If your family has grown up and flown the nest and you’re moving closer to retiring, it’s likely that you’ve at least thought about downsizing your home. For some it can be for practical reasons, for others it might be a desire to be closer to their children if they’ve relocated, for others still it might simply be the desire for a change of scenery as they move into the next chapter of their life. But there are pros and cons to downsizing which need to be considered before you make what is always going to be a fairly major personal and financial decision.

The potential benefits of downsizing can be numerous. Living in a smaller home means you’re likely to save money on energy bills, house insurance, council tax and many other costs, allowing you to spend more of your pension income on enjoying life after work. It can also make looking after your home much easier so that you’re spending less time and effort on cleaning, maintenance and repairs as you get older.

In the current economic climate, many older people are choosing to downsize in order to free up funds. For some, this might be with the aim of boosting their own nest egg; for an increasing number of others, this is done in order to help their children get on the property ladder themselves. A loan or gift from the Bank of Mum and Dad has to be funded somehow, and if much of your capital is tied up in your home, downsizing often seems like a good way of obtaining the funds needed for a deposit on a first home.

However, just as the housing market is making it increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to secure a home, it’s also making it more and more challenging for those who want to downsize to be able to do so. Many who want somewhere smaller to make maintaining their property easier are finding that the cost of moving simply means staying put and paying for a cleaner or handyman is the more sensible option. For others, the shortage of houses means that finding a smaller property which suits their needs whilst providing the financial benefits is simply too tall an order in 2017.

So, whilst there are definite potential benefits of downsizing which can potentially help you and your family as you reach your retirement, it’s also worth remembering that those positives are not guaranteed. Moving house is both a major financial and emotional consideration at any point in your life, so make sure you have considered exactly what you will get out of downsizing before making the decision to do so.