You are not alone! So many folks are watching the news about the real estate market and retreating from putting their home on the market now. The general consensus from the seniors I work with is that the market is flat and therefore they are putting off the sale of their home until next year, hoping the market will recover. Typically, we experience a slowdown in activity as we approach Thanksgiving. The buyer traffic usually picks up in February with a gradual buildup of purchasers entering the market, peaking when the children are finished with the school year in mid June. As you can see, there is a direct correlation between the time of year and the volume of potential home shoppers.

With today’s uncertainty, many buyers and sellers are in a quandary as to when to purchase and when to sell. None of us wants to leave money on the table by selling in a down year, nor do any of us cherish the thought of moving in the winter. How can we best utilize this time gap between now and spring? What can we do to position ourselves to attract an acceptable offer in a relatively short time span?

My best advice for those thinking of selling in spring would be to begin to prepare your home for sale now! I would not wait until spring to (more…)

I have been blessed to speak to thousands of seniors at seminars designed to enlighten folks who have been in their homes for many years. In these seminars I talk about reasons for procrastination, how to prepare and start the downsizing process as well as the actual process of selling and moving from a home of many years. The average time spent in a home for attendees of these seminars is 33.7 years, however the range of years lived in their current home is 20-76 years. Yes, I had one wonderful lady who had lived in her home from birth until the day she moved into a senior community (and by the way she is very happy she made the move).

Without fail several of the people attending the seminar will want me to stop out and help them begin the process of downsizing and preparing to put the home on the market. They put a deposit down at a senior community fully intending to simplify their lives and make the move. Then hesitation sets in. Doubt and confusion begin to dominate their thoughts, and the next thing you know (more…)

My article last month addressed the question, what is the top fear keeping seniors from making a move? The answer was fear of change.

I discussed steps you can take if fear has kept you from improving your situation. This week I would like to answer the question, what is the top reason for making a move. In other words, why would a senior want or need to move after living in the home for several years. The answer Maintenance! The many chores and back breaking work needed to sustain a home. Comments from the folks surveyed, were anything from snow shoveling, yard maintenance, home deterioration, lawn maintenance, to finding it hard to rely on maintenance or handymen, and worry as to how the work will get done.

A few months ago I received a letter from a client, Marion. She is a wonderful lady who lived in her home for over 30 years. Her husband had passed away a few years ago, and was alone in her home. She was left with the responsibility of (more…)