While there are plenty of alternatives to downsizing, it still remains a popular option for seniors looking to sell their family home and move into something smaller and has become somewhat of a rite of passage for many people once their children have left home and they look towards retirement.
There’s a growing trend towards tiny houses. If you’ve been thinking about downsizing, this could very well be the most cost-effective solution.
The homes come as a growing number of Aussies are opting to embrace downsizing, shunning the rising cost of house prices. In addition to being cost effective and simplified living solutions, they also provide an opportunity to create personal and financial freedom.
More than just being a reaction the declining real estate market, Fabio Paulucci, the managing director of Aussie Tiny Houses said that we are only scratching the surface and that the shift towards tiny houses will only grow as people realise that the four-bedroom, three-bathroom ‘McMansion’ they spent their lives saving for, no longer serves them.
“Certainly, it’s the pressure on the real estate market and the rising cost of living,” he said.
“But more than that, it’s about the lifestyle that people are looking for. People are slowly waking up to the world we live in and choosing to live differently. Living tiny is not only about housing, it’s also about lifestyle. A lifestyle where spending time outdoors is more important than time indoors. Nature is more appealing than large residential homes and time and freedom are more valuable than objects and possessions.”
The tiny homes trend has taken downsizing to whole new heights – or considerably-reduced space, rather. Sitting at a maximum width of 2.5m, height of 4.3m, 11m length and 4.5 tonne weight, they’re classified as caravans so they don’t require DA approval from councils. The cost of the homes through Aussie Tiny Houses starts at $59,990 for a basic build and ranges up to $89,990 for a luxe 25.5sq m four-person sleeper.
Of course, downsizing to this degree would require a certain level of decluttering. We have plenty of resources available to assist you in your decluttering journey, from how to tackle your overflowing wardrobe and simple ways to take the stress out of moving, to how you can sell your unwanted items online and which charities will accept your clutter.