What Age do you consider moving?

I expected I’d think about moving in a couple of years now I’m on my own, not wanting to far but either a bungalow (probably beyond my means here in West London, or a garden flat.
My daughter rents a lovely flat in a small block of four and unexpectedly the next door flat has come up for sale and I’m thinking about taking a look. It’s in good condition probably a new bathroom needed, it’s in a perfect position near shops,tube,buses and family and my favourite place to walk in woods and lake. The one drawback is the communal garden at the end of which is parking for residents cars, so although I would have a patio onto the garden of my own everyone would walk across the garden to reach their door. I think it would be a deal breaker such a shame,but I will take a look.

We were living an hours drive away from DD and were not enjoying the ride around the m25. One day we had a conversation about what we would do if the other died and we both said move closer to DD. So why wait? We downsized to somewhere more expensive, but was a good investment and it works well. Within walking distance of DD, shop, doctors, underground etc.
Perhaps sell it to DH that you would have more money to visit and help his family. And make his life easier. He is 70 and going to want to move less and less. Go for it now . Perhaps take him to view a good choice and he might be able to visualise it. Well that's what I did with my OH. And he came round.

We have decided to move and I have been looking at what property is about. We live in a little village and decided we wanted to live somewhere with more amenities. Having just been in hospital it was brought home to me as I struggled to walk across the ward that a bungalow would make life easier something I never thought I would say. Coming home and trying to get upstairs made my mind up for me. I was told the time to move is when you don’t think you need to as most people leave it too late.

Think you need to work on your DH get him on board.

Why not look at properties in the area you are considering? He might be persuaded.

I am almost 66 and have lived in my current house for 30 years. During that time there has been some very difficult periods and bringing up children and working full time I feel as though I haven't been able to enjoy it enough. I retired over three years ago and since then have been looking after elderly parents who live quite a long way from me. Sadly I lost my Dad earlier this year so now just Mom who is not far off 100. Children live at other ends of the country. My husband also has ill health which brings a lot of restrictions on what we can do. I know that one day we will have to consider moving but first I want to enjoy my home with all its space and two acres of garden and meadow, I can still manage the garden.

Well I will be 80 in August bet am moving from a 3 bed to a 2 bed bungalow not too far away. It has been a nightmare as I have lived here since 1961 with Mum Dad and brother but I have spent the past year getting rid of stuff.

The bungalow is 15 minutes away from where I live now near a train and bus station. It was built in 2004 for over 55's. I will have some change from the sale to spend on small new furniture. It is stressful especially as I have been having hospital treatment re polyps which I have had Colonoscopies for 4 times and they cannot reach the polyp. I am looking forward to the move though just hope my little dog is happy.

I found downsizing from a very large property, 5 years ago, when I was 58 very liberating. Friends of ours who live opposite that property intended to downsize years ago, but never quite did it and they regret it.
They are in their 80's and with reduced mobility, they feel trapped as they are not physically up to the upset of moving
and life is a struggle.
We didn't move nearer to children/Grandchildren- simply a small property close to original home in an area we have lived for 40 years. For us it was a great decision, and I love the small space.

I will add that FIL should have downsized (he had been a widower for several years) would not hear of it and then after several more years and much pleading from us to no avail came the crisis......enough to say we had to take his house on board, de clutter, sell and settle him somewhere better BUT he was physically and mentally not up to it so every choice had to be imposed upon him. Its far far better to make these future proofing plans together when everyone is still able to make informed choices and not just be a passive and reluctant 'victim'.

To me your plan sounds eminently sensible, so I hope you can persuade your husband to discuss it.

He may have valid reasons for not liking your plan, after all, but to me it sounds as if he just doesn't want to have to decide anything.

Who does the gardening and is it a delight or a chore?
Getting rid of a big garden would be at the top of my list and travelling while you are able to comes a good second.

We moved from a five bedroom house in North Yorkshire to a bungalow on North East Coast. Been here 18 months and love it.
I was 73 and DH was 74 when we moved. It was hard work, however we are so happy we made the "jump".
The Bungalow is easy to care for- so when one of us dies the other should be able to manage on there own.
The move has also released some more spending money for us- for holidays etc.
Though its so beautiful here we dont go abroad as much as we expected to. We live in a village near Embleton Bay. Dont leave it too late Nana Plenty.!

NanaPlenty ask your husband how he expects the future to pan out and what are his objections to what you want to do.
Then you'll have a basis for discussion.

Does he also want to travel abroad, btw?

Anyway, we are both in our seventies now so we've probably left it too late.

All this is making me feel slightly panic stricken. We have lived in this house for 52 years now. Built it ourselves with help from friends in the building trades. We extended it a bit upwards when I had my third baby at 40ish.

Do we have to move? Is it something you are expected to do? I can't imagine living anywhere else. The thought of leaving this house makes my blood run cold.

If the garden ever gets too much, I will simply let it grow into a nice little nature reserve. It will still be mine.

60 is no age, however 70 is a time when you get to not want change. So while you would like to move, I can understand why your husband is reluctant. I thought about ‘downsizing’ (how I hate that word) some time ago but was really shocked to find that all the costs involved in moving (solicitors, estates agents, moving firms, etc) can take £20,000, without the possible need to purchase new carpets and curtains for the smaller property. I decided to stay put and spent the money on making my current home more comfortable.

DH & I downsized from a large 4 bed, large garden house when he was 70 & I was 56 (I had taken Early Retirement). We bought a lovely Park Home, only 11 years old & moved from Middlesex(Surrey) to Somerset. All happened in a hurry as we were just testing the market & asked top price although we did drop quite a bit off for a quick sale, luckily I had been researching & knew what area we wanted, approx halfway between his DD & my DD.

