As a senior, you have so many choices when it comes to picking your next home. Right now, you also have to think about the ways that COVID-19 might affect your move. Not only has the pandemic changed the way people buy houses, it also raises questions about health and safety that you’ll want to consider when choosing a home. Below, learn how to navigate these choices and find the best housing option for your next move.
Housing Options to Choose From
Picking the right type of housing can be overwhelming due to the number of options you have. When narrowing down your choices, it’s important to consider things such as location, home size, your budget and your health needs.
Many seniors find it works best to buy a new house that’s better suited to their needs. For example, you might want to move into a smaller home that’s easier to maintain. Or you may want a single-story home that will allow you to age in place. In any case, browsing local listings (Lake Tahoe home sales average $653,000) is a great way to see what’s out there to choose from. Be sure to discuss your options with a skilled and reputable realtor in the area. Tilly Mezger has the integrity, knowledge, and experience needed to find you a home to suit your needs.
As an alternative to buying a place, you may want to consider retirement communities as well as assisted living facilities. When weighing these options, it’s important to understand the different types of facilities you can choose from. Independent living communities are great for people who want special amenities but still want to maintain their independence in their own condo, townhome, or apartment. Assisted living facilities, on the other hand, are geared toward people who need help with tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, or other activities of daily living.
Will COVID-19 Affect Your Choice?
No matter where you decide to move, the process will probably be different than you’re used to because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you buy a house, for example, you might see a lot more virtual tours rather than in-person showings or open houses. And if you move into a retirement community or assisted living facility, you’re sure to have more questions than usual about the community’s health protocols.
You can still move during the pandemic, but you’ll want to follow safety measures for yourself and the movers who you hire. Keep in mind that even if the pandemic has ended by the time you actually move, it might still have lasting effects on the process.
The Downsizing Process
Deciding where to live next is just part of the equation. If you’re like most seniors, you probably also want to downsize when moving into your new place. Downsizing can mean getting rid of some of your items, or it can simply mean moving into a smaller home. But in most cases, downsizing involves both.
There are countless benefits of living in a smaller home than you currently do. There’s less to clean, but it can also be cozier and more intimate. And if you live in a retirement community or other similar place, lawn care and maintenance will usually be handled for you as well.
To live comfortably in a smaller house, you’ll probably want to do some decluttering. It’s easy to collect a lot of possessions over your life, but moving to a new home gives you the perfect opportunity to reassess.
It can be incredibly difficult to let go of possessions when they are still useful or hold sentimental value. However, House Beautiful says that there are ways to keep the memories without having to keep your items.
If you aren’t sold on the idea yet, decluttering also has many psychological benefits and can make your home safer. When there is less stuff to clean up or walk around, it reduces your chance of falling.
Moving to a new home can be overwhelming, but it’s also exciting to start the next chapter of your life. Whether you buy a new home or move into a community with other seniors, it helps to declutter and focus on the items you actually want to bring with you. And remember, it’s always okay to ask for help when you feel stuck at any point in the process.
