Independent Living Checklist: Steps to Take When Moving on Your Own

Mostly young people choose to live alone to have a great sense of independence and to relish being young and free. At the same time, many senior citizens also opt to reside in independent living communities and enjoy their retirement age in the relaxing suburbs.

Moving to independent living can be quite daunting. After living for years with a family member or two, this can be a huge decision for you. As such, it is extremely important to plan ahead and have a checklist of the moving process in order to make sure that you will love everything about your new living space and not regret your decision to move. In this article, we'll help you choose the right independent living community and provide tips on how you can adjust to your new living arrangement.

Moving Checklist: Essential Steps to Take Before Moving in to a New Community

Independent living may be used and confused for living in assisted living communities. To spell some difference, taking residence in independent living communities means homeowners have convenient access to essential goods and services that will allow them to live independently in a self-sustaining community. Meanwhile, those who reside in assisted living communities especially need assistance to survive daily living, particularly persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

If you're the person who's on the way to adopting an independent lifestyle, these essential steps to take before moving in to a new community that we prepared are for you.

Set a budgeting plan

Before you move, write down or keep an electronic record of your monthly income and typical monthly expenses prior to your move. This will allow you to determine whether your living expenses now will increase (or decrease) after you shift to independent living in your new abode. After that, you can make financial adjustments as needed. But the bottomline is always to live within your means.

Choose and inspect a location

If you still don't have an actual location in mind, and that you're still weighing your options, make sure to thoroughly inspect the community. Ideally, it must be relatively close to essential establishments such as healthcare facilities and grocery shopping centers. If you prefer commuting, it must also be accessible through efficient mass public transportation services.

Purchase household items you need

If you are starting from scratch and want to buy essential household items, you must do so prior to your move-in date in your new apartment. Make a list of furniture and any other items you may need after the move-in process.

Make a checklist for a basic toolkit

A basic tool set will come in handy should there be a need for small and minor home repairs. In essence, this basic toolkit must include a hammer, screwdrivers, tape measure, pliers, utility knives, and wrenches. These tools can also conveniently help for future maintenance tasks around your new residential place.

Do groceries for the essentials

Do your groceries before your move-in date. This lets you become prepared and avoid the hassle that comes from having to buy essential grocery items after you move in. Notably, you shouldn't do all your groceries all at once. You can do so gradually and only buy additional items over time as deemed necessary. These grocery items are not limited to stocking up on food items. It must also include kitchenware, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

Familiarize yourself with your new community

If you have settled on a senior-living community as your primary retirement residence, familiarize yourself with the neighborhood by roaming around. If you still regard yourself as physically fit even at your age, consider walking around. If you drive your own car, on the other hand, you can also get acquainted with your new home while driving about at an unhurried pace.

Amenities to Look for In Your New Home

This blog post wouldn't be complete without touching on the subject of amenities and room specifications that are best suited for your lifestyle needs. Let's discuss these amenities more below for your reference, which will center around the four most important areas in a residential property.

For your kitchen

The kitchen is doubtless one of the most frequented areas of everyone's house. To make sure you're not going to miss out on anything important, create a checklist of the following kitchen amenities:

• Countertops

• Cabinets

• Ample lighting

• Kitchen appliances

• Trash compactors

For your dining room

• Dining tables

• Dining chairs

• If the dining and living areas are combined

• Extra space for a mobile kitchen island

For your bedroom

• Bedroom size

• Bedroom furniture

• Balcony

• Walk-in closets

• Storage space

For your bathroom

• Mirrors

• Bathroom sink

• Tile type of floors

• Ample lighting

• Shower area

Any Lumina Homes communities nationwide are designed to be elderly-friendly as well as catering to anyone who prefer the path of independent living. We offer signature amenities through 'eSpacio,' which includes a multipurpose hall, a functional community center that can serve senior citizens and children alike, spacious jogging paths, mini-gardens, play area for the young, gazebos, and a basketball court for the physically active, among others.

For room specifications, our affordable house and lot provisions offer two-bedroom as well as three-bedroom provisions depending on your personal needs. In general, our basic home amenities include a kitchen, dining area, a living room, toilet and bathroom, a carport provision for your vehicle, and a service area.

Moreover, all Lumina projects from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are excellently located in relative proximity to elementary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, medical care facilities, dry and wet markets, leisure spots, local tourist destinations, and mass transportation services, among many others.

Achieve independent living in a community that would allow you to lead a healthy lifestyle even without proper assistance from other family members. This is definitely something you can accomplish if you invest in an affordable house and lot for sale through our property brand. Ready to secure your real estate investment this year? Allow Lumina Homes to help you realize your dream house and lot Philippines! Get in touch with a representative from our team today!