Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

Don’t screw up your golden years: What to know about downsizing when you retire

By

Downsizing isn’t just about companies saving money. If you’re preparing for a big life change — say, retirement — you might start planning to downsize certain things in your life, beginning with your home. While that can feel like a daunting decision to make, there are several reasons you might consider this change, including:

  • Economic necessity
  • Health concerns
  • Convenience
  • Relocating for retirement
  • Seller’s market

Even if you’re a few years away from retirement, if you’re planning ahead of time, then you’re already making the right moves. There’s no better move than taking your time to plan out your expenses for retirement to ensure stable financial support and have backups for worst-case scenarios.

Recommended Videos

Like all things, there’s a right way to do something and a wrong way. Discover the best way to plan for retirement and the mistakes to avoid when downsizing for retirement.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The don’ts of downsizing

Before you start planning, let’s look at some of the common mistakes made when people begin planning their retirement. Avoiding these mistakes is the first step in retiring (and downsizing) with extra money to spare. And you can’t put a price on the peace of mind that comes with financial security.

Related

Overestimating current home value

Often, many homeowners overestimate the value of their current home. Get the property appraised before you bank on your house as a large source of income for your retirement. There may be undiscovered repairs or upgrades to make, especially if you’ve owned the property for several years. Plus, if you appraise your home, you can ascertain the selling cost of comparable properties on the market.

Underestimating a new home’s cost

Conversely, just as many homeowners underestimate new home costs. Get any potential homes inspected and appraised. Don’t go off of trust, but off of thorough research. Without knowing the facts, you can’t make a fully informed financial decision.

Ignoring tax consequences

There are many tax specifications required to buy or sell a house. Whether you want to sell your home to family, gift it, or put it on the market, make sure you speak with your financial planner or CPA to assess the potential costs and fees of selling your home.

Forgetting closing costs

Buying a new residence comes with closing costs, too. If it’s been several years since you sold a home, remember that there will be many associated fees that go to the government, realtors (unless you’re selling your current house on your own), inspectors, and appraisers. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your upcoming downsize.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The do’s of downsizing

Now that you know what not to do, it’s time to dive into the wise moves you can make for downsizing when you retire. There’s more than one thing to do, which is why it’s recommended not to rush the downsizing process. The better your plan, the better positioned you’ll be for a comfortable retirement.

Assess current finances

The first step to downsizing starts with assessing your finances. You’ll need to consider when you plan to retire and how much you’ll make monthly in retirement savings. These can impact your pension and other retirement funding opportunities, especially if you have any savings accounts you plan to use for your retirement.

You’ll also need to establish current expenses and what you can afford to spend based on your expected income. Determine whether or not you’ll need a mortgage, depending on where you plan to retire to. Leaving out this detail can subtract a lot from your retirement budget.

Budget for downsizing costs

After assessing current finances, it’s time to plan for the future. You’ll have to create a special budget if you’re planning on buying a new property. There are many expenses specific to downsizing. Here are some for you to factor into your budget:

  • Realtor’s commission: The four percent to six percent of sale price which goes to a realtor
  • Closing costs: Not always required; don’t assume your new home is excluded
  • Home inspection and repairs: If you didn’t repair anything major because you avoided/forgot the inspection, you may have to cover the cost
  • Mortgage payoff: Your home sale may pay off the mortgage, unless you suffer a loan penalty for selling early
  • Capital gains tax: For any profit made from the sale of your home

Plan it out ahead of time

There’s no point in downsizing when you retire if you don’t take the time to plan it all out. Ask yourself the following questions to thoroughly plan for your future retirement. The answers can help you determine the best path forward.

  1. Who’s selling the home? You or a realtor?
  2. Are you selling any other assets? Consider recouping some of the cost of any cars, boats, and other high-value possessions you won’t need in the future.
  3. What extras can you let go of?
  4. Where will you live?
  5. What kind of house do you want? Single-family, condo, assisted living, or living with family?
  6. How will you shop for a new mortgage? Will you get a 10-, 15-, 30-year, or interest-only mortgage? Or are you planning to rent?

Downsizing can be a great idea when you reach retirement age. Everyone should have a home that fits their needs and lifestyle, and you might find yours is too big for you now. However, make sure you plan your retirement carefully — including the sale of your house — so you’re set up for success in the future.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Amanda Hoyer
Amanda Hoyer
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Degreed in Psychology and English, Amanda fell into copywriting and blogging when she discovered an innate gift for narrative…
Don’t make these 5 dumb mistakes when picking paint colors for your home
Person looking at paint swatches.

