Hollywood star Michelle Pfeiffer has done it as has Death in Paradise’s actor Ralph Little and Welsh singer Charlotte Church. What do they all have in common? Well, they’ve all reportedly downsized their homes recently.
Taking the decision to buy a smaller home is not always an easy one- and the reasons aren’t always based on finances. The thoughts of having to de-clutter a lifetime’s worth of furniture and ‘stuff’, moving away from friends and family and obviously having to adapt to living in a smaller space are all valid concerns.
However, look at the plus points, you’ll normally have plenty of cash left to spend as you wish, that de-cluttering project is probably well overdue, and it can be exciting to start a new chapter in a fresh home with fewer living costs, no matter what your time of life.
When 51-year-old Candice Daltrey was looking to downsize and change her lifestyle, she could have felt daunted, but the Pilates instructor actually felt confident about making the move from her large historic home in Harlow to a much smaller new build home in the village of Takeley, Essex.
She said: 'Having previously lived in a large home of 4,500 sq ft for many years, I was a little nervous about downsizing to living in a home of 1,300 sq ft. The house I lived in before was completely different, as it was an eighteenth- century lodge that had been extended in the 1980s, with grand vaulted ceilings.
'Buying a brand-new home is a big change but it is exactly what I needed – it suits me perfectly at this stage in my life and I love the fresh feel to it. I especially like the sleek worktops and new appliances in the kitchen, and the chrome fixtures in the bathrooms.
'I assumed it was going to be a bit difficult to readjust, but the move has been so easy, and all the storage space hidden away in the home is fantastic. I know that this is the most positive move for me and I’m so pleased that I took this step.'
Candice chose to settle in Woodbanks, a new development by sustainable developer, Stonebond which features 110 high specifications three-bedroom bungalows and three- and four-bedroom homes, ideal for growing families and downsizers alike.
She had been looking for a new-build property for two years and after looking at many in the Essex area, she felt that the convenient location combined with the fact the home fit all her wish list criteria, was a no brainer.
Candice has now moved into the former view home at the development. Her double-fronted property has four bedrooms and provides more than enough space for her and her son, who visits often when not travelling for work, and two Patterdale Terriers, Bobby and Luna.
Energy-efficiency is at the centre of designs at Woodbanks, with carefully chosen materials to maximise insulation and an electric car charging point to every home. As well as homes available, the development will also feature new bird watching areas, dog walking routes and outdoor play areas across the area’s outstanding open space.
The quaint village of Takeley with its 13th century parish church, sports field and local pub is just a 20 minute walk or three minute drive to the entrance of the National Trust’s Hatfield Forest so unsurprisingly the Woodbanks development has been attracting plenty of potential buyers who put a lot of focus on nature and idyllic surroundings.
Candice added: 'As a dog owner, it’s amazing to have so much open space outside of my doorstep within the development, as well as Hatfield Forest just a short distance away too. Hatfield Forest is just perfect for long weekend walks with over 1,000 acres of grassland to explore with them.'
Annette Cole, Sales and Marketing Director at Stonebond said: 'We are delighted to have recently launched Woodbanks and have already seen an impressive degree of interest in the available homes. The development is designed to have nature at its centre and the 11 acres of green space will be optimised by planting over 200 new trees. Takeley is exceptionally well placed, providing the ideal combination of modern conveniences and great transport links, without losing the scenic landscape.'
New data shows downsizers are helping to ease the housing crisis by putting an average of 343,000 bedrooms a year back onto the UK housing market.
Analysis from over-50’s property specialists, Quickmove Properties, reveals that across the UK, 2023 saw a total of 718,127 home sales- with downsizers making up 32 per cent of these- and the majority of downsizing sales happening right here in the south east.
Sales Director at Quickmove Properties, Mark O’Dwyer, said: 'Downsizers play a huge part in the property ecosystem. The market needs older property owners to downsize their family homes - perhaps once their kids have fled the nest - so that these large properties can be made available for the young families who need them.'
