When Is the Right Time to Downsize Your Home?

After more than 40 years of selling homes in Augusta, one of the questions I hear most often is some version of the same thing: when is the right time to downsize?

The honest answer is that it depends, and probably not on what you think. Maybe you’re nearing retirement, and the commute doesn’t matter anymore. Maybe the kids are gone, all the bedrooms are upstairs, and your shell just doesn’t suit you anymore. Or maybe you want to be closer to family. There are a lot of reasons, and no two are the same.

Unlike a job transfer or a growing family, nobody is putting a deadline on this decision. That’s actually a huge advantage. Because you’re not being forced to move, you have the flexibility to choose when you list, what season gives you the strongest buyer pool, and how to position your home so it sells on your terms.

Most of my clients who have downsized successfully didn’t just pick the right home to move into. They picked the right window to sell, and that made all the difference in what they walked away with.

Something that catches a lot of my clients off guard is the cost. There’s a common assumption that moving into a smaller home automatically means spending less, and that’s not always how it plays out. You might be looking for features you never had before, a primary suite on the main level, a low-maintenance lot, modern finishes, or a newer build.

Construction costs have gone up, and when you start adding up what you actually want in this next chapter, the price tag can surprise you. That’s not a reason to hold off. It just means going in with a clear picture of what you’re working with, so the numbers don’t catch you off guard later.

But the biggest factor in all of this isn’t the market or the money. It’s you. I’m working with a client right now who is in her 90s, and she’s handling the process gracefully, but we’ve been working through it together for months. If you can start thinking about this in your early to mid-70s, you give yourself the chance to do it on your terms, at your own pace, while you still have the energy to enjoy what’s on the other side.

Moving is one of the most stressful things a person can go through, and the difference between choosing to do it and having to do it is everything.

The best advice I ever received on this topic came from someone I greatly admired. I was in my 30s at the time, and I couldn’t understand why she would want to leave her beautiful home. She looked at me and said, “Ann Marie, I don’t want to own this house past the time that it starts owning me.” That line has stayed with me my entire career.

A lot of my clients eventually reach a point where they look around and realize they had a wonderful life in that home, but the upkeep is growing, and they’d rather hand it off to the next family while it can still be enjoyed the way they enjoyed it.

If this is something you’ve been turning over in your mind, even if it’s years down the road, I’d love to have that conversation. I’ve talked with clients for years before they ever decided to make a move, and that’s perfectly fine. When you’re ready, I’m here. Call me at (706) 481-3800, email annmarie@annmariemcmanus.com, or visit annmariemcmanus.com.