When the time comes for your aging parent to move to assisted living in Temecula, the need is often urgent. Incidents like an injury, stroke or heart attack are common factors for the change, and they come without warning. A senior living community in Temecula can take care of mom and dad, but the incident often leaves a big problem: How to pay for assisted living.
Often times, a home is one of the most valuable assets available that can help fund a stay in an assisted living community. Selling a home your parent has lived in for several years can seem overwhelming or daunting. Take a look at these tips from Temecula real estate expert, Joanne Castro.
Real Estate Brokers Specialized in Seniors
It’s helpful to hire a real estate broker who has additional education and accreditation in working with seniors and their families. You can look at the California Board of Realtors for the names of accredited senior real estate specialists in your area.
“You really want to work with someone who is understanding of seniors’ needs,” says Joanne Castro, an accredited senior real estate specialist who works in the Temecula area. “You have to be very patient with them — the way you talk to them, the way you respect them — all of that has to come into play.”
Castro is aware that many of the seniors she works with will not be keen on communicating online, and they’re likely to move at a slower pace than other clients. A good broker will recognize and accommodate these differences.
In addition to finding a senior-friendly broker, you’ll want to find someone local. While a California license enables sales throughout the state, only someone who lives and works in your area knows the specific details of selling a home there.
Power of Attorney
Your parents may not always be capable of working directly with a broker to sell their home. Castro says it’s increasingly important as your parents age to make sure they have a living trust in place, and that you or your siblings have power of attorney. That way, you’ll have the option to help them whether they are unable to make important decisions about the house, or could just use a hand.
“If an elderly couple is going to sell their home, and their kids start getting involved,” Castro says, “Family dynamics can be difficult. They want one thing and their sister or brother wants something else.” Designating a family member in advance can not only make it easier to sell the home, but it can also limit family squabbles.
Staging for a ‘Less is More’ Look
One of the biggest hurdles to clear when selling a senior’s home is clearing it of clutter. Often, your parent has lived in their home for decades, and accumulated the belongings to show for it. This makes it difficult for a prospective buyer to see the potential of a given home. So, what do you do? There are several options: selling valuable pieces of furniture, jewelry and other items through an estate sale; donating large quantities of goods to a charity; dividing items between family and friends; or simply getting rid of some of it. Your broker can help set up any one of these methods, or a combination of them, to accommodate your desires. Then, the broker can call in a professional stager to ensure the home looks appealing to a buyer’s eye.
Nonetheless, it’s important that you work with someone who will show your parent the respect they deserve. “They have their things and they like where their things are,” Castro says. “In real estate, less is more. But you need to be careful about how you approach it, and remember that these items all have personal value to them — a lifetime of memories.”
Photography
After decluttering the home and staging it for buyers to come in for a viewing, you’ll want to take photos of the masterpiece. A big ‘no’ in the world of real estate is the use of cell phone photos, Castro says. Invest in a professional photographer who can help you show the house is in its best light.
Using these simple tips will help you quickly sell your parents’ home to move to a senior living community in Temecula.
