By: KeyCrew Media
The boxes are unpacked, and the furniture is in place. For seniors in San Diego County, California, who have just moved into an apartment, a smaller house, or a senior living community, the next goal is making the new space feel like their own.
Bryan Devore, Director of the Senior Division at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, has guided many clients through this stage. “The key thing, I think, is making it feel as comfortable and as much like home as possible,” he said. Here are four practical ways to do that.
Photograph Your Favorite Spaces Before You Pack
Before anything goes into a box, take pictures of the spaces you love most. A photo of a wall of family pictures, a bookshelf, or a bedside table makes it easy to set up the same arrangement in the new home.
One couple Bryan worked with recently had a wall of family photos in the entry hallway of their house. In their new apartment, they hung the same pictures in a similar spot, just a little closer together.
The husband also had a display case of minerals. The couple brought the case, placed it in a corner of the apartment, and set the minerals up in the same order as before.
“They really feel like they’re home because those important things that mattered the most to them are where they expected them to be,” Bryan said.
Give Your Favorite Things A Dedicated Corner
A smaller home may not have room for a den or a hobby room, but a corner can serve the same purpose.
Another client had a room in his house that served as his man cave. It held trophies from his years as a swimmer and medals from hiking events, and it was where he went to relax and be himself.
His new apartment doesn’t have a spare room. Instead, one corner has his TV, his chair, and his ribbons and trophies on the wall. “It still feels like home to him,” Bryan said.
Seniors don’t have to set this up on their own. Devore Realty Group’s senior services include unpacking, organizing, and decorating the new home on move-in day, along with recreating favorite spaces from the former home.
Give Yourself Time To Adjust
Settling in looks different for everyone. Bryan has seen some clients feel fully adjusted within the first week, while others take about a month.
For those moving into a senior living community, the adjustment involves more than a smaller floor plan. There are new neighbors, a dining room for meals, and a full calendar of activities.
Some residents spend a little time getting comfortable in their apartment before joining in. Others jump right in and spend most of the day out in the community. Both are normal, and the goal is simply to help each person feel settled as soon as possible.
Enjoy The Benefits Of A Simpler Lifestyle
Bryan encourages clients to focus on what downsizing makes easier. With fewer belongings, the home has clearer walkways and is safer and easier to get around.
Many clients also say they feel lighter. One couple moved from a 3,000-square-foot home into a two-bedroom apartment and brought only the things that mattered most to them. They told Bryan they felt free, and they have kept that simpler lifestyle ever since.
That experience is common. “Most people, at the end of the day, don’t miss the stuff they don’t have anymore,” Bryan said. “It’s just an easier lifestyle.”
A few familiar photos, a favorite chair, and a corner for the things that tell your story can turn a new address into home.
Bryan Devore is a REALTOR® and Director of the Senior Division at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, in Carlsbad, CA, with 23 years of experience helping San Diego County seniors and their families through real estate transitions. He holds two professional designations, Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and Certified Trust and Probate Specialist, and hosts Senior Spaces, a TV show and podcast for families navigating downsizing, aging in place, and senior living decisions.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
