Your Mom:

The one who was always there for you.  Now  it’s time for you to be there for her.  Your life is  already too busy.  How do you handle this important and often stressful transition with so much on your plate already?

1. What do I do when I get that call at 3 am?
2. Where do I begin?
3. Is it really the right time to move?
4. What can I do to minimize the stress of this move?
5. How do I handle this if I live out of state?
6. Is there anyway Mom can keep her little pet?
7. How can I help her let go of some of her belongings in order to down-size?
8. What do I need to do to prepare her home for sale and how do I know if I’m over improving or under improving?
9. Should I sell her home it as it is?
10. How long will this process take?

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What do I do when I get that call at 3 am?

No matter how many times you have tried to prepare for this call, it is always a shock.  Your heart sinks.  Conflicting emotions make it hard to think straight.  For this reason alone, having access to the right team of key experts is a necessity. Contact Susan for more information >
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Where do I begin?

The best place to begin this process is with a trusted team.  You can alleviate some of your worry if can have your key members identified before you actually need them.  This team includes a Senior Care Consultant, an Elder Care Attorney and a trusted, experienced Realtor.   This will never be an easy process, but with some preparation, it can be made to be as painless as possible.  Contact Susan for more information >
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Is it really the right time to move?

Many people find this is the most difficult decision they’ll have to make and it’s a rare when parent and child are in complete agreement. This is where a compassionate and skilled Senior Housing Consultant can be a Godsend. They can guide people through the tough decision of whether someone is able to remain in their home or not and offer a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of senior placement, from identifying the good places from the not so good, and the level of care that each facility provides.  Some consultants charge a fee but many are compensated by the facility.  Contact Susan for more information >
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What can I do to minimize the stress of this move?

Less stress for your Mom means less stress for you.  Getting your Mom settled into her new home before putting house on the market will minimize your Mom’s anxiety and eliminate your immediate concerns.  This will allow for the house to be prepared for the market in a way that will result in getting the highest return for the house.  If moving your Mother prior to the property going on the market seems financially challenging, consider using the home’s equity to pay for the first several months of her new residence.  Contact Susan for more information >
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How do I handle this if I live out of state?

If you have an elder parent, you will find that there are legal, financial and logistical matters that need continuous attention.  These challenges can feel overwhelming if you’re living in another state than your Mom.  For the times that you can’t respond immediately to a situation, it is crucial to have an identified advocate that is local to your parent.  This role can be taken on by a family member or friend, however if there are none available,  your Senior Care Consultant can put you in touch with agencies that provide this service.  Contact Susan for more information >
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Is there anyway mom can keep her pet?

Your Mom’s pet can be one of her most cherished and meaningful relationships and your Senior Care Consultant can help you with a variety of solutions that allow your parent to bring their special pet.  If it becomes necessary to find another home for your Mom’s pet, there are groups that work specifically with breeds or those available for all types of animals that can ensure a safe and happy placement.  You can also place a personal ad, featuring an truly cute photo of your Mom’s pet, on Craigslist or Petfinder.  Contact Susan for more information >
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How can I help her let go of some of her belongings in order to down-size?

A lot of your Mom’s belongings are more than just “stuff” to her.  These things represent her life, and getting rid of them can be difficult and emotional process.  A good first step is to go through your Mom’s house and take pictures of it, the way she likes it, providing a lasting memory for her wherever she goes.  Then determine what is absolutely necessary to keep, including important documents.  Your Mom might want to give certain items to family and friends, or perhaps donate her things to an organization that has special meaning to her.  It is important to include your Mom in this process in any way possible.  A professional organizer can also be brought in to help with this process. Contact Susan for more information >
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What do I need to do to prepare her home for sale; and how do I know if I’m over improving or under improving?

Without question, the most important first step in this process is finding a first-rate Realtor. The equity in your Mom’s home will have a direct effect on her quality of life.  In this market, it is necessary to get it right from the beginning.  Overpricing, lack of preparation and lackluster marketing are mistakes you can’t afford to have.  A skilled Realtor will take into account the current market, understand and incorporate professional staging, be local, have a lot of experience in your Mom’s neighborhood, and a general profile of your potential buyers.  Often, the money spent staging and preparing a home is recaptured, with profit, in a higher selling price.  Your Realtor’s job is to maximize the salability your Mom’s house, not just unload it.  Contact Susan for more information >
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Should I sell her home as it is?

There are rare occasions when selling the house “as is” is the best option.  This type of sale can be done very quickly, but will result in a lower selling price for the property.  Some circumstances that might give reason for this type of sale are:

• The house does not have a lot of equity
• The house doesn’t have the funds to pull out of it to do the work needed to sell
• The house can provide immediate assets, if no others are available

There are several home buying franchises that specialize in this, such as Fast Home Offers or We Buy Ugly Houses.  Contact Susan for more information >
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How long should I expect the process to take?

This depends on how far along in the process a person is.  Once all the personal issues such as setting up a trust or will, dividing up personal belongings and deciding where your Mom or Dad are going to live, the actual sale can be as short as one week from the listing date to an average of two months, depending on how much work needs to be done to the home.

The more that can be addressed before your loved one needs to move, the less time it will take to complete the move and the sale of the house.  To speed the sales process up, try to do complete projects such as painting the outside of the house and cleaning up the garden and garage while your parent is still living in the house.  This will cut down on the stress on your parents’ moving out, as this is a much less invasive part of the move and yet it will still get work done in preparation for listing the property.  Contact Susan for more information >
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