When our aging parents need to sell their home in order to move into a new living situation, we’re faced with the daunting task of downsizing their belongings and preparing them for the transition. With decades of accumulated treasures stowed everywhere from the garage to the attic, it’s vital to create an organized plan to prepare for the selling of a senior’s home. In order to sell in a timely fashion and for the best price, several tasks need to be accomplished.
The Parke Assisted Living Community offers senior independence in a caring atmosphere. Here are some tips on selling a senior loved one’s home:
1. Declutter and Downsize
- Along with your parent or siblings, sift through your parent’s belongings one room at a time.
- Create designated space for the following categories, and work your way through the home.
- Treasures to keep
- Items to give other family members
- Trash to pitch
- Items to sell
- Things to give away
- Dispose of necessary items by organizing a garage sale, selling items online, and donating things to charity.
- Depersonalize the home for better appeal to buyers. Pack up and prepare to move all personal items (like photos and homemade crafts). Your loved one will enjoy these in their new home.
2. Repair and Repaint
- Make a list of all needed repairs. After tackling those you can do yourself, hire a professional to complete all other needed repairs.
- Paint your loved one’s home interior with a pleasant, up-to-date neutral color.
- Refinish hardwood floors to boost the home sale price.
- Clean carpets or replace them with updated flooring.
- Remove dated wallpaper and replace with up-to-date wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint.
3. Rearrange and Revitalize
- Remove outdated furniture from the home, and utilize essential furniture pieces to stage the home in a way that pleases the eye and makes the best use of each room. Stage the home for a faster sale and ask the realtor for their input on the staging.
- Dated window treatments can dampen the look of the home. To maximize your home sale, update window coverings as needed.
- Wash or dry clean any current window treatments that are staying in the home as you sell it.
4. Light and Lift
- Update lighting fixtures as needed throughout the home to give an instant lift to the overall look of the home.
- Clean any current lighting fixtures to make them sparkle again.
- When showing the home, turn all the lights on to give buyers a bright and fresh look at the home. Open the curtains or blinds to get some refreshing natural light teeming through to the home for an uplifting overall look.
- Position lamps and floor lights throughout your loved one’s home to give it the best overall look.
- Clean all windows both inside and out.
5. Clean and Caulk
- Clean the whole home from top to bottom before it goes on the market. A sparkling clean interior gives buyers the positive impression that your loved one’s home has been well taken care of.
- Detail the bathroom and kitchen, including a good cleaning of appliances like the refrigerator, microwave, and oven.
- Pay attention to the smell of the home. Clean scents give buyers a positive impression.
- Apply fresh caulk to bathrooms and windows to create a good seal and refresh the look of the home.
- Remove all traces of pets including stains, smells, and damage.
6. Finishing touches and first impressions
- First impressions last, so take the time to do detailed finishing touches to maximize the sale price of your loved one’s home.
- Add a fresh coat of paint to the front door for a great first impression.
- Hang a welcoming wreath on the front door.
- Freshen up the yard by trimming all bushes, plants, and shrubs.
- Brighten the curb appeal with a pop of color that only fresh flowers can bring when placed on the porch in a welcoming decorative pot.
- Keep the lawn mowed and edged for crisp curb appeal.
- Take an objective look at your loved one’s home from the curb and ask yourself if it is warm and inviting. Make any necessary changes to make the best positive impression on buyers.
7. Hire a Helpful Real Estate Professional
- Take time to locate the best realtor for your loved one’s home sale. It’s worth the effort it takes to interview at least 3 prospects, and choose the best fit for your needs. Find a realtor you trust and take a look at the home together. Weigh their professional input on staging and any final preparations for the home sale.
- Realize there are realtors who specialize in the needs of seniors. Consider contacting Senior Real Estate Specialists to find a realtor who has additional training in senior support.
- Look at the comparative market analysis your realtor provides and price your loved one’s home appropriately.
Preparing your loved one’s home to sell is a big task, but with the right plan in place, it can be conquered. It’s immeasurably beneficial to your senior loved one that you help them prepare to get the best price on the sale of their home. A home sale can help finance the transition to an assisted living community or other senior living opportunity. It’s a practical way to support your parents and assist them in transitioning to a new home.
If you are unable to have a hands-on approach to helping your senior loved one prepare to sell their home, consider hiring professionals to do the jobs needed. Contact the National Association of Senior Move Managers to simplify the transition.
Assisted Living Communities
Since 1999, Tulsa’s premier assisted living community, The Parke, has been helping seniors enjoy their independence in a caring community. Schedule a tour.