Our experience in providing sought-after homes for the over 55s has revealed how important the family is in helping our customers make the decision to downsize, says Duncan Walker, Managing Director of Renaissance Villages
A recent survey of our residents showed that being closer to family was the primary reason behind 43 per cent of our buyers’ purchasing decision, revealing that familial ties obviously shape and influence today’s downsizing patterns.
Downsizing can be as much an emotional challenge as a logistical one and we frequently hear from children or younger relatives of our customers that although the practical advantages of downsizing are clear, it has been a struggle to help their older relative see that they are making the right decision by choosing to move to a smaller and more practical home.
Below we have outlined some tips for those trying to help a relative to understand that it might be the time to make the decision to downsize:
Do the sums
The practical and financial benefits of downsizing are, in the vast majority of cases, considerable.
If your parent or relative is living in a large family house, work out their annual spend on bills per year and compare this to what they would be paying if living in a well-insulated contemporary cottage or apartment.
Contextualise the saving by thinking about what this money could be spent on instead – perhaps it could be put towards a special holiday, subscription to a new class or club or an outfit for an upcoming wedding or milestone anniversary.
In addition to the financial advantages, moving to one of our homes negates the need to fix the faulty plumbing, retile the roof, spend arduous hours maintaining a garden or worry about the growing crack in a ceiling.
All our homes come with a 10-year NHBC guarantee and the properties are finished with appliances from quality brands such as Villeroy and Boch, Hansgrohe and Alno AG Group.
Highlight the holistic benefits
A downsizing move to one of our villages brings with it social and health benefits, in addition to practical.
For those who may have lost a partner or become socially isolated after retirement, moving to a village lived in by like-minded individuals at a similar stage in life means that a ready-made community is on the doorstep as soon as the move is made.
We often hear from our residents that they did not realise how isolated their life had become until they moved to one of our villages and met their new friends and neighbours.
Show home interior at Maudslay Park
Not only does having an active social life boost psychological wellbeing, but a move to a home with an on-site gym and swimming pool enables better physical health, with a number of exercise classes also available on site.
The downfall of delaying
Our residents live very active lives, with our luxury clubhouses, the hallmark of all of our villages, playing host to a packed schedule of clubs and events, including yoga, pilates, ball room dancing, language lessons, art classes, lectures, resident dinners, film clubs and wine tastings. In addition, our residents embark on regular trips out to local attractions, restaurants, festivals and theatre productions.
By delaying a downsizing move, it may be that a parent or relative is not able to fully enjoy the opportunities on offer by making a move to one of our age exclusive communities.
Enjoy the decluttering process
It is the prospect of having to sort through decades’ worth of possessions which can often prove the emotional stumbling block to making a downsizing move.
By spending time sorting through old albums or souvenirs, decluttering becomes a process to be enjoyed as memories of childhood holidays, school days and family weddings are revisited and can be talked about with fondness.
As part of our Moving Made Easy Initiative, we provide each of our customers with six complimentary hours of assistance with The Senior Move Partnership, a unique advisory service to help downsizers to declutter and organise their possessions ahead of a move.
Invitation to a Mother’s Day event at three villages this month
Join us for a special Mother’s Day event (venues, dates and times below) offering you and your family the chance to view the homes and lifestyle offered at one of our developments.
Guests will be served a delicious complimentary glass of bubbly and nibbles, with a posy of flowers offered as a gift for all visitors to take home.
Please call the relevant number below if you would like to come.
Durrants Village, Faygate, near Horsham, West Sussex (01293 851 935) — Friday 24 March, 11am–1pm
Millbrook Village, Exeter, Devon (01392 275 335) — Wednesday 22 March, 11.30am–1.30pm
Maudslay Park, Great Alne, Warwickshire (01789 488 901) — Thursday 23 March, 11am–1pm
If you would like to visit one of our retirement villages with a parent or relative, please give us a call on one of the numbers above. We would be delighted to show you and your family around.
For more information on our villages visit Renaissance Villages
