up. Maybe you had three or four bedrooms, a huge family room, and a spacious backyard for running and playing. Now, do an honest assessment—how many of those rooms do you actually use?
Most single people or couples only need a bedroom and bath, a kitchen, and a living room. You might also need a guest room or hobby room. But if most of your house is empty most of the time, it’s time to think about downsizing.
Cleaning Becomes Tough
The trouble with having more rooms than you need is that you still have to clean them all, even if you don’t need them. If you neglect them, dust continues to accumulate, and cobwebs grow in the corners. You might have a sudden realization that your house has become too big while dusting a bathtub you never use or dragging a heavy vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs. Then there are the chores that are hard on the body and involve bending, reaching, and getting down on the hands and knees. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to downsize.
Can’t Keep Up with Repairs
As you grow into retirement, you may find that you can’t—or don’t want to—keep up with regular maintenance or make expensive repairs. Most retirees have less income than they once had, and they don’t want to spend their extra money on plumbing and painting. Other empty-nesters and retired homeowners are just too busy to worry about constantly working on the house. They want to travel, spend time with friends, and visit their grandchildren, not spend hours each week mowing the lawn.
Downsizing to a smaller home means less house to clean and maintain. When it’s time to sell, consider the benefits of selling to a cash buying company. Compared to a traditional sale, it’s faster and easier. You could be on to the next chapter of your life in no time.
Ready to sell your Utah house and move on? Click here to see the advantages of selling to a cash home buyer.