recommend starting from the “outside in,” meaning you should consider location first. Location can be need or want. If your motivation to move and downsize is to be closer to your family (whether that’s siblings or adult children with your grandchildren), then location is more of a need than a want. If you already live in the same city as family, then location is usually more of a want. Another way that location is applicable is neighborhood. If your dream house, townhouse, or condo is in a less-than-ideal neighborhood, or on a busy or unfinished road, then you might eventually regret your decision to move there. A lot of homeowners in the process of downsizing and entering their senior years really value quiet neighborhoods, and as people age, this becomes more of a need than a want. Once you’ve got the location (city, area, neighborhood, street, etc.) nailed down, then you can move on to the specific features of the home itself.
FIGURE OUT YOUR NEEDS UR NEEDS
Make a list of your needs before you make a list of your wants. Needs are the non-negotiables — the essentials, the features you must have in order to comfortably enjoy the next chapter of your life and live out your golden years. Your needs are the items that you shouldn’t make concessions on, and if a home doesn’t meet all your needs, it’s time to move on. In addition to the obvious needs of a home, such as a good, solid roof, a strong foundation and structure, and working systems, you’ll need to think about: • Minimum and maximum number of bedrooms (remember, you’re moving into a smaller space, but you still might wish to host family members, grandchildren for sleepovers, and out-of-town guests) • Minimum and maximum number of bathrooms 108
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