How to Manage the “Snowbird” Lifestyle

As we get older, winters get tougher. So you may be considering investing in a second home in a warmer climate, where winters would be warm and comfortable instead of freezing and dangerous. But you may not want to leave home for good, yet – in which case you’ll want to try the “snowbird” lifestyle, in which you migrate back and forth between your current home and a new warm-climate winter home. Here’s how to do it.

Half-year living, whole-year commitment

You’ll only be living for part of the year in your new home, but that’s no reason to take the decision lightly. When you make the choice to buy a second home, research it as thoroughly as if you were going to spend the rest of your life there – because, eventually, you might.

Many snowbirds eventually become full-time residents of their warm-weather homes. Even if you don’t think that will be you, make your purchase with this in mind. Get a senior-friendly home that will be safe and comfortable for years (more on this in the final section). Choose a great area, perhaps one with other seniors around. Choose a home you truly love and consider its location relative to all attractions and conveniences – not just the ones that matter during the months you’re planning to live there. The beach is great for temperate Florida winters, but if you do end up living there in summer, maybe a nice air-conditioned movie theatre is good to have in the area, too!

Even if you never move to your new home full-time, you’ll still be paying for it year round. Property taxes, maintenance, and other expenses aren’t likely to get much cheaper just because you’re not staying there all year, so remember that this is a serious commitment, and treat it as such. This is likely the last home you’ll ever buy. Do it right!

De-stress your migration

Once you’ve found your dream home, you’ll be ready to hop back and forth. But moving is stressful, and doing so twice a year for the rest of your life will be no fun at all. So what can you do? Simple: don’t move.

You’ll move yourself, of course, but you shouldn’t be moving in the way that you will the first time you outfit your new property with furniture, books, decorations, and the like. As much as possible, you’ll want to have two of everything. You’re no doubt already planning on having some permanent things in your new home – a bed, of course, and things like flatware and lighting fixtures and paintings on the walls – but try to expand your idea of what you can duplicate. You’ll want to end up with two separate wardrobes so that you don’t have to move suitcases full of clothes all of the time (a carry-on with a few favourites should be all you need). Consider getting two computers (you can sync them online so you never lose your files), two sets of all of your electronics chargers, and so on. Everything that you have two is something that you don’t have to move!

Two cars may be out of your price range, of course, which brings us to our next tip: shipping. Car shipping companies can get your wheels back and forth if you’d rather fly, and mail other things with a secure service or entrusting them to a moving company will mean you can travel light.

All of this – from duplicating possessions to shipping items – is pricey, so remember to include this in your budget when you choose your second home! The cost of bouncing back and forth should be considered along with the cost of the property itself

Plan ahead

If you’re new to snowbird life, you’re probably more interested in finding a place with boats for sale than you are in calling a contractor about safety railings and chair lifts. But remember that you’re choosing a home for your golden years. Make sure it’s comfortable forever!

This means investing in a senior-friendly space with all of the safety features you might need. A one-story house is ideal, and fixtures like walk-in tubs are smart investments. You never know when you may need these things, and it’s better to have them ahead of time than to feel unsafe in the shower for months until the contractors can come to install your walk-in. Plus, making key improvements now means that the expense is out of the way – you won’t have to worry about suddenly budgeting for a big renovation later in life.

If you take care to plan ahead, you’ll find yourself with a comfortable space that you can spend the rest of your life in. You may eventually find that even a low-stress migration is too much for you, but if you’ve chosen your space carefully and have made important senior-friendly improvements, you’ll be as safe, comfortable, and happy in your home full time as you were part time.