Many residents of the Lehigh Valley contemplate a significant life change when considering retirement. One thing you might want to consider is moving to a new home. While the prospect of relocation may seem daunting at first, it brings a plethora of benefits that can set the stage for a comfortable, independent, and socially-rich retirement.

One word of warning, though. If you are considering changing homes, you need to plan ahead to ensure that you inform all the relevant departments and providers of your new address. This will maintain crucial access to services such as healthcare, pensions, and much more. So, it’s best to reach out to all relevant authorities to find out how to let them know your new home address, from social security change of address protocols to banking and postal change of address forms. This will ensure that you can get access to the full services when changing homes in retirement.

Setting yourself up for a comfortable retirement

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of managing your finances ahead of retirement is to ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover your needs once you stop working. There is also an important related factor to take into consideration.

Your current home costs may increase significantly once you are retired, or current costs may seem burdensome. So, it could be beneficial for you to move to a smaller property. Downsizing will help reduce your living costs, which instantly makes retirement more comfortable. It can be a great approach for those who are trying to retire on a budget. Downsizing will allow you to streamline your living space and minimize expenses so you can plan a bigger budget for the things that are important to you.

Downsizing for ease and convenience

Household chores and home maintenance can be quite burdensome. As we age and children move away from the family home, chores and expenses can become difficult to maintain. There are many empty rooms to look after, so transitioning to a smaller property can considerably decrease your maintenance chores. The reduced square footage means fewer upkeep responsibilities, which can work wonders when it comes to keeping your stamina high and your stress level low!

Moving to a single-floor property

If you live in a house with multiple stories, mobility is likely to become a key concern as you age. While this may not affect you in early retirement, as the years pass, stairs may tire you more and become more dangerous, too. Therefore, moving to a property with no stairs or other significant mobility obstacles will make it easier to navigate indoors comfortably. This can also reduce the risks of falls and accidents. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle, seniors are prone to lose muscle mass, which can impact your balance.

Additionally, falls in old age can need extended recovery times, which may further affect your mobility. So, if you are concerned about maneuvering stairs, you may want to consider moving to a property with flat surfaces, or even consider a power stair lift or other access solution.

Needless to say, moving to a new home is not for everyone. If issues such as mobility, living costs, and home management keep you awake at night, it may be worth taking a look at the real estate market. Besides, if your family members live far away, this could be the opportunity to move closer to your loved ones.