Moving Down To A Smaller Home Tips

By Author: Thomas Mietzel
Total Articles: 13
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Too much space, too much upkeep, too many expenses. Whatever your reasons, you are thinking of moving to a smaller home. It won’t be a hasty or an easy decision. Think it over carefully, and weigh the pros and cons it with your spouse or other family members. A number of factors will influence your decision, some of which you may not have thought of. A realtor experienced in Madison Wisconsin home sales has the background and expertise to discuss your situation objectively. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Financial considerations
One major reason why people move to a smaller home is finances. Traditionally, empty nesters downsized when their income was reduced due to retirement. Nowadays, a work layoff or marital breakup may cut into your spending power substantially, forcing you to consider downsizing at a much earlier point in your life than you might have expected. Divorcees are a significant market for Madison Wisconsin home ...
... sales these days. And it is true that, with a smaller house, your mortgage payments, heating costs and other monthly bills will generally be decreased, Don’t forget, though, to take into consideration all the costs of moving, both the obvious, like hiring a crew of professional movers, and the not so apparent. For example, you may need to renovate or at least paint the new, smaller property, as well as fixing up your current home to give it curb appeal. If you are fortunate enough to come out of the transaction with a sizeable amount of cash, plan to invest it wisely.
Scaling down
Of course, moving to a smaller home means there will be less space available for both living and storage. That means you will need to have fewer and, probably, smaller possessions. It’s never too soon to begin going through your things, scaling down, selling, giving away and if necessary, dumping. Proceeds from a garage sale can help to pay some of your moving expenses. Be creative in your decluttering; treasured photos, cds and DVDs may be stored on your computer’s external hard drive, for instance. This process can be pleasant if you are not under pressure. Reliving agreeable memories and gifting friends and family with special items are great ways to say a fond goodbye to your old home.
Choosing a smaller home
When you are ready to start looking at small homes to buy, avoid making hasty comparisons or snap decisions. The properties you see on the Madison Wisconsin real estate sales market may seem tiny at first. However, thoughtful viewing may reveal that it has hidden charms, such as super efficient use of space or a lovely terrace that could be used as an outdoor living room in pleasant weather. Bring a tape measure with you so that you can check the proportions of the rooms. This will let you see whether your furniture and appliances will fit. You can find free software that will let you “arrange” your belongings in the house’s rooms online.

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www.HomeWithTom.com or visit our blog at www.MadisonHomeSales.com