Seniors - Should I Stay or Should I Go? Selling your home is a hard decision!

That question takes a lot of time and consideration for seniors when it involves your home for decades.   Housing needs plays a huge part in the planning.   Don’t put off important considerations until it is too late.  

Should I stay?   The choice to stay in your home is very emotional.  It’s not surprising that 87% of seniors want to stay in their home.  You need the right floor plan.  Do you have the ability to live on all one level and get in and out without too many stairs?  Do you have a tub with a walk-in shower with grab bars? Can doors and hallways accommodate a walker or a wheelchair?  Will you be able to keep up with housekeeping and laundry along with general maintenance of your home?  Do you have transportation to shopping and medical facilities? 

Should I go? Being closer to your children and grandchildren is a big motivator to move from your home.   Nearly 50 Million seniors are living in multi-generational homes.  More than 765,000 seniors are living in assisted living facilities according to the National Association for Assisted Living.  While assisted living costs can seem high, it’s important to compare it with the cost and maintenance of your staying in your home.  Housing costs including utilities, taxes and maintenance make up 30 percent of all expenses for couples between ages 65 and 74, according to a study from Boston College.  

If events necessitate a move, a specialist in senior transitions could be the solution.  A Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist (CRTS) handles all the phases and tasks of downsizing, moving, decluttering, or disbanding a senior’s home.  Fees may be on an hourly basis, by task, or for an entire project.  Ask for an estimate for costs before making a commitment.  For more information about these professionals, go to the CRTS website at www.crtscetificaiton.com 

There are many resources to help you and your family in the decision making process.  The “Aging In Stride” form offered through Easter Seals can help you define where you are now and what may be needed in the future.  “Retirement Planning – 30 Questions You Should Ask Yourself To Plan For Your Future” can be found on “AgeInPlace.com,” the online Social Security Retirement Guide. 

Staying or going – it takes time and planning.  Start now.  This is too important to put off for a rainy day!

 Maggie Flartey-Kaminski, SRES – Senior Real Estate Specialist