I recently wrote an article titled “Why ‘Someday’ Is the Most Expensive Word When Rightsizing,” which was published in the Lake Bonavista Newsletter.
In it, I discuss a pattern I’ve seen repeatedly among long-time homeowners and the adult children helping them: the decision to downsize often isn’t difficult, the timing is.
The most important factor isn’t age.
It’s optionality.
The right time to begin planning a move is when you still have choices when health is stable, energy is strong, and decisions can be made calmly rather than reactively. Starting early preserves leverage, flexibility, and control. Waiting too long often limits all three. Chris Matlashewski, has experience with downsizers and elderly homeowners who quickly become sellers as a result of a unforeseen circumstance.
Although the article was written for residents in the community of Lake Bonavista, the message applies to empty nesters across Calgary in other neighbourhoods like Willow Park, Oakridge, Signal Hill, Bel-Aire, who want to approach their next move strategically rather than under pressure.
If you’re quietly considering a future move, whether it’s two years away or seven, understanding your options early makes rightsizing significantly easier.
Worth noting, an additional piece written in the same publication titled: “How to Call a Family Meeting About Caring for Aging Parents”, by Nancy Bergeron is a excellent compliment to the article “Why Someday Is the Most Expensive Word When Rightsizing” by Chris Matlashewski; in gaining a understanding as to why having a plan and open communication is so important when downsizing.