mature couple moving boxes into new downsized home

How to Downsize After Your Children Leave Home 

As children leave home, many parents find themselves in larger spaces. Besides being hard to maintain, these spaces may feel underutilized.

This transition often results in empty nesters thinking about downsizing. The concept is common in the US, with most children leaving their homes to study or work at some point.

According to Redfin, 28% of the nation’s large homes are owned by empty-nest baby boomers. Surprisingly, that’s double the number of homes owned by millennials with kids, who sit at just 14%.

Even if a fraction of empty nesters consider downsizing, you can imagine the sheer number. 

Downsizing is a wise move as it can save you money and the effort of cleaning and maintaining a large home. However, you must make calculated moves to get the best deal and find the ideal new house.

In this article, we will share a few strategies for empty nesters to achieve both of these goals. 

Start with The Decluttering Process

Decluttering your home is likely to be one of the most challenging aspects of downsizing. Over the years, homes accumulate various items.

In fact, about 2.6% of all Americans are at risk of accumulating because they struggle with hoarding disorder . USA Today notes that the figure comes up to 8 million people in the country. 

While much of the stuff may be useless, many things hold sentimental value. After all, parting with your child’s first toy or old books may sound painful.

There are no shortcuts to decluttering, but a little determination makes it doable.

Begin by categorizing belongings into essentials, sentimental items, and things to sell or donate. Tackle this process room by room, picking less emotionally charged spaces first to build momentum. 

You can scan photos and make digital albums to preserve memories without occupying physical space. Once done, you will be in a better place to move on and accommodate your stuff in a smaller home.

Be Ready to Compromise

Flexibility is the key to effortless downsizing when your kids are off to start a new life of their own. Be willing to compromise on your vision for the new space.

As a couple, partners may have different priorities regarding what they want in the new space. This may even result in conflicts.

Open communication about expectations and preferences can help you make a smooth transition. Discussing what aspects are most important, such as location, size, or amenities.

An open mind is the only way to reach a shared vision that satisfies both parties.

You can also involve family members in discussions about what to keep or let go of. Including your kids can ease the emotional burden and help everyone adjust to the changes ahead.

Sell at a Good Price

With downsizing, you may find exciting possibilities for new living arrangements. Before that, you will have to sell your old home. According to Business Insider, people planning to sell and downsize today are lucky.

After the pandemic, the real estate market has witnessed a gain of nearly 50%. That means you can pocket big cash by moving to a smaller place. 

However, in tight markets like the Bay Area, selling your home may take several months.

Thankfully, you can bypass the conventional selling process that requires effort with listing, staging, showing, and closing. If you’re looking to sell your house fast in the Bay Area, click here to discover a hassle-free solution.

According to John Buys Bay Area Houses, selling for cash is the ideal solution for empty nesters.

These buyers offer fair deals for sellers looking to close the process fast. You can also sell as-is and move ahead with your downsizing goals.

Explore Living Options

Once you are done with the deal, it is time to explore your options. With this transition, you have the freedom to choose a space that better suits your current lifestyle.

You can move into a lively condo, a calm cottage by the lake, or a cozy townhouse closer to amenities. 

Since you don’t have your kids around, you are no longer tied to school districts or local sports fields. At this stage, you should focus on living near parks, shopping centers, or cultural venues to enjoy your quality of life.

Consider the economic benefits of downsizing as well. Forbes notes that you may actually love living in a small home due to the cost savings this brings.

Small spaces are less expensive to buy and maintain. Your taxes, heating and cooling bills, and insurance costs drop. 

This financial windfall can boost your retirement savings and create room for leisure activities such as travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do with sentimental items while downsizing?

Parting with your sentimental belongings is the hardest part of the downsizing process. Fortunately, there are ways to keep them without adding clutter.

You can digitize photographs and documents as lasting memories. Physical items like heirlooms can be passed on to your children. 

How do I manage emotional attachments during the downsizing process?

Moving out of a house where you have built a family and raised your kids is never easy. You can deal with emotional attachments by acknowledging your feelings in the first place.

Take time to reflect on why certain items are significant enough to be carried to your new place. Focus on keeping only those that truly bring joy or serve a purpose in your life.

When is the best time to downsize after my children leave home?

The ideal time varies for each family, depending on different factors. For example, you can consider doing it after retirement or when your children have established their own homes.

Assess your readiness based on personal circumstances instead of following the timelines based on children’s ages or life stages.

Downsizing homes is a natural progression when your children leave you with an empty nest. However, the transition should be well-planned so that you can find a perfect new home and live a happy life ahead.

With these simple steps, downsizing as an empty nester can be a breeze.