Advice for Seniors Looking for a New Home

12/12/17  Author – Brittany Fisher  http://financiallywell.info/

Image via Pixabay

Seniors, as you approach your golden years you may look around your current home and realize you don’t need all of the space or stuff you accumulated over the years. If you want to find a new house, there are several things to take into consideration when planning your move. As a senior, you have different needs when it comes to family, location, size, amenities, and modifications. Ask yourself…

• Do you want to move closer to family or friends?

• Did you always see yourself moving out of the city now that you are retired?

• Do you think you’d enjoy a warmer climate to pass your golden years?

It’s all about making decisions and finding what you need to ensure a better quality of life as you get older.

Picking a Location

Once you’ve decided why you want to move, you can have a better idea of the general location to scout. However, there is so much more to consider. To simplify your life, it’s important to always take how easy it is to get around into account when searching for a new home. Whatever neighborhoods you look at should have ample access to the places and people you need.

For instance, if you are someone who needs to see a specialist on a regular basis, you don’t want to live somewhere an hour away from your clinic. Similarly, you want to find a place close to your grocery store, golf course… wherever it is you want to go on a regular basis. As we age and our senses deteriorate, it’s best to reduce the amount of driving we do. Finding a place with all necessary services and amenities nearby cuts down on your time on the road significantly.

Finding the Right Home

Figuring out the size of house you need starts with evaluating what you are taking with you. This is where decluttering and downsizing comes in. Go through your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t need or want to take with you. Invite family and friends to come over and take whatever they want to keep and send the rest to a charity shop.

Be ruthless with your clean out: unless the thing brings you joy when you place your hands on it, it goes. Remember: the less stuff you have, the less stress. Also, the smaller your new place, the more affordable your future lifestyle will be. Getting rid of the excess things is an investment in a better future.

If yard work becomes more and more difficult as you age– or if you never really like it anyway– look for a place that doesn’t have much of a lawn or garden that needs maintenance. It’ll be one less responsibility and financial strain for you to worry about. If you can’t stand the idea of living without a little bit of greenery out front and love to garden, check out these “no mow lawns” that require less back-breaking maintenance and costly water.

In addition to things like changing your lawn, there are many modifications you may need to make in your new place. People with mobility issues should avoid places with stairs. However, if there are minor steps here and there, you can install ramps for safer access. You may also want to consider senior modifications in the bathroom and kitchen. Accidents are much more common in these two rooms.

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Life, Simplified

Seniors in their golden years often take this time of life to downsize and find a new home. Having less stuff and a smaller house means less stress and lower living costs– perfect for older people who want to make things simpler. When finding a new home, seniors need to take accessibility into consideration. Whatever it is they want to be doing in their day to day lives, they need to be closer to it. In addition to location, finding the right home takes a bit of work. To get an idea of the size of home needed, get rid of everything so you know how much space you’ll need. Consider finding a place with no lawn or modifying one to have a low maintenance lawn. Modifications are pretty common when seniors buy a new home, so include those possible expenses in your budget.