One tip is to try viewing the prospective new home at different times during the day. This helps to give you a better idea of, and a clearer picture of, what it will be like to live in that home and in that area in the morning, afternoon, evening. What’s the traffic like? Are there a lot of stray animals around? How safe does the neighborhood feel? How busy and noisy is it? These last two questions are particularly important for homeowners who are downsizing as they enter retirement and their senior years. They have valid concerns about safety and security, as well as noise levels, and you as a buyer absolutely need to factor these conditions in as you consider moving into a new home. But don’t do all this viewing alone. Let your agent do his or her job. You will appear vulnerable, which is not only a safety and security concern, but also a concern about seller’s agents taking advantage of you, assuming you don’t have proper representation. Yet another reason why I recommend hiring a real estate agent to help you properly navigate each step of the downsizing process, including searching for and viewing prospective homes.
AVOID EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT
We’ve talked about emotions several times throughout this book. Homeowners who are now empty nesters and/or nearing retirement and/or entering their senior years are often emotional when it comes to downsizing, as they leave behind their longtime family homes, full of memories, and downsize. However, it’s important to remember that a house is just a house, and home is wherever you are, and you can take those memories with you while looking forward to living your best years yet in a space that will better accommodate your needs and new lifestyle! When it comes to searching for your new home, you also need to keep your emotions at bay. You might “fall in love” with a
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