Why Use a Senior Real Estate Specialist, Part 2

Part of the reason I chose this specialty is based on my own experience, and learning of the experiences of others.  There is a real need for senior real estate specialists.   I gave one example here.  This is another example from my own family.

My husband’s grandparents lived into their nineties, and when they were in their mid-eighties, his family realized they needed the help that only an assisted-living senior community could provide.  My mother-in-law was their only child, and she lived a distance away.  Her parents were insistent that they didn’t want to move at all, but if they had to move, they wanted to stay in their town. They wanted to stay near their friends, and what they had always known.

But what ultimately happened is that they outlived their friends, and they were almost two hours away from their daughter.  This left them very isolated.  Their daughter did her best, driving to see them at least once a week, but it was a tough situation.  If they had used a senior real estate specialist when selling their home, they might have been able to hear about similar things happening to other people, and been able to make a more informed choice about where to live.  The senior real estate specialist might have been able to add a neutral third perspective to the situation, and been able to talk to my husband’s grandparents and help them see why it might be important to live near their daughter.

This is not a situation where the home sellers or their children would usually think to call in someone for advice.  If you’ve never been through the situation before, how would you even know to think through common pitfalls?  So it’s very helpful if the real estate agent selling the family home knows and has experience with common problems that might crop up when downsizing.

If you live in Maryland, DC, or Virginia, I’d be happy to work with you.   If you don’t live in my area, I’d be happy to refer you to a senior real estate specialist in your area.  Please give me a call or e-mail me if you’d like more information.