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 home that doesn’t meet all your criteria (your list of needs, as per Chapter 14). But then you might end up making a major decision that you’ll regret in the end. Never make an emotional decision when it comes to buying your next home. At this stage in your life, you don’t want to have to start the home selling and buying process all over again, do you? No. You want to enjoy your best years yet, living out your golden years in relaxation, comfort, and leisure—not stress.
So how do you avoid becoming too attached? One trick you
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