The decision to downsize your home as you approach retirement is not an easy one to make, but the potential benefits could see you simplify your life and reduce your home-maintenance and utility costs for the years ahead.
Before downsizing or moving into a retirement home, take some time to declutter and decide what stays and what goes. Move into a more compact home to live an easier life and kick off your retirement in style.
Advantages of downsizing for retirement
Sometimes less is more. Downsizing when retiring can create a sense of freedom if it is done correctly and introduces a reduced cost of living through lower monthly utility, council tax and maintenance bills.
Retirement is a time to rediscover old hobbies or take up new ones as you’ll have more time to indulge in that neglected game of tennis, golf or chess.
This is the perfect time to do a thorough clean out. The clutter in your home has probably been building up for many years, taking up valuable storage space. Remember that any sentimental or valuable items that you can’t take with you to your new home can always go into self storage.
How to downsize for retirement
Downsizing may not always go as planned but with efficient planning and organising you will ease into retirement. Here are a few tips on how to downsize:
- Tell your friends and family – if they’ve left anything at your house, now is the time for them to collect it. Get rid of anything that is not yours. Your friends and family can also help you move.
- Implement the six-month rule when decluttering – if you haven’t used an item in that time period, get rid of it or donate it to charity.
- Avoid duplicating items within your home – if you already have two TVs, try selling or donating one. Otherwise put these duplicate items into self storage.
- Find a reliable self storage facility – a trusted and reliable self storage facility such as Storage King offers a variety of value adding services while delivering professional customer service. Renting a storage unit with us will allow your new smaller home to remain clutter free, while you can have peace of mind knowing that your belongings are safe and secure.
At Storage King, we offer a variety of different storage unit sizes. If you’re looking for an affordable extension to your home when downsizing, make us part of your retirement plan. Call us on 0800 0852 954 or get an quick online self storage quote.