Downsizing

Here are three things I've learned from experience about downsizing. I am in a couple so don't have direct experience of being on my own, but here goes:

1. A friend of mine in her 60s who has MS was looking for a retirement place and didn't feel comfortable with what she saw. In the end she found a fabulous 'park home'. The other people on the park are like her, slightly nonconformist and it's a great community for her. They all look out for one another. We gaze on in admiration.

2. Husband and I downsized several years ago to a two bedroom house - starter home size. It was great while we were still working part-time, but as soon as we were both retired we were under each others' feet. Solution? Upsizing again! We have just moved into a three-bedroom Victorian house (sigh of resignation).

3. My mum and dad downsized to a one-bedroom retirement apartment. This was a major mistake. The second bedroom would have been invaluable for a) when they fall out, b) when one of them is ill, c) when one of the children wants or needs to stay over to help out.

Hi charmian i search the nett night after night not even knowing what areas where i live i can get to town in 20mnts using my freedem pass feel id like to go just a little further afield but when i try to go out of my comfort zone i get a bit scared going to look at a house the weekend just about 20mnts away then i think should it be a house or a bungalow at the momment still able to drive to essex where i go out alot but also think one day i may not be able to drive very confused i must drive the estate nuts lol so keep looking iv told myself south london i think its now time to leave should have called myself confused .com

Our village has a community housing scheme as well. Phase 2 is about to begin and the estate will also incorporate a new GP surgery.

Only 65 homes have been built in the village over the last ten years so this scheme will hopefully provide an opportunity for people with connections to the village to purchase an affordable home.

In a village near us the Parish Council has obtained outline planning permission for a development on two fields on the edge of the village - two houses for the farming families who own the land and the rest split between starter homes for young people with local connexions and downsizers who want to stay in the village which has been their home for many years. This will hopefully mean that the large family houses they sell will go to families who can bring new life to the village.

I think this is a brilliant scheme which could be copied in many rural locations where people have built strong roots and don't want to move away. It also gives the downsizers the chance to have an individual architect-designed home, with exactly the features they will want for the long term and still have money in the bank. Would that work for you Lucky?

Thank you - yes of course it will be priced to sell, I can't afford to be unrealistic!

Ana - of course you know selling is partly about the price - if it is cheaper people can afford a bit of modernisation I suppose. You should be able to stay in more in control of the process if you let your agent know that you cannot get to exchange of contracts until you have found a place to move to. So any buyer knows that sale and purchase have to be linked. Hope it goes well.....

It's not so much the finding of a new, smaller place that worries me but whether my current home will sell! And how quickly...

Houses in this area can sometimes be on the market for a year or two, and mine does need some modernisation work. Of course, it might just be someone else's dream home! [hopeful emoticon]

Hi It is is a tricky business downsizing - but really heartening that you are thinking about it early on. My top tips - think about your friends and what you like doing most of the time. Try to imagine your needs in the future particularly from a mobility point of view, closeness to what you like doing. I help people downsize day in day out and yes there are a lot of considerations, but I can say that after 11 years of helping people physically and mentally sort this out, all bar one have said it was the best thing they could have done and most wish they had done it sooner. In terms of finding what you like - yes not everywhere has ldeal places. I suggest that you start with a list of what is essential and what is desirable - sometimes compromises are worth it. Any more specific help - be happy to speak to you.

I also am thinking of downsizing but its the areas im having trouble in finding i live in south east london and something just tells me to move out a bit its scary doing it on wons own a wrong move then cant go back any ideas

Lots of helpful posts for you Luckylegs, are you still here?

At the age of 70 I found myself in a similar situation. A large old house and garden, on my own, and with maintenance bills I couldn't afford. I downsized to a flat in a retirement complex and invested in buy to let property to provide an extra pension. I couldn't be happier, my flat has been upgraded to my taste and I have companionship if I want it.
It all proved very fortuitous as I became ill just before I moved, I'm now recovering but find the security of my complex reassuring

Yeah! Very sensible.

Just in case anyone is thinking of letting a room in a larger home rather than move you may be interested to know that it was announced in the budget yesterday that the Rent a Room tax allowance will be raised to £7,500 from £4,250.

I would find it hard to move from here because it is so convenient. I have an excellent bus service to town, as well as a wide range of local shops. Doctors, dentist, bank, and post office all easy walking distance. I wouldnt want to leave my area, but a more manageable property would make a difference.
When I think of the costs though, estate agents, solicitors, removals, plus what would need spending on the new place it puts me off a bit.
I would rather use that money to pay someone to do the things I cant do such as outside painting and heavier jobs around the place.
And I can hang on to all my stuff a bit longer.
But I think a move would be inevitable eventually, just not quite ready yet to bite the bullet.

This thread is close to my heart having downsized two years ago to a new but familiar area. I have now really understood how even a carefully thought out change still brings losses and some sadness along with joys and benefits. Like PPP we sold our home and bought a bungalow - a project. Why? For future peace of mind, in acknowledgment that one of us will be alone one day so a manageable space for one person, to release some cash, to live somewhere it felt easy and safe to leave empty for holidays - to do it while fit and active.

