Helping Seniors Sell Their Homes

Whether looking to downsize or move closer to family, helping seniors sell their homes can overwhelm and allow time for emotions and memories to surface as decluttering and packing take place. 

If you have a senior client, or family member looking to sell their home, here are a few tips to make the transition easier. 

Create a Timeline 

Helping your clients or loved ones create a realistic timeline to sell their home can make the transition easier to process. Focus on significant milestones within the timeline so they can anticipate the next step in the process. Keep the timeline with other notes, lists, and relevant contact information where it’s easily accessible and available to everyone assisting in selling their home. 

Find the Right Realtor® 

Realtors® can focus on specific markets, so find a Realtor® who focuses on helping seniors sell their homes. An experienced Realtor® can be a great asset to the process, helping to steer overwhelmed seniors and be a neutral third party when working on the next steps. 

Declutter and Clean 

Most mature folks have been in their homes for decades. They have gained a lifetime of sentimental memories and items of times long past. Helping your mature clients to work through the clutter and safely store precious items, so they aren’t damaged in the move, will bring comfort. Cleaning as you go can make the transition easier and less traumatizing. These best practices are especially important for seniors selling their homes out of necessity and not desire. 

Consider Home Maintenance 

Living in the same home for decades may mean the house needs repairs or updating. Inspect major appliances, flooring, walls, ceilings and note their condition. Work with a real estate agent to determine the best home maintenance plan that fits the senior's budget and provides the greatest resale value when the home goes up for sale. 

Increase Curb Appeal 

A well-manicured exterior gets more eyes on a property, so consider landscaping and outside maintenance as part of the timeline to selling their home. This may be as simple as mowing the lawn and trimming shrubs, or the yard may need a total overhaul. Depending on the level of landscaping required, consider hiring a lawn care company to do the work in record time if family and friends can’t pitch in to help. 

Highlight the Home’s Best Features 

Especially in older homes, there are usually unique features that set them apart from the builder-grade homes built today. Original wood flooring, ornate windows, wainscoting, and exposed wood beams are just a few of the best features in an older home. If they have made senior-friendly upgrades like curbless showers or a ground floor laundry station, highlight them while preparing your client’s house for sale. 

Working with Professional Home Stagers 

Along with amassing lots of memories, many mature clients also have unique furniture pieces and other items experienced home stagers can use to their advantage. Working with home staging experts like the team at Interior Drama can help seniors determine what items are assets to showing the home and which are not. Consider temporary storage facilities if items aren’t stageable but are also not trash or worth donating. Our team at Interior Drama is ready and willing to work with seniors to help them transition from their current home to their new journey in retirement. Contact us today to learn the difference Interior Drama can make in assisting folks in their golden years when they’re selling their homes. 

 

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Why Stage Your Home in a Seller’s Market