Downsizing a Home is a Sizeable Task
The time has come to downsize and move out of our home. It’s something we should have
done five years ago, but procrastination came into play, mostly due to the one-of-a
kind view we have from our backyard deck. The expansive 180-degree panorama includes
West Valley, the airport, downtown Salt Lake City, the state capitol, University of
Utah campus, Mt. Olympus, and Big Cottonwood Canyon. All in one turn of the head.
This is about half of what we see from our backyard deck
But the house is too big, has several flights of stairs, a big yard and needs a lot of work to bring it up to snuff. We need to sell it and find a smaller, single level home with little or no yard. Forget the view. We know it’s irreplaceable. But we want to stay in Cottonwood Heights. We love the area and it’s close to our daughter. Good luck with that.
So far, there’s nothing in the area that is even close to what we want. We were hopeful that the Cottonwood Mall development would include some senior friendly, universal design condos. Not so. The upscale condominiums being built are four levels with stairs galore. Apparently, the developers aren’t interested in the senior market. The search continues.
AARP has other ideas.
In the meantime, I came across an AARP email newsletter that focuses on the topic of alternative housing options. One of the most intriguing is Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) which are either stand alone or attached additions to your existing home that include a kitchen, living area, bathroom and sleeping area. They can be basement or upstairs additions or even converted garages.
Accessory Dwelling Units make it possible to stay in the same neighborhood and downsize and can even supply extra income by renting out the main house. They also make it possible for children to move in and occupy the main dwelling.
ADUs can be found in cities, in suburbs and in rural areas, yet are often invisible from view because they’re positioned behind or are indistinct from the main house. Will I build an ADU on my property? Not likely. I don’t want the yard upkeep anymore, nor the house maintenance. The main house is too big for my daughter and granddaughter.
This two-story detached Accessory Dwelling Unit features large windows.
I can see how the concept would work for some people. AARP has several case studies on the website that show the effectiveness of the idea for many situations. You can find out more here.
There’s also a Livable Communities index where you can gauge the livability of your community based on housing, transportation, neighborhood, health, environment and other metrics. You can search to see how your community fares, how it compares to others and how you can improve it. Check out the Livable Communities information here.
No doubt it will be painful to leave the home we’ve lived in since 1984, where we raised our only daughter. A single-level home with little or no yard will be a welcome and necessary change. But first we have to find one.