Taylor Wimpey’s top tips for downsizers
With the current economic climate, Taylor Wimpey has seen an increase in the number of homeowners looking to downsize. There are many reasons buyers might be thinking about purchasing a smaller property – lower utility bills, minimum maintenance, more desirable location or even the kids leaving home.
If you are thinking about downsizing to a smaller property, you will know that it can be a daunting thought. Will your existing furniture fit into a smaller home? Will you have to start from scratch with the decorating? Will you be able to get used to less living space?
Sara Taylor, regional sales and marketing director, says: “With most of us looking for ways to tighten our belts, buying a new home might not seem like an obvious way to save money. But downsizing can be a smart move financially and is something we’re seeing more frequently as many prospective purchasers have families who have flown the nest so the maintenance of an older, larger property is proving difficult to keep up. In addition to being lower maintenance, smaller properties provide purchasers with a secure, energy efficient home while giving them peace of mind that no structural repairs or DIY are needed before they move in.
“Another benefit of downsizing is being able to free up some of your home’s equity to enjoy the luxuries in life, such as eating out and going on holiday. These advantages are why, after experiencing high levels of interest in smaller properties this year, we’re offering our top tips for anyone looking to downsize.”
Taylor Wimpey is currently building a stylish selection of one and two bedroom apartments, two bedroom coach houses and two and three bedroom homes at a number of developments across South Wales:
- Stratton Court, Equinox and Lychgate Gardens in Cardiff
- Viridian and Cwrt Sant Pedr in Swansea
- City Vizion 3 and Great Western Wharf in Newport
- Cae Penderyn in Merthyr Tydfil
- Glyn Mynydd in Godre’Graig and Groeswen Parc in Margam, Neath Port Talbot
Each property offers a contemporary yet practical layout and a professionally designed interior that maximises the available living space. The housebuilder has also recently launched a new phase of two bedroom homes at its Saxon Meadow development in Hereford.
For further information on the range of homes available from Taylor Wimpey across South Wales, log onto taylorwimpey.co.uk.
Top Tips For Downsizing
1. Begin early. Start de-cluttering your existing home as soon as you know your moving date. Starting early will make the process less daunting than leaving it to the last minute.
2. Be ruthless. You don’t want to have to pay a removal company to move clutter. All too often unopened boxes are moved from one house to the next without justifying their needs. Go through each box looking at the last time you used each item. If it’s been more than a year, throw it out.
3. Start de-cluttering in the attic. Any items that are a must to keep should be packed into clear plastic boxes with lids. This way it’s easy to see the contents.
4. Go through your wardrobe. Wardrobes should be cleared out, removing any items of clothing you’ve not worn in the past year as it’s unlikely you’ll wear them again. Make the most of the available space in your new home by only keeping your current season’s clothing in your wardrobe. Look for less accessible storage, such as under the bed and over the wardrobe, to store cleanly laundered out of season clothing.
5. Edit your music and books. Get rid of books you’ve read and will never read again. Look at your music collection and let go of songs you no longer listen to. You can donate both to a good cause such as a local hospital or charity, leaving extra space for new collections.
6. Nothing lasts forever! Clear out your kitchen / utility room cupboards and put your old iron and chipped crockery in the bin. Remove any items you’ve not used for a very long time. Similarly, assess which furnishings will not fit into your new home and then sell them, to finance new items which will fit into your new home / reflect your changing lifestyle.
7. No more storage service for the kids! If you’re providing a storage service for children who have flown the nest – stop! This will not only save you lots of space, it will also force them to get rid of their junk!
8. Go through your paperwork. Dispose of all out of date documents, warrantees and instruction manuals. Purchase a large ring binder and plastic pockets and catalogue all of your important documents into it. This way, you’ll find everything from your car insurance to your passport at just a moment’s notice.
9. Don’t forget the shed. Sheds and garages are famous for hoarding everything from old tyres to tins of paint. Ask yourself if you will ever really use any of it? If not, throw it out. For those of you moving into an apartment without a shed, cloakrooms can be used to store all manner of items other than coats and shoes.
10. Have a car boot sale. When you’ve gathered up all your unwanted items, have a car boot sale. You’ll be amazed at how much money you can make. If any of the items do not sell, drop them off at your local charity shop - do not take them back to your new home!
