If you or an older adult in your life is preparing to move to a senior living community, getting a house ready to sell is likely a priority. For seniors who have lived in their home many years, the task can be daunting.

Presenting the house to prospective buyers in the best possible light is important for getting the best price. For most older adults, their home is their biggest asset. Making the most of a home sale helps finance the transition to a senior community.

Five Tips for Selling a Senior’s Home

These tips can help you get the house ready to put on the market:

1. Get rid of clutter.

The longer you live in a home, the more likely you are to have acquired a lot of belongings. A cluttered home can put off potential buyers. It can also make packing up the house more difficult. Start the decluttering process right away. Make the rounds through every room, getting rid of items that aren’t needed, such as old newspapers and magazines. Then begin the tough process of downsizing. Set up and label boxes for things the senior doesn’t need right now. Create boxes for the items’ final destinations, such as Donate, Trash, Family, or Storage. Work your way through every room and closet.

2. Make a list of needed repairs.

As homeowners, many of us neglect small repairs. When it comes time to sell a home, however, it’s important to tackle those repairs. Buyers will spot them and wonder what other home maintenance has been ignored. Make a list of everything that needs repairs and hire a handyman to tackle items you can’t fix yourself.

3. Curb appeal counts.

As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. When it comes to selling a home, first impressions are crucial. Take an objective look at your senior loved one’s home from the curb. Is it warm and inviting? Shrubs should be tidy and trimmed, and flower beds free from weeds. Place a few pots of flowers or winter greens on the front porch. A freshly painted front door decorated with a seasonal wreath pumps up curb appeal even more.

4. Refresh the interior.

A sparkling clean interior gives potential buyers the impression the home is well-cared for. Clean the windows to let the light shine in. Have the carpet and area rugs cleaned. Scrub the bathrooms and kitchen. Wash or dry-clean the drapes. If the paint on the walls looks dated or chipped, repaint them in a neutral color.

5. Have good lighting.

Lighting can significantly influence buyers. If the home doesn’t have good natural light, make sure to position lamps and floor lights throughout the home. Use attractive tie-backs to keep curtains pulled back. Before every showing, make sure all the lights are on and the curtains and blinds are open.

Professionals Who Help Seniors Move

If you live far away or aren’t sure how to manage the process of selling a senior’s home, you’ll be happy to know about professionals dedicated to making things easier.

• Senior move managers: These professionals assist older adults and their families with every detail of a move. From downsizing a home to staging it, senior move managers can make the process much easier.
• Senior real estate specialists (SRES): Realtors who undergo additional training to learn how to support seniors with the sale of a home can also be a big help. Search by zip code to locate an SRES professional near your senior loved one.

At Sunrise Senior Living, we have a variety of resources to make the transition easier. Our Home Design Guide is one of the most popular. You can download it for tips on arranging the older adult’s new senior living apartment.

Source: Sunrise Senior Living