Retirement and Downsizing 

What size and type of home should I live in?

There comes a time is peoples lives when the house they are in starts to feel too big or too empty.  This is usually because family members have grown up and either moved out on their own, perhaps children have moved out of town to go to school or maybe just because having a large home has become a chore.  What ever the reason, when this times comes, many people find this a terribly difficult time and often don’t know where to start the process.  This is where we can help.  We will walk you through the process and give you as little or as much assistance as you need.  We feel that there are three main decisions that you must make one you have decided to downsize.  The three decisions are as follows:

• An agent:  First and foremost you have to choose and agent which you feel comfortable working with.  One that has experience and whom has your beliefs and will guide you to make decision that is in your best interest.  You can choose an agent based on a friends or families referral.  You can go into an office near you or where you want to move and ask for a good agent, but one that is not too busy to service you, so that you are not being serviced by an assistant.  Or you can read articles and find an agent that you can relate to their thoughts and beliefs.

• Location:  Location, location, location.  When it comes to real estate location is one of the most important things to consider.  You may want to think of moving to a location next to or close to amenities.  You may want to be walking distance to shopping, banks, drugs stores and cleaners so if you don’t want to drive or can’t drive you don’ t have too.  You may want to live near to where your children are, or maybe fare away.  If you drive or work and use highways, that may be a consideration.

• Type of home:  If you enjoy working in or having a yard, you may want to downsize to a smaller home, a bungalow with no stairs or a townhouse, which would still allow you the enjoyment of a yard.  However, if the upkeep is getting too much and the yard is still really of importance to you, condo townhouse may just be your answer.  If travel and carefree life is what you are looking for, then a condo may be the perfect fit.  You don’t have to worry about newspapers, mail, snow removal or lawn care; your maintenance covers this and these jobs are contracted out.  If you want to travel or leave for a few days, you can lock your door and away you go.

We as your agent can help you with any of these questions and more.  We can also help with things like what to do to prepare your present home for sale, or for staging it, mortgage lender, home inspectors, Lawyers, Insurance brokers, handy men, contractors, tradesmen, painters even people trained in de-cluttering and packing you up and moving you.  To speak to us about your personal needs, please feel free to call Carey and Sharon Rosenzweig at (416) 818-2600.