Painting the walls inside your home is a great way to freshen up your interior decor without committing to a remodeling project. But choosing the correct paint colors is a big decision -- one that you're going to have to live with for a while. The mere fact that there are so many hues to choose from can be overwhelming. Before you head to the hardware store to get paint and supplies, take some time to consider the process you're about to undertake. If you rush into a decision, you may make one of the most common mistakes people make when picking paint colors for your home.

Before you begin a home painting project, it’s essential to take the time to consider several factors. It’s important to take a step back and gather inspiration. Whether you flip through a few magazines or browse a few websites, gather ideas and images that inspire you. Think about what kind of vibe you want in each room you’re painting and choose colors that evoke those feelings. Review your choices over the next few days or weeks to ensure that what you liked yesterday you still want a few days later. Once you’ve considered the above, don’t make the mistakes below, and you’ll be well on your way to choosing paint colors that you’ll love for years to come.

Read more
Multifunctional furniture is exactly what you need for your super tiny home
Child's loft bed with office area underneath.

If you live in a tiny home or apartment, you already know how important making the most out of space is. One of the best ways to create space where there isn’t any is with multifunctional furniture. Multifunctional furniture for small spaces has come a long way over the years, and these days you can find multifunctional furniture for every room in the house. The transformable furniture of today is more than a sofa bed or fold-down table, and it comes in various styles. Check out some of our furniture space-saving ideas below.

Bedroom
Finding extra storage space in the bedroom is critical if you have small closets, a small room, or kids that share a room. If you’re running out of room in any of your bedrooms, worry not — there are some genius ideas for functional storage in the bedroom.
Try a loft bed to create an office space
Most people know about ottomans or benches that double as storage trunks for the end of the bed, and about bed frames that have drawers hidden under them. Multifunctional furniture for the bedroom has also evolved into, for example, loft beds that have entire office spaces underneath. These setups are perfect for small bedrooms because the bed and desk are often the two largest pieces of furniture in the room. Combining them into one footprint just makes sense if you’re short on space.
Get creative with storage and nightstands
If you’re in the market for a new bed, check out an option with room for under-bed storage that doubles as a bedside table. A rolling storage bin that fits under the bed can work for both practical storage and a bedside table — just roll it out at bedtime and roll it back under in the morning. A floating desk/shelving combo is another great way to create storage and workspace in one area. The shelves provide convenient storage, while the bottom can be a workstation with enough room for a laptop or pad of paper.

Read more
7 imaginative small bathroom storage trends you don’t know about yet
Small bathroom with blue tiles and floating sink

Organizing hot spot areas in the home is at the top of many homeowners' to-do lists, and the bathroom is usually one of the most challenging rooms. Having a small bathroom, though, makes it difficult to keep this high-traffic room tidy. The good news is, since tiny bathrooms are a common woe, creative ideas for maximizing storage space in the bathroom are plentiful. Here are our seven favorite small bathroom storage ideas that you may not have heard about yet.

How do you store towels in a small bathroom?
Everyone who uses the bathroom uses towels, whether for showering, washing hands, or cleaning. Keeping towels on hand in a cramped bathroom can be a challenge, though, so we looked for towel storage solutions that could hold several towels without taking up too much valuable space.
Use a ladder
Decorative ladders are all the rage. Their openness has a minimalist vibe that keeps the room feeling more spacious than an obtrusive piece of furniture like a cabinet or bookshelf. They're perfect for small bathrooms for this reason, and they don't take up a ton of floor space. You can use a ladder with small rungs to hang towels to dry, or you can find one that has wider rungs to be able to store items on them.
Install floating shelves up high
Take advantage of underutilized wall space by hanging floating shelves above your head to store towels. These shelves won't make the room feel more cramped since the eye-level portion of the wall remains uncluttered, but you'll still have your bath and hand towels within reach.
How should I store my bathroom products?
When it comes to bathroom products, most homes have a mountain of them. Keeping all those essential products, from cosmetics to cleaning supplies, organized and accessible is the key. The space under your sink is valuable real estate in the bathroom, so here are some under-sink storage ideas to keep your essentials both tidy and useful.
Hide under-sink storage with a curtain
Most small bathrooms, particularly in older homes, simply have a single pedestal sink with no storage underneath. If this is the case for your bathroom, a good way to use the space without creating a cluttered eyesore is to hang a decorative curtain around the sink to hide your storage bins.
Lazy Susan
If you have cupboards or some other hidden storage under the sink, you're among the blessed. Keeping your items accessible on the countertop or under the sink can still be a challenge, though. That's where the lazy Susan comes in. Typically used in the kitchen to store canned goods and spices in tight spaces, this turntable storage plate can also serve as bathroom product storage that keeps your essentials accessible.

Read more