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Is it Time to Downsize? The Benefits of Moving to a Smaller Home

By
Real Estate Agent with William Raveis, Wellesley MA 9057816-S

            

Whether you have reached a time in your life when you no longer need a large home or are just ready for a change, the benefits of downsizing can be well worth the effort of selling your home and finding a smaller Wellesley home for sale. Downsizing has many, many benefits, all of which can help you decide if you're ready for a move.

Save Money Each Month 

It's no secret that bigger homes are usually more expensive. Of course, with a smaller home your mortgage payments are likely to be lower, but did you know your utility bill could also be smaller? Providing gas, water and electricity for a large home can be expensive, but those costs are reduced when you live in a smaller home. Your insurance payments and taxes could also decrease when you downsize.

Fewer Maintenance Worries

Smaller homes don't require as much maintenance. This is mostly due to the fact that there are simply less rooms and fewer fixtures and appliances in a small home. If you are ready for a break from taking care of all the windows, carpets, and plumbing fixtures in your home, downsizing could be a great option for you. 

Have a More Simple Life

If you feel overwhelmed with all that life throws at you, downsizing can help you simplify. Many people let go of unneeded items when they downsize to a smaller home, simplifying their life. A smaller home is also much easier to keep clean and requires less decorating and furnishing. Simplifying your life can reduce stress levels, leading to a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Keep Your Home in Better Shape

Sometimes with bigger homes it's hard to stay on top of all the repairs and upgrades that make your home the best it can be. If you move to a smaller home, making updates, and even adding luxuries, will be much more doable. You'll have more time and resources to put toward things like painting, new landscaping, updating appliances and more.

Benefit the Environment

Smaller homes have smaller carbon footprints because they use less energy and take up less space in an environment. Sometimes smaller homes are in areas that are more conducive to walking and biking, which is also good for the environment. If you're interested in helping improve the environment, downsizing can help you do it.

Spend More Time with Your Family 

If you live in a large home it's probably not uncommon for family members to spread out among the rooms, each doing their own things. With less space, family members will be more likely to gather in common rooms, making for more family time.

Downsizing to a smaller home is a great way to reduce your costs, simplify your life and live in a more manageable space. For information about smaller homes in the Wellesley real estate market, contact Christine Norcross at 781-929-4994.

 

Image courtesty of Photo Dean/Flickr.
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

These are all very good points about downsizing.  Less maintenance is key!  Great post.  Congrats on the feature.                   

Apr 02, 2013 10:37 PM
Keith Lawrence
Christie's International - Mahwah, NJ
ABR, SFR

Good post.  People downsize here to reduce their month expense (Taxes, utiliites, etc) and upkeep on the property. 

Apr 02, 2013 10:59 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

All great points and true for so many. Personally, having downsized from 5800 square feet on .6 acres seven years ago to 3400 square feet on .18 acres, I'm don't know if I'll be ready to go even lower any time soon. There's something comforting about having the space and knowing you can easily accommodate out of town relatives and friends.

Apr 02, 2013 11:34 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Yes to this post and the point...In the long run and near the retirement end, we spend most of our time in basically one or two rooms....

Apr 02, 2013 11:50 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Ron in #19:  I sure know what you mean about "stuff."  I left my three bedroom 2 bath two car garage home for a 2/2 apartment... and wow do I have the "stuff" here.  It's the old "gee, ya know I just might need this someday."  Stuff!

Apr 03, 2013 12:13 AM
Mary Ann Daniell Realtor
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Subsidiary of NRT LLC - Killeen, TX
Delivering Successful Results Since 1999

Downsizing sounds soooo good until I have to face deciding what "stuff" to get rid off!  It's difficult on a lot of different level!  We all really live with too much stuff in houses that are too large!

Apr 03, 2013 01:55 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

This is such a great idea.  I have been in our home for 32 years right now.  Time to get rid of stuff..yes..

Apr 03, 2013 05:39 AM
Ridhi Raheja
Movement Mortgage (Illinois) - Naperville, IL
FHA, 203k, VA, Jumbo, PreApproval, Jumbo Home Loan

Sounds good but I need to consult my husband and the kids too. 

Apr 03, 2013 01:59 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

All great reasons. I think the two most importnat to me would be save money and have a simpler life.

Apr 03, 2013 09:45 PM
Tom Esposito
Alpharetta Home Solutions - Alpharetta, GA

Nice Posr!  Downsizing makes all the sense in the world when there's only 2 of you living there.  Some people believe they need the big house for when the kids come home or visit.  Most of the time they can squeeze into your smaller living space and after all you don't want them to get too comfortable and want to stay. 

Apr 04, 2013 12:24 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

I'm with Richard (#13), one's spouse can be the brick wall that keeps you from downsizing. I want to eliminate 50% of the house cleaning without having to hire someone to do it. Sigh ... some day!!

Apr 04, 2013 12:30 AM
Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

haaaaa - good one Ms. Karen Anne re: kids moving back in. I had two sisters working for me several years ago that were constantly moving back in with their parents - each with two or more kids, and sometimes at the same time. And THEN would get mad if their dad was a little grumpy at times. I shoulda given him that advice - a small place!

Apr 04, 2013 12:58 AM
Tyler Soulliere
Windsor Realtor - Windsor, ON

This is a great post and as well as some good comments. I on aoccasion read the comments unless a topic really want to understand more and hear about others experiences, however, the first comment i read from Richard got me laughing. Thanks Richard! Which gets me thinking, maybe ActiveRain could instill a 'like' feature similar to facebooks regarding people's comments. or a comment button (this way can keep it personal). could help as well when replying to comments, instead of listing each person in a single post, can comment on each person's comment, and this way you know if you've been mentioned!! GET ON THAT ACTIVERAIN!

Apr 04, 2013 02:04 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

We are looking at a smaller home and we still have the kids at home.  For many of the reasons you listed.

Apr 04, 2013 03:00 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Downsizing does have it's advantages but most of those advantages could be mitigated easily by renting space to targeted tenants and those advantages are more valuable than downsizing, wouldn't they?

Apr 04, 2013 03:33 AM
Maya Garg * ASP/ASA/ABR/CNE/
Royal Lepage Signature Realty,Mississauga, Ontario - Mississauga, ON
Moving you Forward.... Buyers, Sellers, Investors

Great post to read...for those who are ready to downsize.   

Apr 04, 2013 08:42 AM
EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD
LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL
Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

Christine, I agree with you! Excellent information and advice...Thank you for sharing a great blog post!

Apr 04, 2013 09:22 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

What I hear often from boomers wanting to 'downsize' is:  where will I put all my stuff in this smaller space!  HA HA!  I find with younger buyers, they don't care so much about stuff and don't want the maintence of a very large home.  The times are changin'!

Apr 04, 2013 12:24 PM
Christi Farrington
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
~ Your representative in Fairfield County, CT

Great post.  I think I'm getting to that point myself.  Less 'stuff' ... 

Apr 04, 2013 01:27 PM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Christine, great list.  We run into downsizers all the time since we have a lot of retirement communities.

Apr 05, 2013 07:00 AM