Downsizing your home
Are you considering a change in your living situation and looking to create a more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable lifestyle? Downsizing to a new build could be the perfect solution.
On paper, downsizing seems easy and in many respects it is. However, moving away from the house you have lived in for many years and streamlining your life can create challenges.
Let's take a look at how you can downsize your home, the benefits of downsizing to a new build, and why an increasing number of people are opting to downsize.
Why do people downsize?
There's a number of reasons why you may want to think about downsizing your home. Perhaps the most common reasons are due to a change in circumstance. Children growing up and leaving home, a relationship separation or a bereavement are just a few example of this. When your household gets smaller, it makes sense to move to a more compact home where all the space is used.
Downsizing can also be a good option if you're looking to save money. Not only is a smaller home typically less expensive, it also costs less in energy bills, maintenance and home insurance. You might be moving due to work or to be closer to family, and your chosen area has higher house prices. In this case, a downsize might help you get that ideal location.
Not all 'downsize' moves are necessarily to a smaller home - many people choose to financially downsize. This could mean moving out of an expensive area, to a similar-sized or larger home in a more affordable area. Doing this can free up equity, giving you a spacious home and more cash to spend on achieving your ideal lifestyle.
Tips for downsizing your home
Moving to a smaller space is all about reconsidering the things you need and the things you don’t. It’s also about looking at your new space and how it will work for your lifestyle. Below are some tips for making the move a little less stressful.
- Put your home on the market. Once your home has been valued and listed, you'll have a better idea of what you could afford in your chosen location. Or, for a hassle-free move you could take advantage of our Part Exchange or Home Change schemes. We'll help you sell your home, so that you can buy one of ours.
- Declutter. How many of the things in your home do you really need? Drawing up a list of essential and non-essential items will help you free up extra space and make moving into a smaller home more manageable.
- Streamline. A smaller home means less living space, so it’s important to think about day-to-day practicalities. In your new home you may have a hobby space, guest room and home office all condensed into one bedroom. There are lots and creative and space-saving options for making a room work in multiple ways.
What makes a Persimmon home a great choice for downsizers?
There are many benefits to our new homes that make them a great choice for anyone looking to downsize.
1. Lower maintenance
If you’re moving from a larger property, it likely costs more to maintain than a smaller home would. With a new Persimmon home, you’ll have peace of mind that it comes with a 10-year new homes warranty and insurance policy, the first 2 years of which are covered directly by us. This means you won’t need to worry about major repairs or replacing appliances.
2. Energy efficiency
A bigger, older property can also cost more to keep heated. Fortunately, even if you ‘downsize’ to one of our larger homes, you’ll still feel the benefit of increased energy-efficiency. Our homes are built to the latest standards and come with EPC ratings of A or B, highly-efficient insulation and energy-saving appliances. In fact, a 2023 HBF report found that buyers of new build houses can save on average £135 per month on energy bills.
3. Styled by you
One of the key draws of downsizing is that you can spend less time working on your house and more time enjoying the important things in life. That’s where our Finishing Touches come in. You can personalise your new home – from the kitchen worktops right down to the bedroom carpets – before you even move in. Your new home will feel like yours from the minute you step through the door, and you’ll have more time to spend on the things that matter.
4. Great new home locations
Whether you’re moving out of a city and looking for a quieter setting, or you’re leaving the countryside for a low-maintenance home closer to services, our locations offer the best of both worlds. Most of our developments enjoy edge of town locations, with some situated in well-appointed city suburbs or in vibrant villages. Amenities are nearby, peaceful countryside is never far away, and you’ll be part of a brand new welcoming community. What’s not to love?
To find out how we can help you move into a smaller home and for more advice on downsizing, please speak to one of our friendly and experienced sales advisors today.
Ready to start your new home journey? Click here to take a look at our developments.
