Your Forever Home Hunt Made Easier
YOUR FOREVER HOME HUNT MADE EASIER
Anytime in your life, the process of looking for and finding a new home is a daunting task. There is so much to do and so much to consider. This is especially true if you are considering a move when you retire. There are many reasons why you would move when one of you retires – a move to the beach, to the mountains, closer to family, a 55+ Community. Whatever the reason, you can take your time to think about and consider all of the options before you make a move. And you should take your time and plan because moving when you are 50+ is so-o-o- much more difficult than the moves you made when you were younger. Believe me, I know!
Deciding the place and the type of dwelling you want to move to is so much easier if you begin planning way before you retire. You can start by using a workbook or journal to write down your thoughts on the type of local you want; cities or states you would consider; or reasons why you would move, like to be closer to family. You and your spouse – or significant other – should write down your thoughts and then compare notes. You might start out in the total agreement, or not. It makes no difference as long as you talk through your reasons and make the best choices for both of you.
Choosing Where To Live In Retirement Is Necessary.
Your retirement plans may also determine where you retire to and what type of home or community you choose. For example, if you are golfers and want to play several times a week, living close to or on a golf course could be a consideration. And, if you want to play all year long, then you would think about a southern or western locale. If you are looking for planned activities and socialization with people of the same age and inclinations, then a 55+ Community would be a place to look at.
Again, writing down your thoughts and comparing notes is a great place to start your journey. Keep in mind also, that your goals or desires may change over the months or years you are planning. This is normal as changes occur in our health, our financial situation, and with our families. Referring back to your journals will help remind you of the reasons you made decisions and should help you keep on track when changes happen.
Once you have determined when and where you want to move in retirement, then the next question is the home and property itself. For me, I am looking for a low to no maintenance lifestyle with my forever home. I do not want to cut grass, rake leaves, trim bushes, paint, clean gutters, or do any outside maintenance. There will be enough work inside the home with meal prep and clean-up, shopping, cleaning, and so on. I want my time spent playing and socializing, so a 55+ Community is on our radar.
Other benefits of a 55+ Community include convenience, health providers, activities and socialization. Convenience usually means businesses nearby for grocery, clothing, and other shopping opportunities. The community usually has a clubhouse with a pool, fitness center, meeting rooms, and a dining room that is centrally located to the homes in the community. The clubhouse normally also offers opportunities like clubs, groups, and activities for socialization. Doctor’s and Dental offices and Hospitals or Emergency Rooms are usually located next to or close to the community making it easy to take care of yourself.
Your idea of retirement may be just the opposite. Perhaps you are looking forward to doing the yard work, putting in a garden, or landscaping your property. If so, then your choices involve where you want to go – the beach? The Mountains? Closer to family? Regardless of your choice, you may find yourself in the market for a new home. And normally, your new home in retirement will be smaller and less filled with furniture, knick-knacks, and collectibles.
A smaller home normally means you will find yourself downsizing, selling off, and giving away many of the items you have collected over the year. This can be a difficult task, not only for the emotional attachment that you have with these items, but you may find that your family doesn’t want your stuff. So you are faced with the task of selling or donating items. Just know that this will take time, so the sooner you start to consider this step, the better.
When was the last time that you looked for a new house? You will probably look at several options and take in a lot of information. There is no way that you can remember all of the details about every house you visit. In our journey, we have found that putting all of the information in a spreadsheet, was the answer. We put down all of the possible things to ask about the home, the area, and we filled the info in at each place we visited. We also took a picture of the outside of each home to help us connect the outside with the info inside.
Enjoy the process of finding your forever home, but make the process easier by planning and being organized with your information. Good luck on finding your forever home!
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Written by Diana Fuller
Written by Diana Fuller
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