Today we have a guest post from Michael Longsdon Elder Freedom @ Empower the Elderly  http://elderfreedom.net. Michael will share some thoughts with us about senior downsizing for a successful move. 

Photo via Unsplash

 

Senior-Friendly Downsizing: How to Ensure a Successful Move

 

Thinking about downsizing in your senior years? After retirement, many seniors find that they no longer need as much house as they once did. And all of those rooms get a little more difficult to maintain and keep clean over the years. Who wants to spend their retirement mowing the lawn, wading through clutter, and plugging away at relentless home maintenance? If you’re considering a minimizing move, here are some tips to keep in mind!

 

Selling Your Home in a Pandemic 

Selling your home is a major part of the downsizing process, and likely one of the more stressful items on your to-do list. To make things easier on yourself, hire a great real estate agent who can take the lead. An experienced agent like D. Lisa West will have all the knowledge needed to market your home and find buyers as quickly as possible. This is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic! If you’re concerned about potential buyers bringing COVID-19 into your home, ask your real estate agent about virtual showings. Thanks to video-chat tours and 3D walkthroughs, it’s possible for buyers to tour homes without ever stepping foot inside! 

When it comes to selling your home, you also have to consider the best day to list it. According to Redfin, homes listed on a Wednesday tend to sell for the most money while homes listed on a Thursday typically sell the fastest. So, it’s important to think about your goals carefully when deciding which day of the week to list your home!

 

Finding Your New Home 

As you begin looking for your new home, think about where you want to live. This is your opportunity to move somewhere that fits your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Besides location, there are a variety of other factors to consider when searching for your new home. For example, how will your home accommodate aging in place? Buying a home with accessibility features will ensure you can remain in the home for as long as possible! Keep in mind that you can make your own accessibility modifications after moving in. You can hire a professional to take on all kinds of home modification projects, like lowering your countertops, adding a stairlift, or replacing showers and toilets. You’ll also need to consider home prices in the areas you’re looking in. Seattle home sales have been averaging $742,000, but you can find a smaller home for considerably less.

 

Decluttering Your Possessions 

One of the most difficult parts of downsizing is decluttering. Not only can decluttering be physically taxing, but mentally exhausting as well. It’s important to approach your decluttering projects one day at a time. Start with a really small section of your home, like a single kitchen drawer or bathroom cabinet, and work from there. The last thing you want is to take on too much and wind up overwhelmed. It can also help to have a friend or family member with you for emotional support and encouragement. You’ll be surprised at how hard it is to say goodbye to stuff you don’t even want!

 

Surviving Moving Day

 Moving day is another hurdle to conquer on your downsizing journey. Again, take it one step at a time. Constellation recommends creating a moving checklist a couple of months out so you can start tackling important tasks well ahead of time. For example, it’s a good idea to book your movers at least two months in advance, especially during the busy summer season. Remember to update your address with the post office and switch over your utilities to your new home. Finally, if you have pets, make a plan with a friend or family member to get them away from the moving action. Once the moving day is over, you’re nearly done with this whole process. All you have to do is unpack and set up your new home!

 

Downsizing isn’t easy, but the result is often worth the work! Think about how your life will improve without the ongoing demands of your large house and the clutter it contains. As you navigate the downsizing process, focusing on your end goal will help you make it through!

HQ2 and Amazon and Seattle Housing

Many of us here in Seattle have been waiting for the news about the new HQ2 for Amazon. The bigger question has been how it will impact Seattle housing costs. Now that the locations have been announced, it appears that Seattle housing will probably not be impacted in the near future. Both New York and Virginia have housing costs that are equal to the Seattle area and both areas also have state income taxes as well as high corporate taxes. Most current employees will not be moving for cheaper housing. The real draw in both cases is most likely the access to talent. In Seattle Amazon has 8,200 jobs listed but there were only 3.200 people in King County actively searching for jobs. Amazon is still hiring here in Seattle and is planning to continue expanding in Seattle and in Bellevue.

The good news about the housing here in Seattle continues to be more inventory and dropping prices. We're starting to see a more balanced market and this will make a better market for buyers in the new year.

Fire Safety and Property Protection

At this time of year we usually don't have much rain and the ground and trees are dry. This increases the chance of fires. For the last couple of years, we also have been plagued with smokey skies and poor air quality. It's a reminder that we need to be vigilant and do what we can to protect our property.

One of the most important items on your checklist will be what wildfire protection experts call a "defensible space" in order to create the most protection that you can during this dry season. Brush and debris are a hazard at this time of year so using a zone system will help you create a safer place.

Zone 1

30 feet from any structure is the first zone of protection. Remove all dead vegetation, dry leaves and pine needles and remove any branches that hang over your roof.  Clean your gutters and have your trees pruned regularly to keep all branches at least 10 feet from other trees. Remember to clean under decks and keep foliage away from your house.

Zone 2

Within 100 feet of buildings, cut or mow the grass down to four inches or shorter. Remove fallen leaves, branches, cones and bark. On trees, remove branches at lease six feet from the ground.

Smoke Alarms

Make certain that all smoke alarms are in working order.

Fire Escape Route

Have an escape plan in place. Know how you're getting out and review plans with all family members including young children.

We all hope that we never have to deal with fire in our lives but being prepared, will make for the best possible outcome if we do have a fire.