At Elanora Realty, we believe selling your home doesn’t have to be stressful. Downsizing or moving in your twilight years may seem daunting, but with the right help, support and advice it can be fairly straightforward. Our team Gold Coast real estate team specialises in seniors’ real estate, offering practical advice and helpful tips for the more mature homeowner looking to sell their house and move to a new home.
Why do you want to sell?
Firstly, think about your wants and needs. These may have changed over the passing years. Consider why you plan to sell your home—is it to free up your finances, change your lifestyle, move closer to family, or just purely to downsize and make your life easier?
Make a plan and set a goal you would like to work towards. You may want to downsize, spend your retirement at the beach or you may want to up sticks and be closer to grandchildren.
Whatever your plan, make sure you are clear about what you want from the beginning. The clearer you are about your end goal the more your real estate agent will be able to help you.
Likewise, you should also expect a clear plan from your agent and any costs should be made clear up front. Try to find an agent who can give you a breakdown of where your money will be going.
Consider your needs
As we get older our needs change and so should the space we live in. Make a list of the things you need to make your life easier and more comfortable. Some things you might consider include:
Mobility
- Would your new home accommodate canes, walkers or wheelchairs in the future?
- Do you need to look for a more practical property without stairs or corridors?
- Would an open plan layout benefit your down-sized lifestyle?
Location
- Are you close enough to amenities such as doctors’ surgeries and public transport?
- How close are your friends and relatives?
- Would you be comfortable moving away from an area with strong family ties and memories?
Fixtures and Fittings
- Is the bathroom safe enough if you were unsteady on your feet?
- Are the kitchen units and appliances all within easy reaching distance?
To understand what you need from your new property, take a walk around your current home and make a list of all the problems or difficulties you encounter.
Consult friends and family
Selling your property may affect your friends and family too, so it’s important to include the people closest to you in your life plans. Plus, it is always helpful to have another person’s help getting the property ready for sale and to help you make important decisions as you go.
If you or your parents are thinking of selling your property give Alex or Jason a call. We understand the concerns seniors have putting the family home on the market and do our utmost to ease you through the process. We have also collected our knowledge together into an ebook especially for seniors to guide you through the selling and moving process. Download our free guide here.
