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Six key considerations for your downsized home

Date Posted: May 5, 2022

When deciding the location and layout of your downsized home, there are many things to take into consideration.

Here are some of the biggest deciding factors:

  1. Location

The location of your home can have a big impact on your lifestyle. What’s important to you?

  • Proximity to public transport

If you don’t drive or want to enjoy a lifestyle of connectivity, finding a home close to public transport could be a great option.

  • Proximity to local amenities

Having shopping centres, cafes, medical facilities and other key amenities close to home helps to create a lifestyle of ease.

  • Proximity to family and friends

If you have a close family and friendship network, you may want to stay close by.

  • Proximity to nature or the seaside

This could be the perfect opportunity to move to the location of your dreams; whether it’s a charming country town or a coastal oasis.

  1. Accessibility

As we age, our agility naturally declines. This means that everyday activities like climbing stairs or reaching into high cupboards become more difficult. For this reason, you may feel it’s best to choose a home that’s single storey, with a floorplan specifically designed for easy accessibility.

  1. Floorplan

Different lifestyles require different home layouts and floorplans. What features are you looking for in your downsized home?

  • Number of bedrooms

If you’ve got children, grandchildren and friends who often spend the night, you may be looking for a home that has two or more bedrooms. If you’re searching for something that’s the perfect size for just you, or you and your significant other, a one-bedroom home could be just right. You may even be looking for a home with a versatile room that could function as a study, hobby room or additional bedroom when required.

  • A private garden

If you enjoy gardening, or simply enjoy spending time in your own outdoor space, a home with its own garden could be essential.

  • Plenty of storage

Whether you’re someone who has a hard time culling your belongings, or you’re someone who likes to keep their belongings out of sight, a home with plenty of storage space could be highly desirable.

  • An enclosed and secure garage

Parking on the street can leave you feeling nervous about the safety of your car. And sometimes a driveway or carport doesn’t cut it – especially if you have items you’d like to keep locked up safely. If these points resonate with you, then a home with a secure garage is definitely the way to go.

  1. Social spaces

If you’re imagining a downsized life that involves being socially connected, making the most of on-site amenities and getting involved in shared activities, then community living could be the best option for you. Of course, Downsizing Communities enable you to choose and control your level of involvement in shared activities.

  1. Pet friendly

If you’ve got a furry baby, finding a home that’s pet friendly is essential.

  1. Privacy

If sharing walls, ceilings or floors and living in close proximity to your neighbours isn’t your style, finding a stand-alone home would be most ideal.

Want more information on downsizing? Check out our collection of informative blogs.

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash