Why You Need to Downsize

 A big house with lots of room for kids, pets and belongings can sound like a dream when you are first starting out, but once that chapter in life has passed, sometimes that large house can be more of a burden than a blessing. Whether it’s all the empty rooms getting to you, or the clutter of unnecessary possessions, downsizing can be the perfect way to streamline your life, reduce stress and help you transition into a new chapter of your life without all the baggage. We have seven reasons why you need to downsize today!

Invest in Moments, Not Mementos

Even if finances are no issue in your current, full-size home, it is worth considering downsizing. The money saved on rent or your monthly mortgage alone can make a tremendous difference. Some homeowners who face a monthly mortgage in a larger home can sell that home and buy a humbler abode outright. Imagine what you could pay off without that mortgage payment looming over your head every month. Many use the added income to invest, travel or live a more active lifestyle where money is spent on making memories, as opposed to buying things.

Some homeowners also find they are less likely to over spend with a smaller home – after all, when you do not have room for everything under the sun, you have to be selective with what you purchase and keep. This also supports the notion of spending money on memories rather than things. Instead of bringing home unnecessary tchotchkes from every vacation or loading up the closet with 100 pairs of unworn shoes, spending transitions to cruises, excursions or fine dining.

Even if finances are no issue in your current, full-size home, it is worth considering downsizing.

Keep Up with Upkeep

The bigger the house, the bigger the chores. It is unfortunate, but true. No matter how cozy your living space, you will need to furnish it, clean it and maintain it. The difference is in the amount of work required to achieve these things. Scrubbing toilets is a chore that few, if any, enjoy but we are far less likely to procrastinate cleaning two toilets compared to four or five. Vacuuming the living room carpet is far less daunting than lugging the vacuum cleaner up a flight of stairs (that will also need vacuumed) to clean up a set of rooms both upstairs and down. Yards pose their own set of time-eating challenges which only grow with every additional tree, rose garden and plot of grass.

If you have spent years wiping down endless counter tops, sweeping long hallways, and shoveling mammoth driveways, maybe it’s time to find a better use of, well, your time. Downsizing not only reduces your square footage; it also reduces the amount of time spent on upkeep indoors and out. In a way, less (space) is more (free time).

Reduce Your Footprint (Literally and Figuratively)

It takes a lot to keep a larger house running. From heating and cooling costs that only get worse as you add stories and square footage, to astronomical water bills from extra showers, bathrooms, and even landscaping, whatever parts of your paycheck don’t go to rent might end up going to utility bills. Enter the downsized home. With less space to heat and cool, your energy bills will most likely take a nosedive. If you choose to live in a community where landscaping is taken care of, you’ll make some of that money back, too. Regardless of the financial savings, you can also take heart knowing you have significantly reduced your carbon footprint by moving into a smaller abode. Now, doesn’t that feel good?

Find Your New Favorites

So you donated/sold/threw out/gave to the kids all the furniture that didn’t make the cut. Afraid your new home will be an empty echo chamber despite its smaller stature? Hardly! Use the money you raised selling your unnecessary items to splurge on some key pieces for your new home. Whether it’s a beautiful love seat for the living room, the perfect painting to hang in the master suite, or a charming daybed for the guest room, pick some pieces that will truly help define the room without eating up space and invest in those items. Just because your living space is smaller does not mean you have to compromise on style or personality. In fact, this is the opportune moment to let a few beloved pieces have the spotlight without any extra clutter or visual noise in the room.

Just because your living space is smaller does not mean you have to compromise on style or personality.

Explore the World…

With a large home, traveling can be more of a headache than a reprieve. Leaving your home for extended periods of time means checking security systems, doors and windows, keeping up with landscaping, and in some seasons, taking care of gutters and pipes to keep them from freezing or clogging. Depending on the needs of the home or the length of the vacation, you may even need to get someone to watch the house while you are away. Even if one of the kids or a close friend watch the house, there is typically some kind of compensation involved.

Downsizing from a home to a condo/townhome/apartment often immediately takes landscaping out of the equation. In addition, monitoring gutters, pipes, and other outdoor elements of the home are often taken care of by the community. You may feel better having someone stay at your condo while you’re away, but even so, the costs and concerns of travel are far reduced. You always wanted to see the world; don’t let a cumbersome house get in the way!

… Or Your Own Backyard

Maybe you just want to explore the city you call home. Whereas larger houses are typically planted firmly in the suburbs, some of the best downsized opportunities are nestled in the bustling, urban city center. Instead of driving 30 minutes one way just to go out to dinner, urban condos and townhomes put you in the heart of the action, near coffee shops, bistros, movie theatres, and entertainment of all kinds. Whether you’re close enough to walk wherever you want to be, or a short bike ride to your destination, this lifestyle is not only greener and more affordable, but also healthier for you! Instead of burning fossil fuels in traffic every morning, burn off that morning scone as you walk to work.

At GCD, we love being so near to Park City. With hundreds of restaurants and local shops all along Main Street, there is always something to see and do in town. If hiking, skiing and biking are more your speed, you are in great company in Park City! We’d rather invest in square footage in the great outdoors than a spare living room we use twice a year.

When you find the balance of living with what you need, versus everything you think you need, you might find your overall outlook improves.

Find Your Happy Place

It’s a simple equation: greater flexibility + increased cashflow – unnecessary responsibility = reduced stress and a happier lifestyle! Shirking the demands of a full-size house in exchange for the minimalist lifestyle of a downsized home can be a freeing experience. When you find the balance of living with what you need, versus everything you think you need, you might find your overall outlook improves. Even if the smaller home doesn’t immediately cause this shift, you may discover the increased cash flow, travel and experience-driven lifestyle do the trick in no time at all.

At GCD, we specialize in beautiful, smaller spaces. Our Park’s Edge homes help you shed the burdens of a large-house lifestyle while placing you in the heart of the active, buzzing community of Park City, Utah. Our upcoming development, Shoreline, will also feature smaller residences just bursting with personality. Whether looking for a smaller, second home or making the jump to downsize your current casa, we have the place for you. Contact us today to get started on the path to owning your own GCD home!