Moving to a new house can be an arduous task but when you are downsizing from a family home with lots of space to a smaller property, it can be even more daunting.
However, with some planning and consideration about what you need, you will find that ‘right-sizing’ as opposed to downsizing can be a positive experience that sets you up for the future and fits your lifestyle.
NAEA Propertymark has put together some top tips to help make the ‘right-size’ process as stress free and simple as possible.
1. Get Organised
Make a list of all the tasks you need to undertake, and the timescale in which you need to complete them by. Knowing what you have to do, and the time you have to do it, will make the whole process a lot simpler.
2. Be practical
Realistically, if you’re moving from a four-bedroom house to a two-bedroom bungalow, you’re not going to be able to take all your belongings with you. When thinking about what to get rid of, be practical. You probably won’t need the extra beds, mattresses and bedding, and do you really use that old pressure cooker in the utility room?
3. Don’t be afraid to be ruthless
Ditching clutter can be tough so it’s important to be strong and decisive when doing so. Approach it as through you’re having a spring clean, or a house detox. You’ll feel cleansed and more optimistic about the move afterwards. If you can’t live without it, keep it.
4. Establish how much room you have
Draw up a ‘to-scale’ floorplan so you can see how your existing furniture will fit into each room, and then measure your bigger items of furniture to establish how and if they’ll fit.
5. Think about the additional costs
It’s important to factor in any estate agency fees, and you will pay stamp duty on any purchase in excess of £125,000. Other expenses include solicitor and conveyancing fees, a survey home buyer’s report and removals which can all mount up.
Find even more homeowner tips on the Propertynews.com blog here
