How to Make Moving a Breeze, Even After 60
By Katie Conroy
Whether you’ve lived in your current home for 40 years or 40 weeks, purchasing and moving into a new home can be a stressful experience. However, by following these simple tips from Coldwell Banker Pro West Real Estate, the move can be made much simpler.
Work with an Agent
It’s always a good idea to partner with a real estate professional who has experience working with seniors. By choosing the right person to assist you on your journey, you can ensure that your next home will meet your current and future needs. Your agent can help you determine the home’s safety should you want to age in place. He or she can also help you look specifically for homes with universal design characteristics, such as non-slip floors or low-profile showers, which will be beneficial now and as you age.
Working with an experienced agent has financial benefits too, as they are knowledgeable about everything from reverse mortgages to pensions and the use of retirement accounts in real estate transactions. They may also be able to put you in touch with community, government, and private programs that provide financial assistance. As a senior, you may qualify for special services to help you save money in your quest to find a new home. Your agent can also refer you to local organizations that may be of interest.
Prepare Your Home for Sale
The other side of the coin with a move is preparing your current home for sale, and this will take some elbow grease. Start with assessing any necessary repairs or updates. Can you get away with minor repairs, or do you need to make significant changes? Small updates like painting, changing light fixtures and updating cabinet hardware can be easily pulled off. However, if there are larger issues like roof or systems replacement that you don’t want to pay for, you can always sell your home as-is. This tells buyers that what they see is what they get. Your realtor can be a great resource in helping you decide on the best move.
Boosting your home’s curb appeal is also worth considering, especially if you’re putting in the effort to make your home more enticing to buyers. A new front door color, an updated mailbox, planters with colorful flowers and pressure washing will all make a big difference. If you want to make your yard shine, you can also spruce up your garden and landscaping through pruning, planting and weeding. When time is of the essence, consider hiring freelance landscape design services to add beauty and organization to your yard — features many homebuyers look for.
Determine How You Will Move
Once you are ready to make the physical move, you must decide if you will do it yourself or hire a mover. If you decide to tackle the move on your own, you will have total control, but keep in mind that you will be responsible for the physical labor, which will require a lot of heavy lifting. In addition, you’ll have to figure out how to load all your belongings to maximize space and cut down on unnecessary trips.
If you aren’t sure whether moving yourself or hiring help is the better bargain, check out this moving cost calculator to determine the potential cost of different moving options. Most of the time, hiring a moving service will be worth the cost. Working with professionals ensures your belongings are safely transported to your new home, eliminates the potential for injury, and allows you more time to keep everything organized on moving day.
Moving doesn’t have to be a headache if you bring in the right people. By building a team of professionals to help you find the right home and get there safely, you’ll be able to rest, relax, and enjoy your relocation.
Coldwell Banker Pro West Real Estate serves Medford, Grants Pass, Central Point, Eagle Point, Rogue River, Jacksonville, Applegate, and all surrounding communities in southern Oregon. Call 541-773-6868.
