It can be hard to decide when to downsize. But there comes a time when your home may not be the right fit for you anymore. Here are signs you should downsize to a new construction home so you can gauge whether it’s the right time to make the change.
You’re Finding it Difficult to Maintain the Property
If you’re currently living in a larger home, you may find the maintenance and upkeep required can become a lot for one or two people. From cleaning and lawn mowing to fixing repairs and painting, everyday tasks can be demanding, especially as you age.
While you could hire lawn services, handymen, and cleaning people to help manage household tasks, those things can cost quite a bit and add up quickly. This is money that could be spent on hobbies, traveling, or simply spending more time with your loved ones.
It’s true – every home will require work that lies outside your physical comfort level at some point or another. But if you’re regularly struggling to maintain your property, downsizing may be a good choice.
You Have Empty or Unused Space
Maybe your little birds have flown the nest, leaving behind their bedrooms with items that are tucked away and left unused. Or your home office has been abandoned since you retired.
While these spaces can hold memories (and redoing them can be costly and time-intensive), empty spaces can increase housing costs, especially in a climate that requires seasonal heating or cooling. If you’re not going to convert those empty rooms into functional spaces like a workout room or cozy library, you should consider downsizing.
Your Home No Longer Suits Your Needs
While it can be nice to age in place in a home that has so many memories, you may begin to experience challenges as you get older. These challenges can include:
- Walking up and down stairs
- Large walkways and long driveways that require shoveling snow
- Mowing large lawns becoming difficult
- Cabinets or storage spaces that are too hard to access
- Bathtubs and showers without grab bars
- A steep driveway that can be a fall risk
As you get older, it’s important to make sure your home works for you as you begin to feel the signs of aging. By downsizing into a new construction home, you can ensure your home has all the features you need (and want) to age in place safely. You can ensure your home is one level, has a walk-in shower with a bench, and hallways large enough to accommodate a wheelchair if ever needed.
Your Career/ Family Doesn’t Tie You to Your Location
There are many reasons you could be tied down to a location, such as your job requiring you to come into the office or wanting to be in a preferred school district for your children.
But since the pandemic, more employees have been working remotely from home. As long as you have a solid internet connection, you can work from anywhere. This allows people to live wherever they want. And when your children have grown up and left home, there’s no need to live in a preferred school district, opening up your choice for a new location in a less expensive neighborhood.
You Want a Lifestyle Change
Maybe one of the biggest reasons to downsize is you want a lifestyle change.
Sometimes, it’s a lifestyle change that is thrust upon you. Like when your kids leave home or you go through a divorce and no longer need the big house without a full-time family. Others could be welcome life changes. Like downsizing for retirement or increasing your travel, and you need a small home to suit these changes.
No matter the reason, homebuyers of any age can experience a lifestyle change that can mean downsizing their home is the right choice.
Let Us Help You Downsize into the Custom Home of Your Dreams
Downsizing can be an intimidating task. But when it’s into a new construction home, it can be a very welcome adventure! Your new construction home can ensure you’re getting a home tailor-made for you, so you can have your ideal age-in-place features or other customizable features ready for you when you move in. Not to mention, this new home will mean there’s less maintenance to deal with when you move in (since appliances and systems are new). If you’re ready to downsize and build a custom home, our team is ready to lend you a hand.
At Ridgeline Homes, we don’t just build you a house; we build you the beautiful custom-design home of your dreams. We help you make your vision come to life and will assist you in choosing the perfect lot in Montrose, Colorado, all the way down to the small details, like knobs on your cabinets. We also schedule several walk-throughs throughout the building process and send you notifications when milestones are achieved. Let us show you how simple and enjoyable custom homeownership can be. We’re ready to start this exciting process with you.
