Selling a House in Harrisburg PA: Bringing the Generations Together Although your home may have been housing a traditional family of a mom, dad and two kids, savvy real estate agents will tell you that when selling a house, staging your home as one fit for multi-generations is the way to go.
More parents and grandparents are finding a need to move in with family, as many can no longer afford the increasing rates of the adult communities where they once lived. Furthermore, the economic climate is forcing many kids to return home once their schooling is done.
You must always consider market trends when selling a house. A recent multi-generational study conducted by the Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C., revealed that multigenerational living has been on the rise over the past decade, fueled by demographic and cultural shifts.
"One of the things that struck me about this change is that it's coming from all directions," said Paul Taylor, author of the report. So when selling a house, remember that "More young adults are moving back home, more elderly are moving in with their middle-age children, and more middle-aged children are moving back with their elderly parents."
Data from the study shows that in the 10-year span between 2000 and 2009, the number of households practicing multi-generational living increased to 33%, with more than 49 million Americans currently living in homes with three or more generations.
When selling a house, Realtors are tending to highlight features such as finished walkout basements and bonus bedrooms today more than ever. That's why when your agent tells you that switching out your office or transposing the basement play area to one that resembles more of a bedroom is the way to go, you should be listening.
When selling a house, you need to look at the process from the perspective of all buyers, not just yours. Consider how a multigenerational family might use the various spaces available, and give prospective homebuyers options to easily transform from single-family to multigenerational living.
Therefore, selling a house that contains bonus space makes it a viable candidate for a multigenerational buyer who's planning to bring an ill or out-of-work family member back into the fold.
Experts agree that intergenerational living is easier when each family sub-unit has its own space. "Everyone who is going to share the home should have a private area of their own," said Amy Goyer, a multigenerational expert at AARP. "It is best if there is more than one common area so that children and adults have spaces to relax in without everyone having to spend all their free time in the same room together."
Another thing to consider when selling a house, and attracting multigenerational buyers, is the home's accessibility for people who might be living with aging parents who use wheel chairs or walkers. Creating a complete, accessible living space on one level with safety features can make a home attractive to people of all ages.
With the economic climate the way it is in Harrisburg PA, selling a house without expert advice can be costly. Contact me at 717.514.1793 or Ken@KensHomesales.com today to discover exactly which is the best method of marketing your home.
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