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Letting go of the familiar

What should seniors know before they sell?

Monday, November 22, 1999
By Dian Hymer
Inman News Features

It's hard to change homes at any age. But selling and leaving the home you've occupied for decades can be especially difficult. Here's how to make the job easier.

It's difficult to let go of a home where you're surrounded with a lifetime of memories. Instead of focusing on what you're giving up, think of the positive reasons for making the move.
Some seniors don't want to be a burden to their children. They'd rather get into a situation that will give them the care they need in future years.
Another good reason to leave the family home behind is to free yourself from ongoing home maintenance. It can be liberating to move into a retirement home or condominium where you can literally lock your front door and be gone for months at a time.

It's helpful to know where you plan to move, so start looking for your next home before selling the one you're in now. Seniors often want to move closer to other family members. If this means moving a long distance, plan to visit relatives in the new community for awhile to see how you like it. You may find that you're happier staying in your present community where you can be close to old friends and to your doctors. A new location also means that you have to adjust to a new climate and to new facilities.

When you've decided where you want to go, the next step is to start preparing to sell your current home. If you have a real estate agent, ask him or her to prepare a comparative market analysis of your home to determine its approximate market value.

FIRST-TIME TIP: Be sure to choose an agent who has experience working with seniors. Like first-time buyers, seniors often haven't bought or sold property recently. You will want an agent who is patient and who has the time and the desire to guide you step-by-step through the selling process.

Some agents have a hard time being candid with sellers about what they need to do to get their home ready for sale. Select an agent who is tactful, but who will be straightforward with you about how your home should look when it goes on the market. Friends who've sold recently may be able to refer an agent to you if you don't already have one.

Homes in move-in condition sell for the most money in the least amount of time. If you've been in your home for a long period of time, the decor may be out-of-date and there may be deferred maintenance. Sellers who start preparing their home for sale well in advance may be able to complete some improvements, which will add value to the home. Those who don't have the time or resources may be better off selling their home in its present or "as is" condition.

Even with an "as is" sale, you should plan to remove as much clutter from your home as possible before you sell. That way prospective buyers will be able to see the home's potential.

It's recommended that sellers leave their home while it's being shown to buyers. This can be difficult for seniors who have health problems. To reduce the stress level, move out of your current home and into your next home before selling if possible.

THE CLOSING: If you do have to be home when your home is shown, make yourself as scarce as possible so that the agents can do their job.

Dian Hymer is author of "Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer's Guide," Chronicle Books, Revised 1998.

Copyright 1999 Dian Hymer

Distributed by Inman News Features

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