There comes a time in many people’s lives when you start to weigh up how big your home really needs to be.

The kids have probably moved out, there are extra rooms and unused space everywhere, and you just don’t have the same requirements that you once did.

It sounds like you’re ready to downsize your home. But as a downsizer, how do you choose the best property for you?

Here are some key factors you should consider.

There are many benefits to downsizing your home if you choose the right property for your needs. Picture: Getty

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Are you a senior downsizing? Stick with single-level

Woodards agent Nelson Machuca says most downsizers prefer homes that are based exclusively on one level, to avoid them having to walk up and down stairs as they get older.

“The ones that we find are most popular for that demographic are properties that are all at ground level,” Machuca says.

“They (homes) don’t have any staircases or anything like that. If they do have staircases or that type of scenario, then look for the properties that have the main bedroom downstairs with an ensuite. They’ll probably sacrifice the first level, or rarely ever use it, but they often like to have it for when people visit.”

To future-proof your mobility in the home, narrow your search to single-level homes. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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Small enough to maintain, big enough to entertain

Dinners with friends, family gatherings and other social occasions are all important to many downsizers, so choosing a house that has large entertaining areas, and room for family and grandchildren to sleep, is important.

“They want a nice kitchen where they can entertain,” Machuca says.

“A lot of these people, even though they’re downsizing, they’re still having friends and family coming and staying with them, so ideally speaking they’re still looking for a three-bedroom home but in a much more compact block. So no big backyard or anything like that – very easy to maintain.”

Double down on garaging

A large garage is important for most downsizers for a couple of reasons, Machuca says.

Firstly, the majority of downsizing couples will have two cars. And secondly, a garage provides additional storage space.

“A double garage is certainly a necessity for a lot of those people,” he says.

“They’re still perhaps both driving, and it provides security and gives them more storage, which is important when they’re downsizing.”

A double garage with ample storage space is essential for many downsizers. Picture: Getty

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Adequate internal space

Just because you’re downsizing your home, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re prepared to part with a large number of your possessions.

Machuca says that if you’re smart with your property selection, you’ll find a home that will accommodate most of your former house’s contents.

“One thing that’s often extremely important for them is the current furniture that they have, and whether it’s going to fit into the standard of property that they’re going to be moving into,” he says.

“A lot of them will try and keep the heirlooms and furniture that they have, so they’ll look for a home that is substantially big enough to maintain their main pieces of furniture.”

Downsizing doesn’t necessarily include your belongings, so ensure that your new living areas are large enough to house them. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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A familiar location

Unless they’re chasing a dramatic sea change or a lifestyle switch, the majority of downsizers are looking for a home somewhere close by to their current location, Machuca says.

“A lot of people have spent their entire life there, so they don’t want to go too far from where they are.”

“From a financial point of view that also makes a lot of sense, because if they’re downsizing home in the same suburb or area that they’re currently living in, it’s going to be a pretty straightforward transaction and they’re going to end up with some money in their pocket.”

Search tool: Discover new homes, house and land packages in Australia.

This article was originally published on
9 Feb 2018 at 2:27pm
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.

While making the decision to downsize your family home might sound daunting and overwhelming, it can also be a liberating and thrilling adventure when you realise you can enjoy the lifestyle you’d only dreamed of.

There are many factors to consider when deciding where you want to live, including the amenities you want, your ideal location and increased connectivity.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing where you’d like to spend your golden years.

Consider the lifestyle you want when you downsize.

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Choose a central location

If you’ve always lived close to essential services and transport links, or haven’t in the past but want to now, consider if your intended location is well connected. Maybe you want to be within walking distance of shops and services or close to the airport to make travelling easier.

It was precisely these considerations that made Ascot House an attractive option for Bill and Vanessa Gamack. This recently completed apartment development overlooks the Eagle Farm Racecourse just 6km north-east of Brisbane’s CBD.

Ascot House’s trackside location is just 6km from Brisbane CBD and 400m from a bus and train station.

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They know the area well: for 30 years they lived about 5km west of Ascot in a large Queenslander with their sons, who are now aged 30 and 21.

“Vanessa went to the Eagle Farm markets to buy fruit and veggies one day and came home with an apartment. True story,” Bill says.

“We both have connections here and wanted to be able to walk to the shops, and be close to transport, the airport and friends.”

Find somewhere with a good community

Just because you’re downsizing, it doesn’t mean you need to start over again in terms of community. Consider a place that will suit your personality and passions – if you like to get out and about, choose an established area with a bustling community and welcoming vibe.

The Gamacks say they kept coming back to Ascot because Vanessa grew up close to the Racecourse, her sister lived nearby and they both had friends in the next suburb.

“We’ve also met a few of our neighbours through Mirvac functions and we got to know half a dozen families before we moved in,” Bill says.

“Everyone we’ve met has been equally happy. It’s a nice community.”

The resident’s amenities are just as impressive as the nearby sporting facilities, shops and restaurants.

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Make sure there’s access to recreational facilities

Be sure that when you move, you’ll still have plenty of recreational activities on-site, or parks and sporting facilities nearby. If shopping and eating out is more your thing, make sure local markets and restaurants are within walking distance.

Just 700m from Ascot House is the new Racecourse Village retail precinct and a little further is the burgeoning Racecourse Road, a promenade packed with a range of businesses and services that also hosts race day parties and festivals.

Bill says he loves living centrally and not having to get in the car all the time to do the shopping. He also admits he’s been “blown away by the building itself, the amenities, the rooftop deck and gardens” of Ascot House.

A new apartments means new fixtures, fittings and appliances.

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Don’t compromise on quality

The beauty of choosing a new home is that you won’t have to spend your weekends fixing the hot-water system or broken dishwasher – the appliances, fixtures and fittings are all brand new and built to last.

When choosing the right apartment, be sure to inspect the floorplan and check the layout is going to suit your future needs. For example, does it have a spare room for visitors or older children?

These stunning uninterrupted views over the Racecourse will never be built out.

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The Gamacks have their own wing in their Ascot House apartment, and there’s a separate area for the son who lives with them. With plenty of cupboard space and storage, the apartment was able to fit most of their furniture from the larger house.

“We look over the racecourse so have uninterrupted views that can’t be built out, and we just love the way the apartment has been built, it just flows really well,” Vanessa says.

Ensure you’ll have peace of mind when travelling

Importantly, you want a smooth and stress-free downsizing experience and a home that will be safe and looked after if you want to lock it up and go adventuring like Bill and Vanessa often do.

The couple just returned from three months overseas and knew that while they were away from their abode, they didn’t have to worry about safety, mowing lawns or tending to the pool.

“Yes we’ve downsized, which took a little while to get used to, but that dissipated very quickly as this feels spacious,” Bill says.

“We’re very happy here.”

All images supplied by Mirvac. 

This article was originally published on
25 Sep 2018 at 12:01am
but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.