Updated: Sep 9, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Compare total costs, including fees, taxes, repairs, and the move.
- Keep documents according to their purpose and applicable retention rules.
- Use appropriate medicine take-back or FDA disposal instructions.
Decide what the next home must provide
List essentials before looking at floor plans: usable entrances, bathroom access, transport, nearby care, storage, and room for visitors or assistance. A smaller home is not automatically accessible or cheaper. If considering a community, review assisted-living payment rules and its contract.
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Build a before-and-after budget
Compare mortgage or rent, property taxes, insurance, HOA charges, utilities, maintenance, transport, and care. Add selling costs, purchase costs, deposits, repairs, moving, storage, and any temporary overlap between homes. Check property-tax relief in the new location instead of assuming existing benefits transfer.
- Measure the new home and essential furniture.
- Set a schedule that leaves time for decisions, donations, and removal.
- Work through one area at a time using keep, offer, sell, donate, and dispose groups.
- Ask others what they would like without assuming they want particular belongings.
- Get written moving quotes with packing, stairs, travel, insurance, cancellation terms, and exclusions clearly stated.
Sort records before shredding
There is no universal rule to shred everything older than seven years. IRS retention periods vary: some situations use three, six, or seven years; others require indefinite retention. Property records can be needed to establish basis through a later sale and the applicable retention period afterward.
Keep vital records and originals that may be legally required. Review estate documents, insurance, pension information, loan records, and ownership papers separately. Make secure backups, but do not assume a scan replaces every original. Consult the IRS record-retention guidance and the relevant institution before destroying uncertain records.
Handle medicines and donations safely
Do not place expired medicine in a general donation or recycling pile. Use a medicine take-back option when available; otherwise follow FDA instructions for that specific medicine. Some medicines have special disposal instructions.
Confirm donation acceptance and pickup arrangements directly. Organizations differ on mattresses, electronics, condition, stairs, and service areas. Avoid paying for storage indefinitely while postponing decisions; include its full cost in the budget.
Prepare for moving day
Pack medicines, important documents, chargers, toiletries, and several days of clothing separately. Arrange address changes, utilities, and continuity of care. Check the new home against the aging-in-place checklist before boxes block the routes. Allow time to settle in and adjust the layout to actual daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I shred all documents older than seven years?
Will downsizing lower my expenses?
ARTICLE SOURCES
Retire Companion requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
- Internal Revenue Service. How long should I keep records?
- Food and Drug Administration. Where and how to dispose of unused medicines
- National Institute on Aging. Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home
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