What To Look For When Buying A Retirement Property
If you are what any senior person would describe as a ‘spring chicken,’ chances are you’re probably not thinking about retirement just yet. With the economy being what it is these days, you are probably also wondering whether you will ever be able to retire at all. But, as with many things in life, retirement may come around sooner than you think – so it’s important you are prepared. One thing it is useful to get sorted in advance is your property situation. Selling and buying property can be a very stressful experience, so really, it’s the last thing you want to be doing once you’ve given up work. After all, retirement is supposed to be about relaxing, right? Here are all the property-related things you need to do to make sure you are living in both style and comfort when you can finally put your feet up.
Location
The location of your retirement property is arguably the most important factor about it. You may have made the decision to stop driving as a result of your retirement in order to save money – if this is the case, you will need to find somewhere that is within walking distance to all the amenities you need. On another hand, you might be looking for somewhere that’s totally remote, that takes you back to nature. If you’ve been living and working in the city all your life, this can be a great option for when you no longer have to work. For example, you may want to browse some of the mountain cabins for sale – after all, it doesn’t get more relaxing or peaceful than this!
Size of the property
Generally speaking, when most people retire and move somewhere new, they move somewhere smaller. Most retired people don’t have a great need for a huge house with multiple bedrooms unless they are expecting very regular guests. An excessively large house can also feel a bit overwhelming when it’s just you and your partner living there. Plus, the bigger the house, the more demanding the upkeep is. Getting a smaller pad will mean that you claw back the time you would have spent cleaning and maintaining the place. The initial price of the home will also be lower if it is more compact.
How well-equipped the place is
We are a generation of people who don’t really like to talk about the implications of aging. But, sometimes you just need to be blunt and accept that as we move into our senior years, we may not be as capable physically as we once were. If the retirement home you see is in an apartment block, for example, make sure that it has a lift you can opt to use, should you need to. You may even choose to move into a retirement village if you feel there may come a point where you require extra assistance with home maintenance or your daily life.
