Selling the house that you raised your family in can be the most challenging task you’ll ever face. The real estate market has changed dramatically over the last decade, which doesn’t help matters. Much of what you once knew is no longer current in the hectic, technology-driven world we live in today.
To top it all off, moving can be physically strenuous, with heavy objects to pack, and you’ve got to prepare the house for sale. Let’s face it: None of us are getting any younger. It isn’t just the mental and physical demands that come with the process, either. You’ve got years of memories, and your home may be filled to the brim with cherished treasures, souvenirs, and mementos of your loved ones.
Everything reminds you of something, and letting go of your home can feel like losing a part of yourself. And yet, for many people, the time will come when it’s best for everyone involved to move on to a new situation. Perhaps your next step is to move to a smaller home nearby, travel the globe, or become a snowbird in a tropical paradise!
Fortunately, as a senior, you have many resources available to help you through your transition. The first step is to have a logical, step-by-step plan to follow, so each action feels like a small task.
With help, you will overcome all of the toughest challenges and may even look forward to your next stage in life!
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
The more time you leave yourself before you need to move, the less stressful the process will be. You’ll have time to carefully sort through your belongings to separate your most treasured items from those you can let go of without any sense of loss. If you ever get overwhelmed, you can back away and come back to it when you’re feeling better.
Planning ahead will also set you up for a more successful sale because you’ll be able to ask your questions and obtain any help you need. For example, should you paint your home before selling it? How much should you list your home for? The answers can differ depending on your neighbourhood and how the current market is behaving.
When you’re not rushed, you can take the time to find the right experts who will help you make the most of your experience.
The more you know, the more successful you will be when selling your home. Here are some past articles you may find helpful:
- Why Working With an Etobicoke Realtor is More Critical Than Ever
- A Practical Guide to Downsizing
- Are Prices in Etobicoke Going Down?
Get Organized
To-Do lists can be your lifeline when it comes to a daunting project like selling a home and moving. They will help you prioritize the most urgent tasks so you can put them behind you as fast as possible. You’ll know what you can put off for later and perhaps what doesn’t even need to be done at all.
For example, do you really need to remodel your whole kitchen before showing your home to potential buyers? Often, it’s the minor upgrades that will get you the best results. Making a list and getting organized well in advance will keep you focused only on what urgently needs to be done. Plus, it will help you delegate tasks to your friends and family, who will be eager to help in any way they can.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Many seniors were raised with a completely different work ethic than you find in the world today. There’s a certain amount of pride in doing everything yourself with as little outside help as possible. However, part of a job well done means knowing when to bring in a professional. For example, it might take you weeks to fully clean and declutter your home, or months if you have a busy schedule. A trained professional can get it done in a day. A moving company can make your transition faster and easier and even protect you from injury in the process.
Want to know more about how Thompson Sells helps our seniors clients? Read about our process right here.
Involve Your Family and Friends
As the saying goes, “many hands make light work.” You may be pleasantly surprised at how much you can get organized and prepared for a move when your loved ones are there to help out. Even children can get involved by helping to fold and sort your towels, linens, or anything nonbreakable.
Having your family around doesn’t just ease your workload. It gives you time to talk and bond over the cherished memories you’ve all had in the home. This family time can also help you say goodbye to your house because it’s not the four walls you love but the people within them. Those who are most important to you will still be there even after you’ve handed over the keys!
Find the Silver Lining
There is no denying that you will miss your old home, at least to some degree. Change can be difficult, especially after living in the same place for many years. Always remember that it is okay to feel nostalgic or even grieve for a time. However, those feelings will be alleviated if you find something to feel excited about in your new house.
Look up the restaurants, recreational centres, and other activities in your new neighbourhood that you can look forward to. Think of the friends you will meet and the new adventures you can get up to. No matter what your next step is, you can always find something good if you look for it.
Work With an SRES® Real Estate Agent
An experienced and compassionate real estate agent can be your number one resource when selling your family home. They will assist you at every point, especially the most critical steps, like deciding on an initial listing price and developing a marketing strategy.
An SRES® agent is specially trained to help seniors buy or sell a home. They will be exceptionally sensitive to your needs and can connect you with any other professionals so you can enjoy an almost hands-off process if that is what you prefer.
Do you want to know more about how an SRES® agent can help? Read our article “Why Work with an SRES® Agent as a Senior.“
There is nothing like a caring professional who is always a phone call away whenever you need advice and support. At Thompson Sells, we are trained SRES agents who are happy to go the extra mile to make your transition as easy and stress-free as possible. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out by email or call 416-450-5900.
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