5 Great tips to try when downsizing in retirement
Retirement should not be considered as the end of a chapter, but rather the start of one! This is an exciting phase when the stress of work life is replaced by travel, hobbies, relaxation, and being more social. However, before embarking on this new adventure, it’s often necessary to downsize to accommodate this new lifestyle.
“There is a definite trend in South Africa to retire in secure estates where community, activities and healthcare are all in easy reach,” explained Jonathan Acutt, Managing Director of Acutts Real Estate. “This move does usually require downsizing from a larger family home into a more convenient space. This can be an incredibly stressful and emotional time as you part with possessions you’ve lived with for years. However, there are a few ways to make this a much easier process.”
1. Find your ideal home
According to Acutt, the first step is to find the right home for one’s retirement needs: “You will need to consider location, access to amenities, healthcare services, and any other services and facilities to enhance your lifestyle in retirement years. Many estates also have options ranging from apartments and maisonettes to free-standing homes, depending on your preference. Once you’ve found the home, you will have a clear idea of the space you’re working with and what you can bring with you.”
2. Consider the services
“One of the major benefits of living in an estate is that you are relieved of your maintenance duties, and this extends to the garden as well,” explains Acutt. “This means you won’t need to bring your heavy-duty gardening and cleaning equipment with you, as the estate garden and maintenance team will handle everything.”
3. Start as early as possible
“Most things are best not left until the last minute and downsizing is one of them,” he continued. “The most effective way to get through the process is to start chipping away by donating and selling items you won’t be taking with you now. There might be friends and family who would love to give some of your furniture a new home, or you can make some extra cash by selling items.”
4. Try categorising
“When going through household items, it’s best to separate them into items you’re going to keep, those you’re going to donate or discard, and finally those you want to sell,” explains Acutt. “If you’re retiring to an estate, there’s likely to be facilities such as a clubhouse where you can host gatherings. This means you won’t need to keep that additional crockery, cutlery, and glassware, which frees up a lot of space.”
5. Remember the benefits
“Many people find the process of downsizing quite freeing actually,” says Acutt. “You start to realise that the less ‘stuff’ you have, the less you have to worry about. It’s also important to focus on the emotional benefit that comes with downsizing from a big home into a secure, lock-up-and-go option. If you want to go visit family, go travelling, or simply get away for the weekend, you can do so.”
When considering downsizing to a secure lifestyle estate, a trip to see Renishaw Hills on the KZN Mid-South Coast must be top of mind. This Scottburgh-based estate offers state-of-the-art security, access to high-end facilities, extensive nature trails, on-site healthcare, and welcoming clubs and communities. The stunning coastal location provides residents with easy access to the warm Indian Ocean, top dive sites, as well as great golf courses!
Renishaw Hills is the first development within the 2.6-million-square-metre Renishaw Coastal Precinct. This ground-breaking, mixed-use precinct will include residential, retail, educational, healthcare and light industrial/commercial zones.
