Many people decide to move to a different part of the state, country, or even world once they’ve retired. This may be to have the chance to finally live in their dream destination, be closer to family members or friends, or for financial or other reasons.
If you’re getting close to retirement or have left the workforce recently and are keen to relocate in the coming months, it’s wise to take your time planning the move.
With so many factors to consider and plenty of money at stake, you want to make the best possible decisions for your future. Follow some handy relocation tips to make your retirement as wonderful as you’ve always hoped.
Determine if a Move is ‘the’ Right Thing for You
Firstly, don’t jump into relocating without having thought about it thoroughly first. Moving to a new location can be stressful, costly, and take time, so you want to be sure about making the change and where you’re going before committing to it. Consider what your goals are – in the short-term and long-term, what do you hope to achieve by relocating somewhere else?
For example, are you keen to be closer to grandkids, enjoy nice weather, go somewhere with a slower pace of life, or choose a spot that offers better value for money? Everyone’s goals are different, so get clear on what’s essential to you and then work out if relocating will help you achieve these outcomes.
Sometimes, when analyzed like this, people realize that they’re better off staying where they are and traveling more often or making other changes apart from relocating to get what they want. Be sure about the move before you make it, so you don’t regret your decision.
Take Time Selecting Your Destination
If you feel confident about moving, you’ll need to pick the best destination possible for your goals, personality, budget, and more. There are numerous factors to consider here, such as the cost of living in different places and the availability of suitable properties.
Take into account crime rates and work or volunteering opportunities in the place(s) you’re considering moving to, as well as weather conditions and tax benefits. You’ll want to move somewhere that will provide you with plentiful opportunities to meet new people and foster strong connections, too.
Check that the potential destination is well serviced enough that you’ll be able to pursue your preferred hobbies and get easy access to amenities such as shops, cafes and restaurants, public transport, entertainment, medical services, and the like. Nearby access to an airport or other transport links might be critical, too.
Before you settle on a destination, go there for a month or two at a time to get to know it better. It’s hard to get the information and feel you need from just a short weekend visit.
Pack with Care
Another big part of relocating is packing up all your belongings and making the physical move. Since you’ll be moving into a smaller property, think carefully about precisely what you’ll be able to fit in the more limited space. Measure up all the rooms of your new abode to understand how wide doorways are, how high ceilings are, the width and length of rooms, etc. With this information, determine what furnishings and other pieces you can take with you and what you need to sell, donate, recycle, or throw out.
You’ll likely need to spend time decluttering your home, going through all your possessions to narrow them down. It helps to complete a detailed inventory of everything in your home to more readily comprehend how much you have and what you need to say goodbye to. Beyond the physical space, also think about the mental space.
Have you refined your belongings and still have too much to take with you, or don’t have the time to go through all your stuff in advance? If so, note that there are excellent storage units scattered around the country that will keep your goods safe until you’re ready to do something else with them. Look up Seattle storage or a similar search term based on your current location, and you should find multiple affordable options near you.
Lastly, when it comes time to move, don’t be afraid to make use of help. Relocating your life is a big undertaking, and you’re likely to need some assistance from family members or friends, as well as a realtor and a solicitor.
You might use a cleaning service or even a hire relocation service to make the move less taxing, too. Go task by task and be strategic in your decisions to give yourself the best chance of success!
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