To all of you seniors out there, we have a text filled with retirement relocation tips. In the first part, we will go into detail about the process of downsizing. This is the most common solution for people who have retired, and you will see why. The second part will be dedicated to explaining the actual relocation, important details, and advice you can use for the forthcoming change. There’s this old saying, originating somewhere from the Balkans that roughly translates to ”The smart will write it down, the fool will memorize it”. Since you are rich in years, and thus, most likely wise, we’ll kindly wait for you to get a pen and a piece of paper before we begin.
Why downsizing is the right option at this moment?
Big house and a vast backyard have their advantages. Everyone from your kids to your dog has enough room to work, sleep, play and go about their day. However, as the years have gone by, your kids have set out and made their own lives, you are left with an overabundance of empty rooms that nonetheless need maintaining. All that aside, your needs, as well as your possibilities, have also shrunk in volume. What you need is a well-fitted home that is easy to maintain. That is what downsizing is about.
How to begin?
This process is not easy, and we do not mean that in a physical way. Just ask your interstate movers NYC and they’ll attest the truth of this statement. Every relocation is, in its own way, emotionally draining. Choosing what to keep and what to let go off after decades of being in the same home sounds like a dreadful business at first. However, it doesn’t have to be, and these steps will show you how:
- Take with you the items that you use most often. Belongings that have been long forgotten and only serve as dust collectors you can do fine without. Use this downsizing as the opportunity to surround yourself only with the necessary items. Go room to room and ask yourself when was the last time you used a certain item. Is it in good condition? Do you maybe have another item that can serve the same purpose? Is there someone who can make better use of it? Questions like these will help you in deciding what you should bring along, and what to toss, gift or donate.
- When you finally choose your new home, get a blueprint or a layout of the place. This will help with accessing what can fit into your new apartment. Furthermore, you will know what you can and cannot keep for the lack of available space.
- Give yourself enough time. This is a crucial step in the process of downsizing and one of the most important retirement relocation tips. If you feel tired or overwhelmed, take a break. Go for a walk or talk to someone dear. Always keep in mind that the ultimate goal is not to get rid of everything you hold dear, but to simplify your life.
- Keep your memories. If you do not have room for certain objects, take pictures. They require far less space but will help you reminisce nonetheless.
Retirement relocation tips regarding the actual move
The early bird catches the worm
As mentioned a moment ago, giving yourself enough time is highly important. This is even more achievable when you start as early as possible. Even if you still don’t have the exact moving day or the place, you can start with the sorting process. Begin with visiting the rooms that hold most items, but are seldom visited. These include the attic, basements, garage or closets. Packing takes time and is best done with a sufficient amount of hours.
Step by step
An undertaking as big as relocation is best tackled each step at a time. That is, by breaking everything into smaller tasks. Choose one small area, such as a cabinet or a drawer, and begin your work there. Day by day, and you’ll be done in no time. You can also take some time to make a list, and then follow the chores one by one. This technique is very useful for people who like to keep everything under control and be aware of their achievements.
Ask for help
Now, however onerous wearing this whole process may be, no one said you need to or even should, do it on your own. Our personal favorite of all the retirement relocation tips (for more ways than one) is to find help. Whether you prefer hiring Inwood movers or asking your friends or family to extend a helping hand, be sure to nonetheless make a choice and follow through. No one in their right mind should let you carry a couch on your own. You’ve done your fair share, and now it’s time for the younger generations do help out. Ask out assistance for any part of the move you find troublesome. Moving companies offer services of packing, loading, transferring and unpacking of all of your belongings. However, you can always hire them for a single service, say packing, and let your offspring take care of the rest.
Stay in touch
Just because you are moving doesn’t mean you have to forsake your neighbors and friends. Share your new contact information with the people you would like to stay in touch with. Besides regular phone calls, you are still allowed to visit each other, you know. And, since we are still speaking of retirement relocation tips, it would be wise to notify the bank, post office, publications, and associations of your new address. This is also the occasion in which a list comes in handy. It will ensure that you do not lose track of anyone’s notification.
