There are many segments of the population that find themselves in a situation that requires that they downsize. You may be over 65, an empty nester who can not afford that big house anymore, or be recently divorced or widowed. All of these individuals face a similar challenge. Many have resided in their home for 20 plus years. They are now faced with an unfamiliar and challenging experience of planning and moving to a smaller home.
Determining the correct housing:
When downsizing, determine if you want to own a smaller home and still be responsible for all the outside and inside maintenance. Does a condo or townhouse better fit your life style? If over 65, would independent senior housing, assisted living or a group home make you comfortable?
Getting help from friends/professionals
Give yourself time to research all the options available to you. Talk to your family, friends, neighbors, church, and professionals etc to evaluate your options and look at the financial consequence of each option. The best news is that no one needs to go through this process alone. The support provided by others will make the process go so much smoother. Some elderly homeowners may feel that they can not ask their children to help them during this process or they may not have any children, or their children may be elderly themselves. The great news today is that there are specialists who have been trained to help seniors make the transition. These Senior Real Estate Specialists are trained to understand and meet the emotional needs of elderly homeowners and their families. The SRES Realtor can also offer referrals to attorneys, CPAs, and Senior Move Managers when appropriate. Hiring a Senior Real Estate Specialist may help reduce the stress of moving for all involved.
Making those needed repairs/updates
Once you have decided that you will downsize, you are emotionally prepared, and you have secured the help you need, then you begin the process of preparing the house for sale.
Make those minor repairs and cosmetic changes. Repair that torn screen, change the door knobs, give the walls a fresh coat of paint: all of these will give the prospective home buyer a favorable impression that the home has been well taken care of.
Keep the exterior in good shape. The first impression that a prospective buyer has is the landscaping and lawn. Maximize the impression by keeping it uncluttered and well maintained. Your realtor will help you identify any major repairs or updates that make affect how fast your house sells and the price your receive for it.
Remove clutter and reduce possessions
Depersonalize the interior by giving away items, selling them, or putting them in storage. We have all accumulated more stuff than we need. First develop a plan, go through one room at a time and determine whether you are going to keep an item, give it away to relative or friends, donate the item, or sell it. Plan a garage sale. Post the items on http://www.craigslist.com/.
Use a color code to help with the sorting process. For example you can use red stickers to indicate that you are giving the item away and write on the sticker the name of the person or organization that you are giving it to. Work a maximum of two to three hours at a time. Dress comfortably.
All of us will have to move someday. If you have a positive attitude, give yourself enough time, plan, and use your support system, the process can be a relatively pleasant process.
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