Downsizing in Kansas City
Of all the reasons to sell the Four Ds dominate. The four Ds are Death in a family, too much Debt, Downsizing in Kansas City after the kids leave home, and Divorce.
We hadn’t thought too much about downsizing until a friend’s mother decided to sell the big house after her husband died. Imagine the stuff she accumulated after over 35 years in the same house. People also downsize when the house just becomes too big or maintenance overwhelms. As Dr. Spock of Star Trek would say, “A smaller place is logical.”
It’s not just the elderly, but 80 million boomers will retire over the next eight and a half years. Many will want to move to warmer weather and smaller quarters. It can be painful to worry about all the collectibles, the furniture, and clothes in a smaller space.
Here in Kansas City, KSHB reported, “Real estate has gotten so valuable that renters can’t afford a 1,000 square-foot unit or a 1,500 square-foot unit.” John Hoffman the principal with UC-B Properties said, “They are young, and they are either students or young graduates and their first jobs and they want something more affordable.”
His micro units of 200 to 300 square feet will go for $700 to $800 a month in rent. Hoffman expects that once housing develops, restaurants, shops, art galleries and the like will follow to the area.
“People really value the urban lifestyle, walkability, density, accessibility to transit, and accessibility to cultural amenities,” explained Greg Flisram with Economic Development Committee of Kansas City. “That is a national trend that Kansas City is enjoying right now.”
We have found 7 steps to downsizing in Kansas City. They include:
- Assess your needs – Deciding what you really need requires a good long look at how you live your life daily and prioritizing the activities and items that are already a part of your actual lifestyle.
- Go through your home, every cabinet, shelf, and closet should be cleared.
- Measure your furniture. – You will need to know how your furniture will (or won’t) fit into your new space – particularly large items such as your sofa and your bed – so measure everything.
- Assess your new storage areas. – Assessing exactly how much of the new space is dedicated to storage will give you an idea of the volume of items you need to dispose of before moving in.
- Sell your stuff.
- Move large items first. – Move your furniture into your new home first. You will have the most energy for this task at the beginning of the move and it will also give you a better indication of where the smaller things will go.
- Organize your space as you unpack. – Utilize closet and cupboard storage solutions as you unpack. This way, more can be stored in these tight spaces and you will be setting a precedent for how your new, smaller space will be used.
If you are downsizing in Kansas City already, and your new home feels small, try hiring an interior designer for ways to make your house look and feel bigger.
If you are looking to downsize, by selling your house, call us. Once you have made the decision to sell, you may want to move quickly. We buy houses as-is for cash.
Terra Firma Property Solutions, LLC is a professional, full-service real estate solutions firm.
We buy and sell properties throughout the greater Kansas City area. We specialize in buying distressed homes, then renovating and reselling them to home buyers and landlords. Terra Firma Property Solutions is excited to be part of the economic rejuvenation of Kansas City and its surrounding areas.
Call us today at (816) 866.0566