Sadly DH was taken into Hospital just less than 12 months after we moved & I was widowed 3 months later. I waited a year before putting property on the market, found a buyer but they couldn't sell their house. Luckily about a year later I was approached by a cash buyer for the full asking price, only downside was I had 3 weeks to move out. I organised removal firm & storage unit near my DD & went to stay with her for first 2 weeks. On the second day after I'd moved I found my place, an older Park (Mobile) Home so I rented a Holiday Flat (out of season) for a few more weeks.

Over the last 4 years+ I have made new friends, joined things, visited new places & been able to spend more time with my DD & DGSs. I have no regrets. DH & I moved at the right time for us as sad as it is I am glad I only had our new home to sell & not the larger one.

The decision is yours alone but I would advise de-cluttering even if a move isn't imminent, having to do that in a hurry isn't fun, when I moved in 2015 I took almost everything when I moved, DD & sorted from storage unit & disposed of unwanted items then. I was 59 when I moved here & intend that I shall leave in a wooden box

NanaPlenty - your suggestion sounds all very reasonable to me.

I think you need to find out what your husband's main areas of contention are with the idea.

It could be he thinks the upheaval would be too much for him or he loves the house too much or any number of other reasons. I think looking at othere solutions may then be the answer eg releasing capital from your property while in situ thereby giving you the money you want to visit his family abroad.

All in all it is something that needs resolving by communication, so get chatting to the hubby.

Good luck and enjoy your travels when you go.

Have you seen all the articles about younger people buying bungalows because the old one often stood on big plots. Extending them every which way to be family homes. There are not enough bunglows. The likes of blue cedar build very nice homes with a study downstairs plus a shower downstairs ie future proofed, however they are in ghettos and aint half pricey with ongoing charges for maintenance. They were very nice, I looked at one

feet first

I am desperate to move to something smaller. I have a four storey Victorian Guest House and the workload both physically and mentally is having a very detrimental effect on my health.
I am nearly 63 and have another 3 years before I get my state pension but cannot continue doing what I am doing.
We have been trying to sell it for several years and the asking prices is now £75000 below what we paid for the house (plus we have spent thousands on it).
I am now at my wits end as a sale has just fallen through and we have lost the little house we were moving to.
I say life is too short and if downsizing means you can travel more and visit your children then go for it.
I wish I could.

I downsized from a big 5 bed 2 bathroom property by the sea to a small 2.5 bed ancient cottage in the country - the dream (?) at the age of 69. If DH had lived, I doubt we would have downsized unless illness or other reasons forced it. We loved our house and our village, there was oodles of room for family and friends and there's not a day when I don't think 'what if?'.
I moved to be nearer my family - 400 miles - as I was spending hours travelling between one and the others and thought I should move while fit physically and mentally. It's not been easy and I desperately miss my friends. Meeting new ones is hard work, despite joining anything & everything. Only up side is being close to the DDs and GCs. I've been here 18 months and have yet to be able to pop in for a coffee/chat with a 'friend'. That's what I miss. I miss the familiarity and closeness of my old home.
Think very hard and weigh up all the options before making a life changing decision....I did and despite that am beginning to regret it. Is the grass greener on the other side? Who knows

We lived in a large 3 bedroomed house with a nice sized garden when my OH was given the opportunity to take early retirement from teaching which he took. We downsized to a small 2 bedroomed bungalow in the cotswolds but I didn't really like it there and the bungalow seemed quite poky so we looked around and bought a lovely 3 bedroomed house house near the sea with a much smaller garden. Now the children can come with our grandchildren for their holidays and we have a much smaller garden to take care of and more importantly no stairs. We both have arthritis quite bad so it's a godsend. I wish we had done it sooner. Bungalows aren't just for old ones and I think your idea is a great one. Keep nudging your OH into the idea. It sounds ideal for you both

Modern builds have no storage as I am appreciating now. I have just had 2 good cupboards built, in alcoves which would take free standing wardrobes and `double` bedrooms have become large singles. So where are people meant to put wardrobes? Be astute if looking at new builds, don`t be taken in by all the shiny glitz and 3/4 size furniture.

I have downsized stuff for over 4 years and just today have realised that this has to continue, only this time it is stuff that I wanted to keep. Those without crafting hobbies are in a better situation but I am not giving up my various crafts, not for love nor money

I am 80 and my husband 87 this month. We live in a bungalow which we moved to 25 years ago and are now planning to move to a retirement home next month which is a good size with 2 bedrooms and a balcony but the most important thing is that it is only yards from our town centre, park and cathedral.
Although we originally planned to stay in the bungalow for ever it has become hard to maintain the garden

Ironic this question, as having moved 22 times within three different continents, we are just about to exchange contracts on a barn conversion in Dorset after not having lived in the UK for 44 years. Many of our local friends here in France think we are absolutely mad. But isn't it for you yourselves to decide - never mind what anyone else thinks? We are undertaking this very challenging move with our eyes wide open, having lived in South Africa, Oz, Belgium, and now France. Do what your heart dictates. If you procrastinate now, you will always ask yourself "what if". Others may not agree but we should like to think we have a huge amount of experience under our belt and therefore know more or less what we are talking about.

I have one of those victorian semis that are all over our older cities, and it now has 3 floors as we had a loft conversion. Thing is, it takes me years to feel at home in a new place so we've had toilets put in the loft and ground floor, to make one per floor, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that will enable us to stay here.