Downsizing Your Home

Behind every real estate move is a transition in life.

We invited a seasoned couple, Joe and Dawn, to share their downsizing journey as they move from a 2,800 square-foot bungalow to a 1,100 square-foot apartment condo!

Joe and Dawn have been married for over 30 years now. They raised their beautiful children in their family home for about twenty years. When their children transitioned into raising their own families, the couple decided to move into an empty-nesters bungalow.

The Transition Trigger

As the world entered into an unprecedented time of the pandemic, and everybody was forced to stay home, Joe and Dawn realized that a 2,800 square foot home was too big for just the two of them. In fact, they figured that only 700 square feet of their place was being maximized, which covers the family room, kitchen, bedroom and yard.

After 15 years of living in their empty nester’s bungalow and being stuck there for an entire winter season, they decided to downsize and move into a condo. As Joe stated, shovelling snow and mowing the lawn were things he enjoyed doing but had enough of. It was time to move on!

At first, they thought they would miss gardening as that has been their hobby for the past 25 years, but to their surprise, having some nice flower pots on their condo balcony is enough to make them smile each day. At times when they want to see more greens, they go to the park nearby or spend time visiting their grandchildren at their home in the backyard.

Searching for the Perfect Condo Unit

To find the right condo for their current life stage, they first set their parameters and budget. Joe and Dawn wanted their new home to be in a community with many amenities, and they wanted the interior to have lots of light.

The couple found their new home in Mahogany. They loved that it has an urban environment with a suburbia setting. Unlike their previous community where they needed to drive just to go to the stores, now they can easily walk nearby their apartment to get all their needs.

Mahogany features great restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping stores. On top of that, it also has a lake with a nice beach area, walking paths, and biking trails, which are great in enticing the couple’s grandchildren to come over and visit them more often!

When Joe started to look for listings that would fit their liking, Dawn was unsure if she really wanted to move until they found a condo unit they wanted and instantly fell in love with. As soon as they walked in, they both felt that they belonged in that place!

People typically move to a new house to have a better way of living. Some decide analytically, and there are some who follow their heart and choose emotionally. They either look for ways to ease something unpleasant in their current home or move toward something more enticing in the new place.

After a few visits to check the community and do some measurements in the condo unit, the couple was convinced that it would work and they could actually live there.

Preparing for the Move

To prepare for their big move, they went through all their belongings and decided which ones they would keep, sell, or donate. They gave away items to their relatives and donated some to the Goodwill and a women’s shelter. Joe even became a Facebook Marketplace master in the process as he easily sold 142 different items before the move!

Though they got rid of most of their belongings, they wish they got rid of more stuff! When the moving company delivered their things to the new condo, there was no way to fit everything in it. They realized that their furniture was too big for the apartment, so they were forced to let go of more items.

They figured it could have been better if they sold everything before the move and bought apartment-sized items for the condo. They remembered how they decorated their previous houses specifically for that space, and now they want to do the same for their condo.

A New Lifestyle

Joe and Dawn love their new lifestyle. Dawn feels great that she doesn’t have to clean a big house anymore, and she doesn’t need to drive around so much.

Contrary to popular belief that living in an apartment condo is inconvenient because it is always noisy, the couple finds their unit very quiet. They credit it to the way new buildings are constructed now with better materials and techniques. There are only two unsold units in their building, but they never hear any noise from their neighbours.

Work with an Excellent Realtor

Joe and Dawn worked with Erin Dupont on our team. In the past, they used to rely on their bank for their mortgage, however this time, it didn’t work well. Erin connected them to one of our mortgage partners, Lindsay Labrecque, who gave them a much better deal and much better service.

Erin didn’t just help them with their mortgage; she even lent a helping hand in staging their home. Prior to listing, Erin walked through their bungalow and advised them to lighten up the place before taking photos.

They understood how everything worked out when shortly after listing their house, they received competing offers above the asking price! It was mind blowing for them to have seven offers on the very first day of listing.

In the end, a lovely couple 12 years younger than them bought their home. They are also empty nesters, who are in the same season as Joe and Dawn were when they bought that house. True enough, when selling your home, you should think of who you were when you bought your house because that will help you envision who will most likely buy it.

If you are thinking of downsizing, the best advice that Joe and Dawn can give you is don’t be afraid. It may be challenging, but you can do it with the proper preparation and the help of the right people.

We are here to help you move forward to the perfect-sized home in any season of your life, just like what we did for Joe and Dawn. Send us an email at info@chamberlaingroup.ca and let us know how we can help you!