{"id":213,"date":"2020-12-23T10:19:44","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T10:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/?p=213"},"modified":"2020-12-23T10:19:44","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T10:19:44","slug":"senior-friendly-tips-for-smooth-and-painless-downsizing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/senior-friendly-tips-for-smooth-and-painless-downsizing\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior-Friendly Tips for Smooth and Painless Downsizing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Seniors often find themselves making important lifestyle decisions in retirement. While some<br \/>seniors are happy staying put, many consider selling the family home and moving somewhere<br \/>else. Downsizing is an attractive way to save money, reduce household chores, and simplify life.<br \/>However, there are some important things to keep in mind as you embark on your downsizing<br \/>journey. Take note of the following tips to ensure the process is positive and successful.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RentUncle<\/a> has the biggest inventory of apartments and housings in South Africa. Find your next<br \/>home or apartment to rent today!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Consider Your Lifestyle When Picking a Location<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The very first step of downsizing is deciding where to live during your senior years. Although it\u2019s<br \/>important to think about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/find-best-place-to-live-2435883\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">factors<\/a> like city size, weather, medical care, transportation<br \/>infrastructure, and safety, your lifestyle should be a key contributor in your location decision.<\/p>\n<p>What kinds of activities or hobbies do you enjoy? Are there any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatseniorliving.com\/articles\/fun-activities-for-seniors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">new experiences<\/a> that you\u2019d like<br \/>to try now that you\u2019re retired? Ensure that you will be able to engage in the activities that you<br \/>value wherever you end up.<\/p>\n<p>Researching online can help you learn several important things about your top cities, such as<br \/>the recreational activities available and what citizens love about living there. Be sure to look up<br \/>homes in the city to gauge the affordability of the area.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kitchen-1336160_1920.jpg\" alt=\"kitchen\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kitchen-1336160_1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kitchen-1336160_1920-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kitchen-1336160_1920-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kitchen-1336160_1920-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kitchen-1336160_1920-1536x1020.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1279px) 71vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Choose a Home with the Future in Mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it can be tough to think about your future care needs, planning this far in advance can<br \/>be beneficial. If you want to age in place, Building Design and Construction recommends<br \/>looking for homes that will accommodate your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bdcnetwork.com\/8-trends-shaping-today%E2%80%99s-senior-housing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">changing needs<\/a> over time. For example, houses<br \/>with zero-step entrances and wide hallways will be more accommodating for future wheelchair<br \/>or walker use than those with more than one floor or tight living spaces. Make sure also that the<br \/>surrounding neighborhood is walkable and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saferspaces.org.za\/understand\/entry\/the-state-of-public-transport-in-south-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">public transit<\/a> is readily accessible.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also critical that you avoid purchasing a home that requires a lot of work. Buying a home \u201cas<br \/>is\u201d may save you money in the short run, but many of these homes have major problems like<\/p>\n<p>structural issues, mold, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/guides\/should-you-buy-a-house-as-is\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">non-functioning systems<\/a> that will be expensive to repair and make<br \/>aging in place much more difficult.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Declutter One Step at a Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes time to start <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moneycrashers.com\/declutter-downsize-home-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">decluttering<\/a>, take it slow. Many people make the mistake of<br \/>decluttering too much too quickly and end up feeling burnt out. So, to get started, try to declutter<br \/>one shelf, cupboard, or storage box at a time. If you\u2019re having trouble deciding what to keep and<br \/>what to get rid of, ask yourself <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apartmenttherapy.com\/how-to-decide-what-to-keep-or-purge-in-a-clean-out-164435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">questions<\/a> about each item you\u2019re stuck on. When was the last<br \/>time you used it? Do you really like it? Is it still meaningful to you right now? Try not to hold onto<br \/>things just because they\u2019ve always been in your life.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, if there are things you really want to keep but simply don\u2019t have room to keep in your<br \/>new home, consider renting a self-storage unit until you make a concrete decision. However, it\u2019s<br \/>important that you have enough room in your household budget for this additional expense.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Plan Out Your New Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Use the dimensions of your new home to plan what to do with your existing furniture and d\u00e9cor.<br \/>This will help you decide which larger pieces to keep and which to pass on.<\/p>\n<p>HGTV recommends drawing out your new home\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hgtv.com\/design\/decorating\/design-101\/how-to-create-a-floor-plan-and-furniture-layout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">floor plan<\/a> and cutting out paper scale models<br \/>of your furniture so you can move them around. Don\u2019t forget to consider the closet space in your<br \/>new home as well. You can visualize your new home\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortlife.ca\/retirement-community-resources\/16-best-de-cluttering-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferre nofollow noreferrer\">storage space<\/a> by taping off your existing<br \/>closets based on the dimensions of your future closets. That way, you can see what will fit in<br \/>your new home.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Plan Your Move Months Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s smart to start preparing for your move a couple of months before your actual moving day.<br \/>This will give you plenty of time to declutter slowly, pack up all of your possessions, sell<br \/>everything you no longer want, and tackle all of the other tasks that come with moving. Try to<br \/>book your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/south-africa\/moving-companies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">moving company<\/a> as early as possible. Then, create a simple moving timeline so you<br \/>don&#8217;t forget any essential tasks, like canceling your utilities or notifying the post office.<\/p>\n<p>Downsizing is an amazing way to simplify your life in retirement. There&#8217;s just something so<br \/>refreshing about decluttering all of our possessions and getting a fresh start in a new home<br \/>without all of the financial obligations and chores that drag us down. When you&#8217;re ready to start<br \/>the downsizing process, follow these tips to ensure everything goes smoothly.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-216\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/pexels-luis-quintero-2111768.jpg\" alt=\"pexels-luis-quintero-2111768\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/pexels-luis-quintero-2111768.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/pexels-luis-quintero-2111768-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/pexels-luis-quintero-2111768-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/pexels-luis-quintero-2111768-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/pexels-luis-quintero-2111768-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1279px) 71vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seniors often find themselves making important lifestyle decisions in retirement. While someseniors are happy staying put, many consider selling the family home and moving somewhereelse. Downsizing is an attractive way to save money, reduce household chores, and simplify life.However, there are some important things to keep in mind as you embark on your downsizingjourney. Take &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/senior-friendly-tips-for-smooth-and-painless-downsizing\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Senior-Friendly Tips for Smooth and Painless Downsizing&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":258,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213\/revisions\/258"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentuncle.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}