Upsizing, Downsizing, and Rightsizing Your Home for Your Lifestyle

LEXINGTON, Mass. - Nov. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Much has been said about upsizing to a larger home as you outgrow your space and downsizing when you no longer need the space that you have. Different stages of life bring with them different needs in terms of space, accessibility, and other features of a home. But buying a home is generally considered a long-term investment. So, how do you determine those needs with a view toward where you will be in several years?

When you were just starting out in your twenties, you probably had minimal needs and fewer possessions than you had after years of acquisitions. Maybe you were able to get by in a small apartment or, if you were looking to establish some equity, a small starter home. Maybe you had a roommate, or maybe you were on your own. But one thing is likely: that initial living situation probably changed over the years.

One major change that affects our necessity to change our home’s size is family size. If, at some point, you married and started a family, you probably needed to upsize to a home with more space. Depending on your lifestyle, perhaps you spent time entertaining or hosting out-of-town guests or family, which also required more space. And unless you lived a very minimalist lifestyle, chances are that you began to acquire more belongings and needed room for these things.

At some point, perhaps things changed (or will change) again. Family members move on, some of the items you accrue over the years become less necessary, and perhaps another “resizing” is in order after evaluating your needs. Perhaps your ability to perform – or interest in performing – home maintenance tasks has changed. If you love gardening, maybe you need a larger yard to work your magic. If you despise outdoor chores, a condo or home on a smaller lot might be a better fit for your lifestyle.

Every decade brings with it different needs in terms of living space, upkeep, and home storage. It’s important to step back from time to time and evaluate our present needs and whether they are being met by the home we currently live in. If the answer is yes, we can enjoy our housing situation for a few more years. But if the answer is no, it’s time to dig deeper and decide whether buying a new home might be the right decision in the near future.

By sitting down with your real estate agent, you’ll be able to pinpoint your priorities when shopping for a new home. From living space to storage to location to accessibility, there are many factors to weigh when you start the process of a home search. One of your agent’s top priorities is to make sure that your needs are matched with a home that is the right size and configuration for you.