Downsizing & Simplifying Discussion Thread

[bdhsfz6]

Hopefully, the decision to relocate is years away. For now, we are able to keep up with the necessary maintenance. It's just the little things, like painting trim, or other ladder related work that isn't getting done.

I'm an engineer by trade, so I've constructed a few things to make senior living a little easier around the place. I'm no longer comfortable using an extension ladder to access roof mounted equipment, so I made up a "landing" with safety hand rails and a removeable ladder section which stores on the deck when not in use:

When I designed and built the house in 1979, I thought it would be our "forever" home and that we would retire here. Unfortunately, I chose a 2 story design, not realizing that climbing stairs could someday be a problem. That hasn't happened yet, but carrying heavy items up and down is sometimes an issue. I did take this into consideration when I expanded the second story deck 10 years ago.

I converted a Genie Lift, that I had been using in the barns, into an elevator:

I built an enclosure under the deck to house it:

and a trap door in the deck for access:

I find projects like this enjoyable to design & build, especially when I can repurpose existing equipment. I have a few more in mind and hopefully, they will allow us to remain here a while longer.

 

[bdhsfz6]

@bdhsfz6 I think it is a very individual decision, and rarely easy in my experience. No property is zero maintenance.

One thing a few friends have done is to either make an apartment, or second home on the property, and swap some rent for property maintenance work. That's less permanent than subdividing to a bad neighbor, and allows one to evict the person if things don't work out. However, that may not work if your local area has a declining population, with little demand for housing.

This is an excellent idea.

I actually considered it 20 years ago when I built a garage near the house. I designed it so a second story could be added for an apartment. I had family members in mind for tenants but they have since moved on.

Renting to the general public around here isn't easy and it's hard to find good renters. My SIL rents an apartment and she has had a string of deadbeats.

It is a possibility though if the right person comes along.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, I've mentioned this before, and I saw it in a YouTube video, discussing the cost to keep up property. Anyways, guys point was, draw multiple circles or zones; zone A would be the home itself and maybe the 1/4 acre yard and the immediate driveway/access. Stuff that you touch/use every day; zone B would be weekly, so the area close to the house not not the immediate lawn yard, and accept that it doesn't need mowed/trimmed; Zone C, might every well be 20 acres, and just kinda let it sit. No need to keep up fences, bush hog, ect. It's OK to just let that go wild.


To some degree, this also applies to the home it's self; it's OK if the outside doesn't get painted, the 2nd story windows down get washed, ect.

 

[ronjhall]

Living into your 80’s has its limit. I have equipment to make most maintenance items easy. Have a single level home is a big plus. No stairs inside or outside house to get in and out of home. I have tools that make yard and home maintenance easy. Last winter I purchased a second tractor so I do not need to be changing attachments all the time. MMM can stay on one tractor all summer. My property size is only 4 acres. But I help neighbors with their projects. I can cut down on the amount of grass to cut around house to about 1 acre.
I plan to spend many more years here. I live in 4 of the 8 rooms in the house. Cuts down on house cleaning.
One piece of advice my mother gave me when I retired. Was get out and do traveling and other activities while you are young and healthy. You will not want to do that stuff when you get older. She lived 96 years.
My plan is to make at least that old. Top of the list is to stay active.

 

[paulsharvey]

Mom is like 71 and her husband is turning like 77 I think. They have like 2500 sq ft house, and there is a 2nd story part above the garage, kinda a mother-in-law suite, on about 24 acres remaining of the original 56 acres. They sold the half of it, spend a bit of money (a good bit) on getting the 1000 ft drive fixed. They were also talking at one point about selling everything but 5 acres and having a new home built, or possibly selling the whole thing and moving. They have kinda gotten to the point they hire out repainting, roof repairs, and gone to small, light Lithium batteries for the boat trolling motor. I have long thought they would be well served to get something like a small BX, but mom is kinda scared of tractors (my dad was killed in a tractor roll over years ago), so they make do with a small John Deer riding mower, and a small trailer to moving batteries, mulch, trash around. They went to a Stihl battery saw, and weed eater, but they have kinda taken the approach that that kinda stuff can normally wait till someone visits to help. The saw is mostly if they can't get out od the drive

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evening,

Many rural landowners here, including my wife and I, are getting to the age where the homestead and acreage are getting difficult to maintain

Both my wife and I are realizing all of those items you have mentioned! We have 2 homes, one in Ct on and acre with an inground pool and two story colonial. The Vermont home is on 10 acres, also a second floor but there is a downstairs bedroom there ! I do all my own maintenance, mowing and repairs at both properties!

My wife suggested at some point we could hire some one for mowing and bush hogging the Vt property. I’m
73 and I can certainly feel in my body that I can’t work the way I used to.

We have done some things like putting siding on the Ct home etc to make maintenance a bit easier ! We will continue doing what we are doing until we need additional help.

But yes, we have given all of this a lot of thought already!

I really like some of your innovations around your homestead !

 

[2manyrocks]

If there are some areas of maintenance that you can simply let go, then let go of them when they are too much to continue.

There's no assurance that whoever you sell to will do any better at maintaining. Could be worse and they might do things they enjoy on their property that bug you once you sell to them like ride 4 wheelers all the time.

Evaluate the home you presently have to see whether there are improvements that could be made that would allow you to age in place without having to sell your home and go through the hassle of building something newer and smaller.

 

[paulsharvey]

"Evaluate the home you presently have to see whether there are improvements that could be made that would allow you to age in place without having to sell your home and go through the hassle of building something newer and smaller."

Nobody wants to say it, but the decline is often fast, what might work for 3 years won't be adequate in 5 years. Some people are good in mid-late 80s, others can't be independent in early to mid 60s, and it's hard to know. I would avoid any major expenses, and just adjust what you can to the better. I would also come up with a sale plan for when either of you can't stay on the property in the future.

 

[ultrarunner]

Many times I see the family of someone infirmed go through the steps and add or remodel to accommodate and sometimes the person expires before the project is complete.

 

[JasperFrank]

Even in my late thirties, with an eye to the future, I designed my house to be ADA compliant back in the mid-'90's. It wasn't much more expensive than a normal house. The bath railings and things are not installed but there is structure in the walls for these and most entrances, are low step, and easily convertible to wheel chair use.
As wife and I are getting in to our mid-'60s, the subject of selling and moving in to an efficiency Apt/Condo in town, comes up often. We have different aspirations of what retirement means. I can't give up the freedom, privacy and sense of self worth.