When children grow up and families scatter, it can often leave homeowners alone in a big house! They may find themselves asking “why should I downsize?” especially when staying put seems a lot easier.

But in fact, there are many advantages of downsizing: financial, practical and socially responsible.

Let’s take a closer look.

Why should I downsize?

1.        Downsizing frees up more of your finances

Chances are that your home is the most valuable asset you own. When you decide to sell your big family house and downsize to a smaller property, you’ll find yourself considerably better off financially. You then have the choice to spend it on a more comfortable retirement, or share it with your grown-up children – it might be the boost they need to get on the property ladder. 

It might reduce the amount of inheritance tax your family eventually pay – find out more here.

2.        Downsizing means lower bills

Smaller properties are cheaper to heat and light, so downsizing will lower your energy bills. If you move to a flat, you might see some additional efficiencies as you benefit from the heat of the rest of the building. 

3.        Downsizing means less space to look after

A smaller property simply requires less maintenance. From regular vacuuming to big projects like a new roof, we can all agree that the smaller the property, the less stressful it is to look after. In addition to freeing up funds to enjoy a better retirement, you can also free up headspace by not having a big house to worry about. 

4.        Downsizing forces you to declutter

It’s easy to hang onto stuff when there’s plenty of space to store it. But the reality is that you’re probably not using half of it. You might not even know what you’ve got! When you downsize, you can’t take everything with you – you have to prioritise the items that are either useful or meaningful. This is yet another way that downsizing is good for our headspace.

5.        Downsizing frees up family houses for those who need them

Three- and four-bedroom homes are in constant demand, so downsizing allows you to do your bit to increase family housing stock. For this reason, downsizing also means you can expect a quick sale for a good price. 

How to downsize when you don’t want to

If you know you should downsize but you feel worried about it in any way, start by talking it through with someone you trust. Sometimes situations that make us feel anxious seem more manageable when we say them out loud. 

Try not to leave it too late. Choose change before it chooses you – make the move while you’re still independent so you can make active choices about your next step. 

Keep it positive! Remember all the good reasons for downsizing. Try to see it as a kindness to yourself and your family (trust us – your grown up children want to spend quality time with you, not help with the housework!).

Ask for help. It’s very likely that your family will support your decision and will gladly help you with house hunting, decluttering, dealing with the conveyancer or anything else that overwhelms you. 

Buy and sell property in Guildford

If you’re downsizing and ready to put your house on the market, Cobbles are here to help. We are independent estate agents who operate in the Guildford area – we can help you find your next home and make the whole process as smooth as possible. Get in touch to find out more – just give us a call on 01483 457 000.