When to move?

We took the decision at age 73 to move to a 2 bed retirement flat from a 5 bed home in a huge garden. We chose a large village with all the necessary facilities and good transport links to two cities.
The development has communal areas where we can gather for events if we choose. We have chosen to also immerse ourselves in village life to meet people outside the development and get to know different age groups.
We travel quite a lot and treat the flat as a lock up and leave.
We got rid of all our big furniture and many possessions which we found liberating.
So we feel we have future proofed, removed any stresses and worries and given ourselves time to settle in to our new life in good time.
If the worst happens to one of us then the other will have so much less to deal with and be part of a supportive community.

We moved two years ago and had thought hard about future-proofing. So we have a smallish house in the inner suburbs of a small, flat, city. We managed to squeeze a shower into the downstairs cloakroom, and the room I use as an office can be turned into a downstairs bedroom. The bus into the city centre is just round the corner, as is a small Coop, and the doctor, dentist and pub are all within ten minutes walk. There is a smallish garden which we could afford to get mown by someone else if necessary. The stairs are a straight flight and could accommodate a stairlift if needed. At some point eventually we - or one of us - might need a flat, but for the time being we've got easy enough living.

Franbern that's sounds perfect. Is it on the south coast? Chichester?

I come from the SE coast and would love to move back. But the next move needs careful consideration. Where my sister lives in the SE could be perfect. Small town near the sea but not walking distance. Good trains to London where one daughter lives. But I haven't told my sister yet!!!! Anyway decluttering to do first.

I was 62 when I made the move from our Edwardian, 5 bedroomed family house to a 3=bedroomed, thirties attached house. Mind you, just half a mile away. My son and Daughter in law had been living in the family house with me (separately), for a few years, so first they had to find somewhere to move to.

It was suggested to me then to look at flats and I was horrified at the suggestion, I like living in a house, with a back andfront garden etc.

Really loved the house I moved to (although one of the first jobs I had done was a loft extension so daughter (and ever increasing family), would be able to visit and stay with me. I lavished work on it, I was still working and the house was my main hobby. Really believed for several years it would be my final home.
Then, as I went into my later seventies, I began to regard the stairs )particularly in the evenings) as if they were Everest!!!! Only had a small garden there, but last few years needed a gardener- I never had a cleaner, and did manage housework myself, but it became more and more of a chore.

I did think of a stair lift - but these have limited use if you live by yourself. (cannot send heavy items or washing up or down on it if there is no-one at the other end to remove that). By the age of 78 I came round to the idea of living in a flat.

In fact I moved 150 miles away to a flat in a small seaside t own. Gorgeous, large, airy flat - in the centre of that town, so close to everything. Despite some of my children being concerned about this move, I loved flat living from the day I actually moved in, and found living in a small town wonderful in retirement.

It was hard at that age to move more or less by myself. My children were helpful, particularly on moving day at each end, and the one who has lived in that seaside town for many years have been wonderful over the past (nearly) five years I have been here.

I love my flat and my location, on my mobility scooter I can reach within less than ten minutes, beach and promenade, park, theatre, museum, library, station (trains direct to London), Bus Hub where every bus in the town stops, High Street shops. Dentist - two minutes away, GP 15 minutes away, Hospital two miles but bus from right outside flats goes to main entrance there.

And the advantages of living in such a healthy air town.

That's an excellent suggestion about photographing the rooms and their contents HelterSkelter

Also whoever suggested measuring furniture before you view properties.

I don't have grandchildren so I was able to pass lots of the games and toys, I had saved ready for them, on to a neighbour with 4 children. Only keeping one sweet little dolls house.
Likewise with furniture I "inherited" from my parents. Not to my daughters taste nor would fit in their style or size of house.
So these pieces and our 50 year collection of mainly second hand furniture will have to go. And it is a wrench. But go it must over the next year or so. I would like to feel that someone would appreciate it all as we did. But it's too big a job to expect our daughters to do the clearance at an unhappy time so better it goes and leaves the house a bit empty but maybe easier to clean.....and note to self not to buy another thing until I or less likely DH finally downsizes. I am going to ask my younger daughter to photograph each room and the contents of cupboards so that they can both decide if there is anything they would like to have or have special memories. I'd it's just special memories and they haven't got space at least they can have a photo for a memory.

M0nica
Have you chosen Cambridgeshire which would be midway between Hertfordshire & Yorkshire on the A1 corridor?
There are some lovely little towns in & around Cambs & Lincs , especially places like Stamford 👌

That's like here Sara54. Because the ceilings are high we have inherited huge bookcases and sideboards, wardrobes and dressers which wouldn't fit anywhere else.

In turn the contents with their dinner services, books and games are probably valueless to anyone else.

Although I know it will need to go eventually, is this part of the clearance before sale or general decluttering?

I notice when viewing houses on-line that most have a few pieces of furniture left to demonstrate scale or perhaps because the owner has died or downsized even more.

We're in the process of selling up and moving to a new build extension at my daughter's house in Somerset. She and SIL came up with idea after the first lockdown but it's taken all this time to get planning permission/building etc done. When we first talked about it OH was fine. Now he's showing signs of dementia and his hip op has to be delayed/cancelled due to ulcers on his leg, so he's getting less mobile. It will be a relief to be on one level and to have family next door in case of emergency. It will also mean I will see more of the grandchildren. I only wish it hadn't taken so long, but that's officialdom for you, and that we were already there.

