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How to Downsize for Retirement

Is it really downsizing if it turns out to be the right size for you in this next stage of life? When retirement arrives, there are likely a couple of things that no longer fit your lifestyle, your house being one of them. Your forever home was great for when the kids were running around, but now you need something that suits your new needs. If you're looking to sell your house fast in Fort Wayne, downsizing could be the right move — and working with cash home buyers in Fort Wayne makes it even easier.

Woman smiling receiving some keys


Benefits of Downsizing

Downsizing comes with two parts: the house and your stuff. Downsizing your home usually means you are going to move into a smaller space. This smaller space usually means:

  • Lower mortgage payments or no mortgage at all!
  • Reduced property taxes and insurance
  • Less maintenance costs

Saving on these expenses can help prolong your retirement fund. Plus, you can choose a living space that is more tailored to your current needs. If stairs are a chore, you can move to a ranch-style house. Or, you can move to an area you have always wanted to explore and be near convenience like doctor offices and grocery stores.

In the second part of downsizing, is your stuff. You have experienced many things in life and have more than enough evidence to prove it. Some of the items you have collected over the years may be better suited to a new owner or passed to a family member. Downsizing your things will save you time in the long run once you find your new living space to settle into.

Start Sooner than Later

As you were told early in your career to start saving for retirement sooner rather than later, now it is the same with downsizing. For example, if you have lived in a home for over 20 years, you have 20 years of stuff to go through and sort. From your kids’ trophies to books to décor, you have a lot to go through. You don’t want to deal with that during the mad dash to close on your new living space.

Elderly Couple Smiling while Packing


Instead, slowly go through each room of your house and organize and declutter in bite-sized, manageable chunks, perhaps over the course of a year. The sooner you start, the sooner you can move on to the perks of retirement with peace of mind and less on your plate.

Organize & Declutter

It’s time to clean up! With all your stuff, there are several ways you can go about organizing and decluttering.

  • Sell items – Whatever you don’t use anymore or were saving for a rainy day, sell them! You can recoup some of the costs, and it becomes a treasured item for someone else.
  • Throw away broken junk – If it’s broken and you haven’t fixed it, then it is time to dispose of it. This is the easiest way to get rid of your items.
  • Donate – Items you can’t sell and aren’t junk can be donated to family and friends or charitable organizations. Sharing some of your precious things can leave you feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside.
  • Scale down any collections – Collections are unique and great to show off, but take up lots of space. Keep your favorite pieces and pass the collection on to greener pastures.
  • Reduce paper clutter – In the digital age, you don’t need to keep as much paper! There are plenty of ways to digitize documents and keep them stored on a computer. Between a computer and several filing cabinets, the computer is easier to access and takes up less space.
  • Cut back on closet space – Wardrobes are usually filled with new, old, and borrowed clothing. It’s time to go through and decide what makes the cuts in your retirement chapter and what doesn’t.

Closet with Cloths and Boxes


When you are decluttering, keep the things that really matter and hold sentimental meanings. And organize as you go! Find totes and boxes and clearly mark what you plan to take with you and what you want to leave behind.

Sell Your House

Downsizing requires a lot of work. Selling your house doesn’t have to be as complicated. A quick and sure way to sell your house is to sell it to WCC Properties. You can take out the guesswork of how much you will get and find out within 24 hours of scheduling an appointment with them. Plus, you get a cash offer to catapult your retirement adventure.

This easy selling solution leaves you with cash in your hand and out of the traditional real estate game where you have to spend money to update your home, make any necessary repairs, go through a lengthy underwriting process, etc. After you accept WCC Properties’ offer, you can close in less than 48 hours and take up to 30 days to move out!

Relocate on Your Terms

Finally, where do you want to live? You can live closer to the grandchildren or pick a place near your favorite golf course. Or, you can move to your favorite vacation spot and live there all year long. The world is your oyster! Wherever your next stop is, WCC Properties is here to help you move forward stress-free. If you’re looking for cash home buyers near me, call today and get a fair cash offer with no pressure or hidden fees.