Six items to consider when downsizing to a new home

If you’re considering selling your house and downsizing, finding the right new home or apartment can be a challenge, especially when looking for specific properties, like having everything on one floor, a ground floor unit, apartments with particular amenities, etc.

These six items will help with finding the ideal property that suits your lifestyle.

Location

One of the most important items to consider is the location of your new home or apartment. I often speak with people that want to sell their house and downsize, but want to stay in the same neighborhood.

If a person likes the neighborhood in general, has desired amenities like a grocery store, doctors, a church, etc. then it makes sense to stay in the same area.

Housing options often dictate whether this is possible. Sometimes, the desired new home or apartment just isn’t available where we’d like it to be, so moving to a new part of town is the only option.

Accessibility

As we get older, accessibility becomes more important. Having everything on one level is or can become very desirable, or sometimes a necessity. Having wider doorways and hallways can become important. Having a garage or entrances to the house without stairs can be beneficial.

Size And Layout

Ensure the size and layout of the house meets your needs. Most people that want to downsize usually want less space that requires less maintenance, less cost to heat or cool, less cost to insure. But ensure you have enough space for hobbies, or hosting family and friends if you enjoy those activities. Keep the layout in mind that allows for easy navigation and minimizes the need for excessive walking.

Maintenance And Upkeep

Most people that want to downsize their house want to reduce or eliminate the maintenance and upkeep tasks of the property. Do you want to eliminate items such as work with lawns and landscaping or snow removal entirely? Oftentimes, some or all of these tasks can be provided by companies that perform these services for your current home, allowing you to “age in place.”

Affordability

Knowing what you want or are able to spend on your new housing arrangement is very important. If you’re buying a new home, you’ll want to consider the ongoing expenses such as property taxes (if applicable), homeowners association fees, insurance, utility costs, and maintenance and upkeep costs.

As mentioned in a previous article, if you have a house that has no debt, is it actually beneficial to stay in your current house? Sometimes making improvements and updates to “age in place” can be a good financial option. It may be beneficial to utilize the services of a financial adviser to help assess the financial implications of buying a new home or the expenses of an apartment.

Planning For The Future

Although it can be a challenge to predict your future needs, it is important to consider the possible needs when looking at a new home or apartment. Does the home or apartment have the potential for modifications that might be necessary? Are you close geographically to healthcare facilities and other services that may become more critical in the future? By keeping these potential items in mind when choosing a new home or apartment, you can eliminate any unwanted or additional moves in the future.

By assessing the location, accessibility, size and layout, maintenance, affordability, and future planning aspects of a property, you can make an informed decision for your unique needs and desires.

Finding the right new home or apartment can be a challenge, but know that there are great resources available.

Services to help with your “stuff.” Services to move you from point A to point B. Real estate services to help find your new home or apartment. And real estate services to take care of your current property.

If you have questions on this subject and/or I can be of assistance, just call or text me at (402)-450-0199.

Ben Souchek is an author of the book Home Downsizing Secrets, and the owner and founder of Home Downsizing Solutions, a company that specializes in helping home owners transition from their current house to a new home, apartment, or other senior living community for more than 25 years.

Volunteers needed for research study

The Vascular Research Lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is looking for participants to take part in vascular research at UNO for the study titled Hydrogen sulfide as a biomarker in peripheral artery disease (IRB 0522- 22-FB).

The Vascular Research Lab is looking for four groups of participants, including patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD, ages 50-85) and healthy individuals (young: ages 19-34, middle aged: ages 3549, and aged matched to the PAD group: ages 50-85). Measurements will include a blood draw, non-invasive blood vessel function measurements, and a walking test. This study will require two visits to the Vascular Research Lab at UNO for a total of 4.5 hours.

To be eligible for the study, you must be between the ages of 19-85, if you have high blood pressure or high blood lipids, they must be controlled for at least 6 weeks before starting the study, and you must have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD) or you are otherwise healthy.

For more information about the study, please contact: Vascular Research Lab (402-554-3779) or by email at unovrl@ unomaha.edu.