I’m not a hoarder, but that doesn’t mean that after twenty years there isn’t a heck of a lot of stuff.
We also have thousands of books, and some large pieces of furniture which were made to fit this house, but even if could take a couple of items. we would have to get rid of a lot.
I just don’t feel ready to do that.

I moved from a 4 bedroomed house to a 2 bed bungalow 5 years ago. After one year I was diagnosed with spinal trouble and couldn't walk upstairs. I'm so glad I moved.

I would love to move to a smaller property but my current house visit within walking distance of three supermarkets two railway stations and a dilapidated town centre so ifvi ever had to stop driving it would be OK. It's too big for me on my own but I could only afford a flat locally and I don't like the idea of the ever increasing service charges.

Thisismyname1953

To those of you that think that a stairlift will save you in the future please be aware that they are not always suitable . Especially in the case where the person has a stroke with a hemiplegia that can affect balance greatly. That person would not be safe on a stairlift.

The thought of using a stair lift seems quite scary to me.

I guess when you can no longer climb onto a stairlift you shouldn't be living on your own!
I knew of a man who aged over 100, was still living alone.
He had been very active in his life and fiercely independent.
When the storms of 1987 came, fallen trees blocked the way to his house but his neighbours rallied around and he became a celebrity!

To those of you that think that a stairlift will save you in the future please be aware that they are not always suitable . Especially in the case where the person has a stroke with a hemiplegia that can affect balance greatly. That person would not be safe on a stairlift.

Well we are in process right now we downsized to a park home and have loved every minute but our only family are in Australia so we are going there to by by my daughter ( Perth)and son in law and grandson. My son lives in Melbourne with granddaughter aged 7 praying all will be ok for us I am 72 my husband 74 fit and healthy at moment touch wood but going to leave lots and lots of friends praying we can make a new life and new friends too

Bungalow living is great when we get older but go for location and nice view.

Since being on my own I have thought of moving to somewhere smaller. When I have scanned property sites for areas I feel I would like to live in tge cost has been way above my means. A ret4urement flat is not for me and all the scandals about management costs doesnt help. A move to be nearer family is out of the question as they live in the highest priced property areas in UK. Looks like I'm stuck where I am. I do have 6 neighbours but no public transport without taking a taxi to rail or bus stations.

Casbe

Oh how I sympathise with you. I am desperate to move but OH won’t even consider it. Living in a rural area with no neighbours, shops or any services. Property has 5 acres of land which is divided up into garden area, orchard and fields none of which are on the level. I do have someone in to help with managing the ‘natural areas’ but the gardens are left to me. OH has no interest in gardening but enjoys looking at the surrounding countryside through the window!!! Now 75 it’s all getting too much and I worry about the future re being able to drive and would really like to move whilst still fit and able and capable of making a good decision.

We must be soul mates. I could have written this post. We are older than you and have had the card from the King.

How people use their houses and the space in them is very different from one person to another.

We have a large 4 bedroomed house - and use every room. While there is 2 of us I would be happy to stay in the house, but the garden, is more than I now want to manage and getting gardeners in would need a lot of garden replanning, and I just can't be bothered. However, when one of us dies, the house would be too big with just one person rattling round it.

The house we have our eye on to downsize to is a large old 3 bedroomed house, with plenty of parking and a negligable garden, which is much more convenient for our children, who currently both face quite difficukt journeys to reach us.

We moved to a flat near my daughter when I was 69, husband was 74. Previously we’d had a five storey town house, took a lot of time and money to maintain though we could still manage the stairs.
We’re very relieved to have moved, both due to our easy to live in property and being near family.

I always thought our house is too big for us because it has 4 bedrooms and a large garden. Until a new neighbour moved into a house down the road same size as ours.

She moved from down south, on her own, recently retired around my age. She told me she has given up her car and she choose that area because the nearby amenities are so good.

Makes me think if that the case why do I even contemplate moving, might as well adapt the house and stay here.

If left on my own, I do not mind moving nearer to my daughter. However, most things are more expensive where she lives - property prices, taxis even Indian takeaway cost twice as much.

Sorry meant have a gardener twice a month

We have moved a fair bit to different parts of the country including spending winters in Spain. However, our last house was far to big for us so we sold up and now live in a bungalow with a big garden but we are both passionate gardeners and do now have a gardener twice a week to help with the heavy stuff. We can walk to town, doctors etc and have a good bus service. I certainly don't miss stairs but what I would say is chose somewhere by location first and preferably with a nice view.

I sold my 3 bedroomed house in London two years ago. For ages I had been worried about the maintenance of it (it was an old terraced house). I sat down and worked out that I could sell it (I had no outstanding mortgage) and use the money to rent somewhere smaller. the sale went through before I found a suitable flat so I had three uncertain months living with my son which was a bit worrying but I have now found the ideal flat and I LOVE it. No maintenance, just pots of the balcony instead of a large garden. I have money in the bank instead of money tied up in my house and I can travel more as well. If I live to be 100 I may run out of money but I really don't worry about that at this stage!