Is it already time for me to be reading blogs about downsizing? How did I get here? First, don’t panic! We understand that downsizing can be exciting, scary, smart, sad- all the emotions. At Freestone Properties, we are here to help you walk through the entire process, and that includes all the downsizing tips on how you even begin to wrap your head around what that means for you and what that would look like for your situation.
Smaller homes come with a lot of perks: fewer rooms to clean, not as much (if any) yard work, lower monthly expenses, etc. But downsizing isn’t as easy as simply choosing a home that has less square footage than what you are currently living in. You have to consider finances, family, location, where to put all your belongings, and how you want to spend this next chapter of your life.
For some homeowners, that means moving into a one-level home with a low-maintenance yard. Others may prefer a condo that’s close to their favorite restaurants, a 55-and-over community with shared amenities, or a smaller single-family home near their children and grandchildren.
As you review different tips for downsizing, remember that your goal should be to create a living situation that’s more comfortable and manageable. For example, in Western North Carolina, downsizing could include choices that are unique to mountain living. A beautiful home with a long driveway, steep terrain, extensive landscaping, or multiple decks may be manageable today but require more work in the future. Planning ahead is always the right move, and can help you find a home that supports your lifestyle without it becoming another headache as you age.
Preparing For and Choosing a Smaller Home
As we mentioned above, there are several different emotions attached to downsizing. If you’ve been in your home for a long time, then you’re probably caught up on leaving a place that holds decades of memories (rightfully so). Raising your kids, hosting celebrations and holidays, playing sports in the backyard- you get the idea. Leaving can feel bittersweet, even when you know it’s the right decision at the end of the day. But having a well-designed smaller home can feel more functional than a larger house with rooms that you never even go in. We recommend creating two lists before you start your search for your downsized home:
- What things do you need in a home?
- What things do you want in a home?
Having the answers to these simple questions can help you avoid buying a smaller house that doesn’t actually fit your life.
At What Age Should Seniors Start to Downsize and Why?
We don’t have a magic number to tell you for a certain age you should start thinking about downsizing. A lot of things play a factor into when the time is right. The most common downsizing times for empty nesters tend to start after their adult children have moved out and it becomes clear that they are unlikely to return to the family home. This may also happen around the time grandchildren enter the picture. Other signs it may be your time to downsize:
- The maintenance on your house is getting harder and harder to keep up with (time and cost).
- The stairs have become your enemy.
- You want to travel more.
- Your current home is too far from where you spend all of your time.
- You would rather move while you can make decisions on your own timeline.
Tip: It’s easier to move before health concerns or an urgent family situation forces you to make a decision on the spot.
How to Sell Smartly and Downsize Happily
When you start to plan your move for downsizing, think about both sides of the sale. Yes, you’re selling your current home, but you also have to find where you will be living next and the lifestyle you want after you move. It’s important to think about what you plan to do with your free time and which parts of your current routine matter most. For example:
- Do you want to live near a golf course?
- Do you need a studio or hobby room?
- Would you like a neighborhood with organized activities?
- Is proximity to children or grandchildren a priority?
- How close do you want to be to a hospital or your doctor’s office?
- Are you comfortable with an HOA?
These questions can help you narrow in on the type of property and location that will make your move smoother.
Selling Considerations: Making the Most of Your Sale
One of the most common issues in longtime homes is deferred maintenance, outdated colors, finishes, fixtures, etc. That doesn’t mean you need to complete a full renovation before selling. Your buyer will most likely not be another baby boomer, and the new buyer will have a different style and make a lot of changes to your home. We recommend focusing on improvements that help show off the bones of the house:
- Touching up or repainting walls
- Repairing obvious defects
- Cleaning gutters and pressure-washing
- Landscaping
- Restain decking
- Replacing broken fixtures
- Deep-cleaning floors
- Organizing garages, basements, and storage areas
Our experienced real estate agents can help you figure out which projects are actually worth it and if Asheville, North Carolina is the right place for you to retire. Weren’t considering Asheville? Well, now it’s on your radar!
Decluttering and depersonalizing are also things to not ignore! Buyers need to see the space, layout, natural light, and architectural features of your home. So if you have too much clutter and personal items, it can make rooms feel smaller. Have your family members come over to grab anything they want to keep. Then figure out what you want to sell or donate. We recommend:
- Remaining useful items and furniture you’re not keeping: have an estate or garage sale or sell on Facebook Marketplace
- Any clothes you want to donate: Goodwill, Black Mountain Home for Children
Checking this off your list of things to do before you list your house can make the property easier to stage, photograph, and show… and it’s less to move later.
Buying Considerations: Choosing the Right, Smaller Home
With our experience, these are the main real estate characteristics to consider as high-priority when downsizing:
- Focus on low-maintenance, newer, recently remodeled homes. Look for low-maintenance yards or an HOA to maintain the yard and home’s exterior.
- Be sure the home offers the space for your hobbies and interests (emphasizing what we said above).
- Primary bedroom on the main level if not all one level, laundry on main level, daily living all on one level if the home has an upstairs or basement.
- Consider an elevator if it’s in your budget.
- Wider hallways and doorframes and other aging-in-place features.
- Do you want a garage?
When you’re evaluating a smaller home, your goal should be long-term function over short-term appearance. A beautifully decorated home can be appealing, but its layout, location, maintenance requirements, and accessibility will have a greater effect on daily life.
Essential Downsizing Tips for Seniors
Downsizing is a lot easier when you look at it as a series of smaller decisions instead of one enormous project. Having a plan can keep the process from becoming overwhelming. The most useful senior downsizing tips account for the entire transition, including where you will live, how you will pay for the move, what you will take, and how the buying and selling timelines will work together.
