If you're lucky enough to work with a senior client, you'll likely be faced with one of the two most common obstacles.  "I don't want a monthly payment" and "Whatever will I do with all this stuff?"  I tackled the financial objection in Overcoming Seniors Objections Part IIJay and Medford even put me to the test to see if I could really show seniors how they could save money by moving. Even though there's a new monthly payment, you can decrease the amount of monthly payments for seniors if they move.

Now to answer the issue of all that stuff.  Many elder clients have been in their homes for 20, 30 or 40+ years.  The closets, spare rooms, basements and garages are filled with stuff.  Some of it, important momentos most of it, stuff that was stuffed just because they didn't know what else to do with it, and throwing it away was out of the question. 

  1. Don't react to the stuff. Your new client is going to be a little embarassed when they show you all their stuff. Just shrug it off and tell them this is what you expected when you learned they had been in their home for XXX number of years.
  2. Do not suggest they get started going through all the stuff.  Give them a pack of color coded  stickers  Red, pack it and move it, green it stays.  Now, if your client has been in the garage for 5 years, and it's filled with boxes, chances are most of it will not move with them.  If they are moving gardening tools, have your client remove those tools, but a green sticker on the door, and they're done! They'll probably move most of the things in the kitchen, bathroom and their bedroom. Put a red sticker on the door and be done! The basement, well other than a bowling trophy, coin collection, and holiday decorations most of it will probably not go with them.  Put a green sticker on the door.
  3. Packing will take the amount of time alloted. If you allow 3 years, it will take 3 years, if you allow 1 month, it will take one month.  Do not encourage your clients to move the small pieces themselves to save money.  If your client has the assets, encourage them to hire a moving company, and move in one day.
  4. Give your client a checklist of things to do before the move, on move day, and after the move. Remind them to keep food, medications, emergency numbers and important papers with them. 
  5. Hire a company like Rose's Daughters.  They will pack, move and unpack your elder client on closing day.  In fact, since your client's new home will be unpacked, your client can likely have dinner at home that day! They will arrange estate sales, or dumpsters, whatever it takes.

 Remember to stay calm and to give your client options when possible.  Often during the planning stages of the move your gentle guidance will be appreciated. Keep it as simple as possible for the senior.  Be the "move concierge" for your client. You'll become the family go-to person for years to come.

 

15 Comments on Overcome Senior's Objections to Moving Part III-Deal with the Stuff!

NOV
13
2006
203,112 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Lisa, great ideas when it comes to stuff for seniors or juniors it is personal loved the phrase gentle guidance.  By the way I was born in Mpls.!
10:53am • #1
168,222 Points Outside Blog
Seniors who dont speak english are especially diffcult to deal with. But patience and understanding gains their trust. Great series i love it!!!!!
12:56pm • #2
159,745 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Wow!! #3 in a series.  Is #4 on its way? #5?  Are you writing a book?  Thanks for the handling seniors' objections!
1:13pm • #3
3 Featured Posts
Lisa, This is an excellent post.  Thank You.   We must find, or start, a Rose's Daughters here!  What a great idea.
1:18pm • #4
264,468 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Great post. Its very true that people that have lived in one place for a long time can be reluctant to move. And the amount of stuff in the house... -Charles
1:55pm • #5
7 Featured Posts
Lisa Great Post !! Great ideas !!  It's wonderful that you have movers specifically for the needs of seniors !!  Do they know of any movers in Texas that specialize in moving seniors?
2:19pm • #6
397,651 Points 16 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Suzanne and I helped my parents go through one closet "under the stairs" at the family homestead in England.  It took a week!
2:45pm • #7
17 Featured Posts
If you're looking for a mover in your area...try looking for a senior move manager.  It's a new association that's gearing up and if there isn't someone near you, I'm sure there soon will be!  Try googling the words "senior transitions" too. If you don't have any luck, you might find a senior community near you with a lead to some good moving services. 
3:30pm • #8
8 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Thanks for the suggestions!  Will definitely use next time I encounter this scenario.
3:44pm • #9
368,467 Points 62 Featured Posts Outside Blog

For those of you who are working with seniors or "active adults" this website has great resources.  The newsletter is about to start being distributed in .pdf form.  You can then download it and provide it to your customers.

http://seniordiscounts.com/

Don't forget to check: http://www.seniorsrealestate.com/sarec/

For more information regarding seniors and seniors real estate specialists.

*C*

SRES

3:53pm • #10
122,251 Points 24 Featured Posts Outside Blog

OK Lisa,

You've gotta quit writing such well-thought and written posts--your collection of gold stars is frightening! 

Jay Merton 

3:57pm • #11
260,735 Points 67 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
The sticker idea is a great idea - for anyone! What a great post. Thank you!
4:24pm • #12
3 Featured Posts

Hi Lisa - your post hit particularly close to home since my mother-in-law is in the midst of making that difficult decision whether to keep or sell her home.  She's been widowed for about 4 years, and is now in an assisted living center. She can't bear to part with anything, so is considering her stay temporary though she realizes, with her current medical situation, she will probably never move back home. It is extremely difficult for someone who has collected so many things throughout the years that provide memories, to even begin to think of letting them go. With my realtor contacts we're good to go with a realtor, but I will make sure she or he deals with my mother-in-law with the same sensitivity as you show your elderly clients. Good job!

 

Deb

9:28pm • #13
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Wonderful stuff! Since I just got my SRES, it is great to see some practical application. Thank you so much Lisa!
10:34pm • #14
NOV
14
2006
155,336 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog
My father at 80 is already paring down in preparation for his future move to assisted living although that may be years in the future.  His great fear is that he might die and leave us with something we have to sort through.  My mother left all kinds of junk that she had collected.  My dad is a minimalist.  We have begged and pleaded with him not to throw out the Christmas decorations before the family has a chance to go through them with him.  He sees them as taking up space and in his way.  The stuff he keeps is junk.  The medical records, personal letters, books, etc., he has shredded!  Yes, the books.  He had tons of study books which he ripped the covers off and shredded!  I guess he doesn't believe in used bookstores.  In order to sell his house, he will have to move first and then we will bring stuff in for staging.  He's pared down to so little that he has a couch, chair, and tv on a rolling stand in his 13 x 25 foot living room!  I guess I should be thankful, but his junk is my treasure.  The only reason the pictures weren't destroyed is because we told him we wanted them!
2:03am • #15

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Lisa Dunn www.TwinCitySeller.com

Minneapolis, MN

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Edina Realty

Office Phone: (651) 690-8439

Cell Phone: (612) 599-3484

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Lisa Dunn is a Realtor in the Minneapolis St. Paul area who offers some thoughts for your review.


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