HELPING YOUR SENIOR LOVED ONE DOWNSIZE

Helping Your Senior Loved One Downsize

When it’s time to downsize and move to a new home, your senior loved one may feel overwhelmed and even anxious. Helping them with the process will certainly alleviate some of their fears, but what if you’re not quite sure of what to do? In this guide, DBK Real Estate offers advice to ease their transition to a new living space.

Decluttering the House Before Moving

If your senior loved one is ready to move to a smaller home, to an apartment, or to a retirement community, you’ll want to help them thoroughly declutter their current place before they put it on the market or rent it out. Find time to work together to decide what stays and what goes in every room, including the garage and attic. And if the task of decluttering is just too overwhelming both emotionally and physically, consider hiring a professional home organizer who will help you efficiently sort through the items you want to keep while advising you on what you should part with.

Storing Heirlooms and Special Items

If there are items you want to hold onto so they can be passed down to your heirs, but you won’t have enough room for them in your new home, think about using a storage facility to house them after your move. When searching for storage units online, enter the specs that will allow you to safely keep your most precious belongings. Some units are climate-controlled to preserve wood furniture, family heirlooms, or music instruments from rot, mildew, and other weather-related damages.

Putting Your House Up for Sale

Once your senior loved one has found new housing accommodations, look for a real estate agency like DBK Real Estate who will put the house on the market and, as Contractor Quotes notes, advertise it to attract buyers. If your senior loved one still lives in the house during the selling process, you may want to put some of their furniture in storage, take down family photos, and stage the house so that potential buyers visiting it can better picture themselves living in the space. And during open houses, try to take your senior loved one out: seeing strangers traipse through your beloved home can often be too emotionally charged and upsetting for sellers.

Renting Out Your House

Some seniors decide to hold on to their property even after they move out to their final home in order to pass it down to their kids or other relatives after their death. Renting out that property is an excellent way to generate income and keep what is possibly your biggest asset within the family. To find renters that won’t turn into the tenants from hell, make sure you ask for (and check!) personal references, previous rental history, and employment history. For added peace of mind, you can hire a property manager who will screen tenants and collect rent for you.

Deciding on Future Living Arrangements

There are a number of options in terms of where to live next, depending on your situation and level of health, whether it be moving into an assisted living facility, renting, or buying a new home. It may be necessary to move to a skilled nursing facility if you require 24/7 care for a medical issue and are no longer able to live safely at home. Look online to find detailed facility reports, pricing info, payment options, and reviews for nursing homes in your area as you make this decision.

Then again, renting your next home allows you more flexibility to move if you’re not happy with your apartment or the community you live in. You won’t have to deal with the worries of homeownership, and since your landlord will be responsible for necessary repairs and upgrades, you won’t have to spend large amounts of money when things inevitably break down or need to be replaced.

When you’re buying a house, Guidance Residential points out that you’re allowed to make any kind of changes to it that you want. You’re also building equity, and you’ll have something to pass down to your children. Renting versus buying is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and you may want to consult with a financial advisor before making your move.

Moving can be a very emotional time, so be there for your senior loved one! Help them make the right decision when it comes to renting or buying their next home, assist them in the decluttering process, and get them ready to make new memories in their new space.

With years of experience in the Greater Houston market, DBK Real Estate knows how crucial it is for you to find relevant, up-to-date information. Team up with DBK today! 832.475.1627 or 713.964.2639

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