It’s not just a house. It’s your home. A treasure trove of memories that charts your family’s history. But the keyword here is history. As daunting as radical change appears from your favorite chair, it’s become clear that a house so appropriate for a past lifestyle is impeding your goal of moving forward to embrace the present—and future. Once you shed the burden of unused rooms and piles of maintenance bills to find a living space that is in all respects just right, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
The first step in your journey to celebrate active adulthood is to prepare your house—and yourself—for the sale. Here are a few home selling tips that consider both the physical and emotional task ahead of you when deciding to move to senior living.
Clear Out the Clutter
Remember, buyers are interested in seeing your house, not your stuff. Limiting personal décor best showcases the living space and helps potential buyers envision their own possessions. If this is your first round of rightsizing, you will have a lifetime of accumulation to sort through. Keep in mind, it was not accrued in a day. So, create a reasonable timeline that doesn’t make you feel anxious or rushed. Don’t ignore your exteriors. Your home doesn’t get a second chance to make a first impression. A pristine exterior will make buyers eager to see what’s inside.
Send Out an SOS
Staging a house for sale is quite an undertaking at any age. For active adults, it is a task that presents unique challenges and must be approached with care. Your spirit may be more enthusiastic than your back, so be sure to enlist helpers for any heavy lifting or carrying. Get the kids and grandkids involved, if they are available, and you can transform a grueling job into some quality family time.
Pace Yourself
Stick to a schedule that doesn’t leave you completely depleted by the end of the day. Try not to work for more than a six-hour shift. Take plenty of breaks, keep snacks handy and stay hydrated. You want to conserve that energy for all the activities awaiting at your new 55+ active adult community!
Lighten the Mood
If ever there was a task impacted by attitude, this would be it. A positive upbeat approach will make the hours far more pleasant. As you sort through pictures and recall special experiences, you’ll want to take a moment to relish the memories. This can be a time of storytelling, laughter and family connection. Put on some of your favorite music and enjoy the stroll down memory lane. It’s a great time to give the kids and grandkids any items they may find meaningful.
Repair and Refresh
Preparing your house for sale means paying attention to those odd jobs you’ve managed to avoid for decades. A fresh coat of paint can be helpful as well. Buyers want to feel the property has a cared for look. That said, this is not the time for you to be climbing ladders and heading up to the roof. Find a reputable handyman to get everything back into working order. The last thing you need is to go through the moving process with an easily avoidable injury.
Work Out the Numbers
This is a great time to consult a financial advisor who can give you a clear picture of what the sale process looks like financially. Your expert will help you balance numbers to plot a course going forward that makes sense for both you and your finances.
Yes, preparing to move is a major undertaking. But, there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. Once you and your buyers have signed on the dotted line, you’ll be free to enjoy the next level of active adulthood at the 55+ community of your choice. You’ve already missed today’s fun. Don’t miss tomorrow’s!