It has been fun and also jolly hard work. We have made it our own and are very comfortable. Before the move we researched. We have the huge benefit of a regular bus service to our local town and also the coast, another easily accessed bus into the nearest city, local shops that are a few minutes walk away as is our GP surgery.

Our choice was to go for a managed development, we have our own garden with flower beds for me to tend - but grass is cut for us so no worries when we are away. The management fee was a concern, but overall we decided for peace of mind it was worth it - the fabric of the bungalow is maintained, windows are cleaned, grass is cut and I feel totally safe here. The sadness didn't really come until the renovation was finished and then the newness of it all felt alien, as did being away from my professional life. DH hasn't felt it in the same way, perhaps a female thing. I've worked through it and just about come out the other side. There is much to enjoy. Access to the coast, the more relaxed feel, no worries about the building, our kind, friendly and funny neighbours who always have time to talk or help, more time to be 'us'. If I feel sad, and I still do at times, I try to distract myself, it usually works. I have begun voluntary work and started to put down roots in this new area. Again, good to do it while fit and active.

Parting with 'things' was easier than I had believed for me. DH found it harder with a garage full of 'stuff'. We got there, I let my heart lead. I kept what mattered, even if I didn't understand why it mattered.

Apologies for the length of this. Luckylegs I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do, but hoped the flavour of our experience would help in some way. Good luck with your decision.

We downsized almost 15 yrs ago (dh idea, reckoned it would be easier when he was no longer around) moved form 3 bed semi to 2 bed new build Mews house...........sold old house bought new one outright........I have always hated it, it is pretty easily maintenance apart from the high peak/gable end. which we didn't think of when we bought it, we ended up having scaffolding up to be able to paint the rendering (I hired the scaffolding but did the painting myself) but I must say since dh has gone, i have sort grown to like it a bit more. I missed my old house terribly and was quite depressed about it for many years, I used to dream about it. I still miss it but now know I could not cope with the big garden front and back, and also it held a lot of memories for me which I don't seem to have at this house. I would never buy a house that had rendering on again.

Ever watch Shed of the Year, apricot?
Some of them are definitely not sheds, definitely liveable in.

Do your research on an area before downsizing-key is to plan. Downsize but not downgrade,if you can. Loads of pied a terre- v popular just now

I couldn't actually downsize unless I moved into the shed. Mine's a two-up, two down but close to town so I expect to stay here until I'm carried out.
I prefer an old place with character and would hate to end up in a battery house of geriatrics, full of Health And Safety warnings and communal activities.

PPP, friends of ours have done the same. They moved from a four bedroom house to a two bedroom bungalow. As they only need one bedroom, they have used the second bedroom as an extra living room. They are having to renovate the bungalow but have freed up a large amount of money and are enjoying the new experience. I went to see the bungalow yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. They have got rid of very many possessions and are happy about it.

I so agree that the time to move is while you are still fit and active. Moving house is difficult. Older friends advised us to move before we are 70. After that it is too physically and mentally arduous.

Most of my friends live in family houses which are much too big for them. We all love to have the space. But, this is blocking the housing stock for families.

I don't want my family having to clear a lifetime's worth of stuff when I die!
I would love to move near to my family, but they live in central London and house prices there are prohibitive. I now just hope that they will move out and then we can find something nearby. In the meantime we are moving to a bungalow near where we currently live. By downsizing we have been able to completely renovate it and it is really exciting.

Carpe diem!

Think carefully moving away from your roots . Maybe a flat or small house in the same town would be better . I'm not in my 70's yet but we are just having an extension done to enlarge our tiny kitchen and to put in a downstairs loo and shower . I think this will enable us to stay in the area we both love and would be sad to leave . I agree,bshut up any rooms you don't need and get a gardener . Or as my older neighbour has done she offered her garden to a younger person to grow fruit and veg in exchange for maintaining the rest . They have become good friends and they also help out doing odd jobs for her too.
It is hard but if you do decide to move away do whilst you are in good health and able to make new friends .

Though we have always fancied living in the middle of a good sized town, not a village, and did consider Cirencester , as it has some nice shops and pubs etc. May do that if we ever want a flat.

Nope, am keeping quiet about that Nonnie.[ grin] of course ! things can always change and buses become less frequent and shops and pubs do close
So you can't predict everything, but our large village is set to become much larger with lots of new house being built, and talk of a second primary school and more shops so hopefully nothing will close.

roses don't suppose you want to tell us all where that is so we can all move in?!?

We have an excellent bus service to a small city but have to drive to the retail park to get to it!

If the time ever comes when we think it is worth leaving this house we love which has room for the family to stay, then I have my eye on some flats within walking distance of Waitrose, the library and the theatre. I would so miss my garden though and don't much fancy the idea of a shared one.