What to Do First When Downsizing
The first step is deciding where you want to go and when you want to get there. Create a realistic timeline before listing your current property. Research communities you are interested in early and ask about availability, deposits, monthly costs, construction schedules, healthcare services, transportation, pet policies, and levels of care.
For example, in the Asheville area, popular retirement communities such as Givens Highland Farms, Givens Estates, and Deerfield are assisted living places that have a waiting list- that’s why it’s important to know your wait time. If you’re interested in moving to a master plan community, you may need a plan in place prior to moving there.
Next, review your financial picture with a qualified financial or tax professional. The equity in your current home may help pay for your next property, supplement retirement savings, or reduce your monthly housing costs. Talk to us about what your house should sell for, what you should spend on your next place, or if you’re moving in with family, a second home, or assisted living, etc. Our guide to Asheville-area property taxes can help you understand how assessed values and tax bills are calculated locally. We are here for you!
What Not to Do When Downsizing
One of the biggest mistakes is selling your current home before you have a workable long-term plan. A home may sell faster than expected. If your new construction is delayed, your preferred community has a waitlist, or you haven’t found the right property, you could be forced to move into temporary housing. That may mean paying for storage, signing a short-term lease, and moving twice. Before listing, work through questions like:
- Where will you go after closing?
- Do you need to buy before selling?
- Can you purchase without using your current home’s equity?
- How much flexibility do you have with the closing date?
- What happens if construction is delayed?
Avoid rushing the decluttering process, too. Sorting through a lifetime of your belongings in a few weekends can create unnecessary stress and family conflict- and nobody wants that! A methodical process gives you more control and makes it less likely that an important decision will be made under pressure. Want more tips on a smooth, fast sale? Read our tips on quickly selling your home here!
Consider Hiring Professional, Local Help
Sometimes, you can get away with moving without hiring help and just utilizing your family and friends. But often, you will need professional support. A senior move manager or professional organizer can help sort possessions, measure furniture, create floor plans, coordinate donations, arrange movers, and unpack the new home. Estate-sale companies can value and sell items, while junk-removal or recycling services can handle belongings that cannot be donated. We have great recommendations for local Asheville businesses who can help- reach out to us for more info!
Why Downsizing in Asheville, NC Is a Smart Choice
In Western North Carolina, we are proud to offer a wide range of housing and lifestyle options! Choose from downtown condos, established neighborhoods, low-maintenance townhomes, 55-and-over communities (check out our current listings here), gated mountain developments, etc.
Why Seniors Are Choosing Asheville for Their Next Chapter
Asheville and our surrounding mountain communities are an appealing choice to seniors for several different reasons. We have four distinct seasons and lots of senior-friendly activities like:
- Golf
- Pickleball
- Hiking
- Fly fishing
- Biking
- Music
- Theater/arts
- Volunteering opportunities (Black Mountain Home for Children, SVCM, Brother Wolf, Least of These, Habitat, Homeward Bound, Manna Food Bank, Bounty and Soul)
- Great restaurants
- Community festivals
The list goes on and on! WNC is also home to multiple healthcare providers and hospital systems, and within reach of several airports, including Asheville Regional Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. If you plan to travel or want convenient connections to children and grandchildren- this is your place!
Special Considerations for Downsizing in Asheville
Buying a smaller home in the mountains involves factors that may not be as important in flatter or more urban markets. A home that appears low maintenance inside may sit on a wooded or sloped lot that requires ongoing exterior work. Similarly, an HOA may maintain roads and landscaping, but the dues and rules need to be reviewed carefully.
Navigating the Asheville Real Estate Market
Before touring homes, speak to an experienced realtor in our office to help you navigate our market. Know your finances and get pre-approved with a lender or financial professional, and determine whether you need financing.
Finding the Right Community in Asheville
Location can have a greater effect on daily life than the actual size of your home. For some buyers, a downtown Asheville condo provides the ability to walk to restaurants, entertainment, galleries, and community events. Others prefer the smaller-town feel of Black Mountain or Weaverville, where certain neighborhoods provide convenient access to shops and dining. Learn more about Asheville communities here.
A walkable location may reduce how often you need to drive, but it’s important to evaluate the specific route. Look at sidewalk conditions, hills, intersections, traffic, lighting, and the distance to places you would actually visit and see if you can picture yourself there. As we mentioned above, there are also options for 55-and-over communities with combinations of condominiums, townhomes, and detached homes.
We highly recommend spending time in each area before making a decision! Visit during different parts of the day, drive the routes you would use regularly, and pay attention to whether the community feels like home.
Tips for Making the Most of Asheville’s Unique Lifestyle
A downsized home should support the life you want outside its walls. Before choosing an area, visit Asheville and our nearby towns for more than a quick weekend. Explore restaurants, parks, shops, golf courses, events, walking trails, etc.
It’s also a good idea to consider renting for a short period or returning in different seasons if you’re not as familiar with Western North Carolina. A location that feels ideal during a cozy weekend in the fall may have different traffic, road, or maintenance considerations in winter or summer. As you explore, ask yourself:
- Where would I buy groceries?
- Is the drive comfortable after dark?
- Are there places nearby where I could meet people?
- Would visiting family have enough space?
- How much time would I spend maintaining the property?
- Does the community feel like somewhere I could belong?
The strongest downsizing tips for seniors aren’t really about owning fewer things or getting to a smaller space- they are about making deliberate choices that are best for you. A successful move can lower your workload, simplify your expenses, improve access to the places that matter, and create room for a more flexible lifestyle.
At Freestone Properties, our local agents understand the practical details of buying and selling in Asheville and the surrounding mountain communities. Our team can help you compare your options and coordinate the transition. Contact us at Freestone Properties today to begin planning your next move in Western North Carolina. We look forward to helping you write your next chapter!
