How to Quickly Settle Into and Enjoy Your New Home After Retirement
After retiring, you may have decided to downsize or move to a new area. Now, once you’ve found the perfect house, how can you quickly turn it into your happy place? Here’s some advice and strategies to help you settle quickly and enjoy your new space:
Take Care of Home Maintenance Tasks
The home inspection that took place before you completed the purchase should have covered all the main systems inside – HVAC, electrical, and plumbing – as well as the roof, basement, and exterior of the property. Now that you moved into your new home, establish a schedule for the maintenance tasks that need to be completed throughout the year to prevent issues from arising and to keep everything in optimal shape so that you can fully enjoy your new abode: clean or replace the air filters regularly, keep the gutters free of leaves and debris, test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace their batteries. And always be safety conscious before turning on your heater for the first time during colder months.
Reduce Monthly Costs with Green Features
New eco-friendly technologies make our homes more energy-efficient, which is good for the planet and for our wallets. So if you’re moving into an older house, consider making green improvements: replace single-pane windows with double or triple-pane windows that will keep your home better insulated from the cold and the heat and also reduce noise pollution. If it’s time to replace the water heater, look for a tankless option that only heats the amount of water you need when you actually need it. And instead of standard bulbs in your light fixtures, use LED lights to save both energy and money.
Increase Indoor and Outdoor Security
Now that you’re retired, you may start spending more time at home on your own. If you’re concerned about safety and security, look at improving lighting throughout the house: not only will it help prevent falls, but it can also be a great deterrent if you’re worried about intruders. Outdoor lights equipped with motion sensors can also keep you safer, and they will act as a deterrent as well. Smart home technology can also be a great tool to protect you and your property: from monitoring the air quality in your house to videoing potentially suspicious activities on your street, those systems are designed to keep you safe and prevent a catastrophe from happening.
Set up Your Office Space
If you’re planning on working as a consultant or starting a side business after you retire, set up a dedicated workspace in your new home that will optimize your productivity. Position your desk so that it gets plenty of natural light to keep you energized and prevent eye strain, or buy a desk lamp with different brightness options that you can adjust depending on the time of day. Get a comfortable, ergonomic desk chair to prevent you from hunching over your keyboard and a workstation suitable for your height to avoid back, neck, and wrist pain. Also, think about bringing some of the outside in with fresh-cut flowers in a vase or potted plants such as succulents and aloe vera. Adding natural elements to your home office will turn it into a more relaxed, comfy space.
Quickly get settled into your new home and enjoy your retirement by keeping your safety and security top of mind. Maintain your property to prevent accidents, and turn to eco-friendly options to save money. And turn your workspace into a cozy haven to keep you engaged and motivated!
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