Many retired people move south for the winter to avoid inclement weather. Older people in particular often feel better when the weather is nicer. Deciding to become a snowbird and head south each winter is a rite of passage for many who choose, upon retirement, to stay in Florida, for example, during the colder months of each year. For many of these people, they are struggling with the decision of whether or not to sell their current home. Read on for some of the reasons you might want to consider selling your home and renting a condo or other furnished accommodation during the months you’re home.
It is often a difficult decision to think about selling your home because you spend a good deal of your time in the South. What will you do when you are home part of the year? If you’re ready to sell, you might be considering staying with family or staying in an extended-stay furnished rental for the months you’re home. But you may want to consider an extended-stay rental instead. Read on to learn about some of the benefits of renting an extended stay or short term furnished rental instead of staying with family or keeping your own place that will sit vacant part of the year.
Rentals can have definite benefits for Snowbirds
No maintenance while you’re at home – If you’re at a time in your life where it’s hard to keep up with exterior maintenance, renting a condo might be a better solution for you rather than keeping your home or condo under lock and key while you’re gone. If you own a condo, you pay maintenance fees. If you rent a condo in an extended stay or short term rental capacity, your fees are covered.
Maybe it’s not a matter of not being able to mow the lawn or take care of other outside maintenance; it’s more a matter of preferring to do other things with your time. Renting a condo can give you great options for outdoor living (many have decks, pools, and gorgeous landscaped areas) without all the work, effort, and equipment required.
Less worries while you’re away – Worrying about maintaining a home while you’re away is a concern for many who leave home for several months of the year. You worry about mail pickup, frozen pipes, your belongings left unattended and at risk of being stolen. But when you rent a furnished suite, you don’t have to worry about many of these things. When you do not stay somewhere, there will be no problem.
Minimal packing and unpacking – The furnished apartments will have everything you need for your day to day (kitchen utensils, furniture, etc.) minimizing the amount of packing and unpacking necessary when you return to the North. For the snowbirds that maintain a winter and a summer location, there is a lot of packing and unpacking, and transporting belongings from one side of the border to the other. When you arrange a short term rental, you only need your personal items such as clothing and toiletries.
Economic – Being retired can be gold, but on a fixed income, you’ll want to be aware of the costs. Instead of paying year-round rent for a place that will only be used for a few months out of the year, why not consider just hosting? only when do you need them? You will save a lot of money this way.
Retaining your own space – Some retirees who sell their home decide to spend the months “away” with the family. This may work for some, but for many people it is preferable to still keep their own space. Sure, you’ll be eager to make up for lost time if you’ve spent months apart from loved ones, but by renting your own furnished rental, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: independent living close to loved ones but without many of the hassles associated with staying with other people.
Why not check out some furnished rental options in your hometown? It could be the right solution for you during the period of time each year that you are not staying in the South.
