Blog Post

As you look around at your current home, you may be realizing that your needs have changed. And you’re certainly not alone. You’re thinking about having fewer rooms with more storage space. Or a wide-open living area, as opposed to a closed-off kitchen, dining room, and living room. Most of all, you might want a safe, secure home built with timely and lasting features like single-level design, lever-style door handles, and a zero-threshold owner’s entry that simplify everyday living and provide safety, comfort, and convenience, no matter what life throws at you. 

As you enter the next exciting phase of your life, you might be ready to look into rightsizing, 

What is right-sizing? It is the process of moving to a home that is the right size for your needs as you enter the next phase of your life. A home that has the right-sized amount of upkeep and bills, and better aligns with a possible reduction in your income and housing requirements.

Rightsizing is a great way to simplify your life, offering a more carefree lifestyle. A smaller home requires less cleaning, maintenance, and chores, freeing up time to enjoy life. Rightsizing is also a great opportunity to clear out stuff you have accumulated that you no longer need. With fewer rooms and less storage, you’ll need to decide what is really important to you. Not only will this streamline your life and declutter your home, but it will also make it easier for your children to clear your home when the time comes.

If you’re looking ahead to a new world of possibilities, here are a few good ways to tell if you’re ready for rightsizing in a Cornerstone home that fits your wants and needs.

When To Rightsize Your Home 

You’re tired of maintenance. If a home repair or maintenance has ever interrupted your day, you know how much of a hassle it can be. That’s why our low-maintenance homes allow you to enjoy everything that’s on your daily schedule (even if it’s just to relax!) so you don’t have the thought of maintenance looming over you. 

You have unused rooms. If you have multiple bedrooms in your home that aren’t being used, you might begin to wonder whether the extra money in taxes and maintenance is worth it. In a spacious 2- to 3- bedroom home, however, each room not only serves a purpose but allows you to keep and organize only the things that bring happiness and comfort to your life.

You want to be closer to family. It goes without saying that interacting with family over FaceTime is just not the same as a hug in person. If you have family around Richmond or Smithfield, Virginia, a home that’s closer to them means you won’t have to miss another birthday celebration, school play, or even just the get-togethers that you love so much.

You’re ready for a lifestyle change. Even if you enjoy your current neighborhood, you might be looking ahead to more social events and fun ways to stay active with people in the same stage of life. In every Cornerstone community, built with health and wellness amenities, you’re free to spend your days exploring new hobbies, meeting new people, and enjoying your time the way you want to.

At Cornerstone Homes, we believe that rightsizing shouldn’t have to be stressful. That’s why we offer a Concierge Program that makes the process easy and fun, from packing and selling your current home to unpacking and decluttering your new one. 

Tips For Beginning The Rightsizing Process

In one of our Tuesdays at Two talks, we spoke to our rightsizing expert, Alyson Medlow of Home Matters of Virginia, about a few quick and easy tips to help you begin the process of decluttering your current home!

• Start with an easy area. Getting rid of the things in your current home isn’t as difficult as you may think. Begin with an area that doesn’t have a ton of sentimental value, such as your linen closet. Now that you know you’re moving into a home with fewer bedrooms, you can get rid of sheets and comforters that you won’t need. (The same goes for blankets and towels.) This will help you get inspired to try out new bedding and color schemes in your Cornerstone home!

• Two kitchen cabinets at a time. It’s a good idea to start off by tackling two cabinets at a time. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed, and you’ll have a good base to go off of. Look through pots, pans, mixing bowls, etc., and think about whether you need to bring these items to your new home or not. Like your bedding, you may be looking forward to new cookware and goods that fit your current style! This is an easy way to start (and it’s a fun activity to do while you’re spending more time at home)!

• Go through closets and dressers. Just like your kitchen, take on just two drawers at a time. If you notice that you haven’t worn something in a few years, you probably won’t wear it again. For instance, you might not need all of those work clothes, whether it’s high heels or ties, so make sure to keep a few for special occasions and put the rest in a bag. Once you’re done, you can donate the clothes to local donation sites or sell them to consignment shops. You won’t believe how great it feels to look at your clothes and only see things you love!

• Organize your books. If you’re like us, you love nothing more than cozying up with a good book. But you also know that books can pile up fast... and you don’t necessarily want to bring all of them with you. Go through your cabinets and shelves and place the books you don’t want in a sturdy grocery bag or a cardboard box, which makes transporting them to a thrift store so much easier. 

Take a look at the rest of Alyson’s helpful tips in our Tuesdays at Two talk here! If you’d like to chat with Alyson or ask for advice she’d be more than happy to FaceTime or get on a call with you, so don’t hesitate to reach out! You can also find her Facebook here. 

Now Is A Great Time To Buy A Cornerstone Home

If you’re ready for a new home that fits your wants and needs, keeps you comfortable, and opens a new world of possibilities without any barriers, we can’t wait to meet you! For more information about our 55-plus communities in Richmond and Smithfield, Virginia, contact us at 804-215-0766.