Retirement is the second most common reason for moving after a job change. Many choose to relocate during their senior years based on weather, proximity to family, convenience, or downsizing. Although moving at any time can be a stressful event especially if you’re in recovery, moving post-retirement may involve clearing out decades of accumulated belongings if you’ve been in one home for a good while. So allow yourself plenty of time to make the big decisions and approach the process of downsizing with patience.
Make the new place secure and workable
We all want to feel safe in our homes, and this should be a focus as you set up your new place. You may want to add a home security system, motion detector lights, deadbolts on windows and doors, and/or security cameras. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors will help to ensure that you’re alerted if problems with fresh air or fire should occur. If you already have such devices in the home, begin by installing fresh batteries in them.
If grandchildren or other kids will be visiting, it’s important to child-proof your home. When you set up utilities for your new place, consider going with automatic payments directly from your bank account. You might want to create an outdoor area, such as a porch, patio, balcony, or backyard, where you have comfortable seating, outdoor cooking facilities, or a garden.
Make it feel like home
Remember that it takes some time to feel at home in a new place, so it won’t happen overnight. Begin by giving the place a thorough cleaning, which is a great way to become more familiar with your home. You can enlist professional help for the tasks you’d rather not do. Make good use of any available natural light. Top-down blinds are a good option since they let in light and still provide privacy. Sometimes mirrors can be used to reflect light coming in a window and give a more spacious look, too.
Be sure to hang your favorite pictures, and have some familiar beloved objects where you can enjoy them. You may want to add a few new touches, too, such as a brand-new welcome mat at the front door. A fresh coat of paint can brighten things up and add either calming or enlivening colors, as you like.
Consider a home warranty
A home warranty is an annually renewable insurance policy that covers the major appliances and systems in your new home. This is different from home insurance which covers damage from weather, accidents, or break-ins. A home warranty can be customized to cover the heating and air conditioning systems, kitchen appliances, and in some cases, even electrical or plumbing systems. Such a policy can provide peace of mind, particularly if you bought a home with older appliances or an HVAC system that is nearing the end of its life.
When looking for warranty companies in Arizona, it’s important to check out the reviews for various companies and consider what they cover, the cost, the level of customer service offered, and what your needs and concerns are.
Moving after you retire can bring many challenges as well as a fresh start. If you downsize, you may be delighted with the reduction in home maintenance chores you’ll have to do. While culling your belongings in order to give away, sell, donate, or discard them can be a big task, you’ll feel a good bit less encumbered without all those things. You can decorate your new place, so it feels like home to you. While you’re setting up your life in the new dwelling, consider purchasing a home warranty to cover the costs of repairing major appliances or systems in your home. Once the dust has settled, and things are put away, you’ll be enjoying your life in the place that now feels like home.
If you’re a senior in recovery, join the Seniors In Sobriety Zoom meeting to find support and keep your recovery on track.
Article author: Teresa Greenhill – info@mentalhealthforseniors.com