Is it time to downsize?

By Melissa McCance

Marlanea McGraw and James Campbell have been local entrepreneurs for a number of years. Marlanea is the owner of McGraw Publishing which began producing locally-focused magazines at the end of 2010 and currently puts out six different publications. James boosted the local fitness scene when he opened PRIME Fitness Studio in October 2013. PRIME is a fully-equipped gym in the heart of Hillsdale that draws a wide variety of clientele and offers individual and small group training along with open gym memberships.

Partners in life for over a decade, James and Marlanea recently became partners in business when they entered the real estate world. After obtaining their real estate agent licenses, Marlanea and James joined the active team at Coldwell Banker Groves Real Estate in Hillsdale. Besides the usual services and information you expect from real estate agents, the pair wants to share some important information about a process that is in the minds of many seniors—downsizing.

Although many people may prefer to “age in place” and stay in the home they’ve loved for years, others come to realize that their home no longer fits their needs. Some of the issues that make this evident are:

• Long driveways and walks (“I don’t care if we can’t leave the house, I am NOT shoveling all that again!”)

• Cabinets or storage areas that are difficult to access (“I wonder if the dog can tell me if those decorations are at the back of that closet.”)

• No longer wanting to deal with stairs (“OK, I forgot my shoes. Getting them means climbing the stairs. Again. Heck, maybe no one will notice I’m wearing slippers.”)

• Maintaining the yard has become too big a chore (“We’re trying the natural look—sort of a combination of prairie and rain forest.”)

• Bathtubs are hard to get in and out of (“What we need in this bathroom is a hoist!”)

For convenience, comfort, and safety, many seniors decide they want a one-level home with hallways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, walk- in showers with a bench, zero-step entries, and located not too far from medical facilities and family. Expense is also a consideration, as larger homes have higher utility and maintenance costs.

There’s also the social aspect. While there’s a lot to be said for spending time with people of many generations, there’s also a level of comfort and ease in being able to socialize with those who share your frame of reference, who loved the same music in high school and college, who lived through the same historic events, and remember the same old movies and television shows.

“If a neighborhood demographic is becoming younger and younger, remaining seniors may feel isolated and out of touch,” said Marlanea.

For those seeking social connections to peers, relocating to a senior living community can be the perfect answer. Not only do these facilities provide housing, but they also offer transportation, support, security, and activities. Many also have assisted-living apartments and skilled nursing units that are available to those who need to transition out of fully independent living.

When you’re no longer using all the rooms or features of your home, you could decide you’re no longer really wanting to heat, cool, and clean them, not to mention the higher property taxes and insurance you’re paying for a larger house. If you’re both retired, do you truly need a home office? Are you using that swimming pool enough to merit the work of maintaining it? What about that unused bay in your garage?

Grandchildren can be a powerful motivation to relocate, and that relocation almost always means downsizing as well. Even if seniors don’t actually move closer to adult children and grandchildren, they may downsize to a condo or senior living community to free themselves from home maintenance responsibilities. This allows greater freedom for traveling to see family or to explore the world, and proceeds from selling their previous, larger home can provide additional discretionary funds to enjoy their retirement.

Whatever your reason might be to downsize, work with a professional to make that change. The right time to do it is when it’s right for you. Don’t base this decision on what the housing market is doing, because if you sell before you’re emotionally ready to let go of your old home, you could end up regretting it.

James and Marlanea would love to help you make this transition by handling the sale of your current home and finding your new perfect place to live. You can reach them by phone or via email. Call or text Marlanea at 517-320-9235 or James at 517-817-6475. Their email address is dynamicduo@coldwellbanker.com and their website is dynamicduo.realestate.

The duo also hosts housewarming parties for their new homeowners so they can celebrate their new home with family and friends.