Key Steps for Seniors When Selling a Home Part 2 – Senior Housing Options
- 2015-10-05
- By Debbie Ford
- Posted in Aging Parents, Downsizing, Senior Living Communities, Senior News
Once you have decided that selling your home is the best option, one of the first things to consider is where you will move. There are a number of options available to today’s seniors. Let’s take a look at some of the choices:
Moving in with Family
Moving in with an adult child or grandchild can be a great way to stay connected and prevent feelings of isolation or loneliness. It also ensures that someone is around to act as caregiver should health issues arise.
Garden Homes or Condos
Maintenance-free communities appeal to those who are looking to downsize and simplify their lives but don’t necessarily want to move into a 55+ only environment. These types of homes usually include outdoor patio space and/or a small lawn or garden area and are usually maintained by a neighborhood association.
Active Adult Communities
These are active adult housing additions or apartments which are age-restricted (usually either 55+ or 62+) and built around a core of services and amenities. A governing body typically administers a set of covenants, codes, and restrictions to which property owners and renters are required to comply. Many include golf courses or lakes and include activity centers.
Independent Living Communities
Apartment-style communities which offer a variety of services ranging from meals, housekeeping, transportation, home maintenance, social activities, emergency alert systems, and 24hour staffing. Units are private, offered in a range of sizes and floor plans, and sometimes include attached or detached covered parking, balconies, or outdoor patios. Common spaces typically include fitness centers, pools, libraries, club rooms, theaters, and private dining rooms for resident use.
Assisted Living Communities
For individuals who need regular assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, housekeeping, transportation, and medication monitoring in order to maximize autonomy and independence. Residents have access to in-house amenities such as salons, spas swimming pools, private dining areas, theaters, and club rooms. Meals are usually provided in a common dining area, and medical services are sometimes available.
Memory Care Communities
Devoted to residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, these residences provide extra care and security. These communities typically offer pet therapy,
social activities, meals, medication maintenance, housekeeping, caregiver
support services, and medical care in accordance with their licensing.
Continuing Care Communities (CCRC)
These communities offer independent older adults the ability to live on the same campus and transition within varying levels of care — as needed — until death. Many require a significant entrance fee plus monthly lease payments. Most contracts include a prorated portion of the entrance fee to be refunded, depending on the length of stay in the community. CCRCs usually require incoming residents to be able to live independently at the time of initial occupancy. A physical exam and financial pre-qualification may be required.
If you’d like a guide to the housing options in the North Texas area, download our free Senior Living Options catalog or visit our directory of senior communities.
In our next installment we will look at some of the things to consider when deciding what housing option is right for you or your family member.
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Testimonials
Thank you so much for your able assistance over the past couple of months. We would not have been able to move so quickly without your help. As it has turned out, we got just the apartment we wanted at just the right time. You subcontractors were all able to do what we needed done and pleasant to work with. We would be glad to recommend them to anyone who asks. I have to mention the movers in particular. They moved our stuff in a monsoon, and took such good care of it that we had no damage; nothing even got wet. Except them. I was very anxious about the whole process and am glad to have it finished. However, I would have been a basket case without you. It wasn't just that you knew what you were doing, it was that I could ask you anything and you could answer calmly and knowledgeably. That was so reassuring, affirming that the process was moving forward according to plan and that all would be well.
I appreciate all y'all did for us in managing the sale of my parents' home. Blessings to both of you and your team. I am grateful!
From our first meeting with Ingrid I was impressed with her positive attitude about everything. It was all so overwhelming from the "get go" and I needed the strength she provided. I was amazed at all the contacts that were available just for the asking. I thought I would have to find all of these contacts on my own. This in itself gave me tremendous peace of mind. Your service is a "10" with all your contacts a phone call away. Each person who contacted us was very professional...Can't say enough about people who got the job done!
Ingrid, I wanted to thank you and John for helping my mom smoothly transition to Arlington Plaza. Mom is happier than I have ever seen her and is just blossoming in her new digs. Blessings to you and John for the services you provide to our seniors. Fantastic job!
How AWESOME you two are! I will never be able to thank you enough for the marvelous way you took care of me during my move. You went above and beyond anything I ever expected. You accommodated me in every way…Really, you outdid yourself and I will forever by grateful. Without question I will recommend you to all my friends. Thank you again for everything. I’ll never forget you.
We attended a downsizing event [and] we were impressed with the Sullivan Team immediately… We think you did everything right with all of the roadblocks put in the way regarding [our property]. You were available anytime we reached out and you kept us informed at about each and every step. You are professional and direct and shoot from the hip – but with compassion when needed. Thank you again! Hope the best for you for the years ahead.
I can’t say too many good things about Ingrid! She helped me sell a home, remotely, as I moved a dear relative to an assisted living facility in my state. She helped find movers, cleaners, and any other provider I needed. She and her husband also spent time staging our home and dealing with all types of picky details that were beyond me from a thousand miles away. She also convinced my buyer to switch banks to make the transaction smoother (before the underwriting started), and found a second title company at the last minute to accommodate a non-traditional sale that seemed to confuse the initial company we worked with. We got ten showings in the 1st two days, resulting in six offers by the 3rd day! Ingrid is the best! I have bought and sold many properties in my lifetime and she has been the strongest agent I have ever engaged!
Ingrid & John – You two have been such a blessing to myself and others who have had to make a big change in their lives.
Ingrid Sullivan’s experience and guidance was so valuable in guiding my father through all the steps of pre-sale house preparation and the selling process. She helped things go so much smoother by anticipating the possible issues during the sale and even when unexpected surprises occurred. The financial outcome was great!
I feel as if I have not had the opportunity to thank you for all the work you did for me and my family. I depended on you and your expertise to make this deal happen and you did not let me down. You fought every battle that arose, and there were many, and you made things happen. Thank you; you are a true professional and I am so glad you were on my side…I am so glad I got to meet you and work with you and I will be forever grateful for that relationship. I know you will help many families who are lucky enough to learn about you.
Update August 2016: I hope you are doing well. I have thought a lot about you lately for a couple of reasons. It has been one year since I left Arlington for Chicago…doesn’t seem possible. After a very difficult transition, I finally realized that I made the right decision and know I belong here…I enjoyed working with you. You were very helpful when I was going through the worst time of my life. Being in Chicago [with my daughter’s family] has changed my life for the better.
John was very determined to find me a buyer. He also got me a better deal than I thought we could get. Thanks!! Very pleased.
You are approachable and easy to communicate with. The process [of selling my mother’s home] was simple and easy.
You are dependable and keep your promises – and you stay in contact! You always gave us confidence in your decisions – we never doubted your integrity. You were determined to see that we are satisfied with all aspects of our purchase – and we are!
John and Ingrid were wonderful. Working with other specialized teams, they arranged to up-date my home, sell my treasures that I could not take with me and listed the property quickly. They personally supervised the progress of every aspect of my move. As a result I had an offer on my home of 39 years the first day listed. I would recommend their team highly.
Ingrid and her husband, John, were wonderful to work with. The guidance they gave me in selling my home was excellent. I had my house on the market for just two days – 36 showings and 7 offers within two days. I highly recommend Ingrid. You won’t be sorry.
We highly recommend Ingrid and John Sullivan of Keller Williams. They lead a superb team of contractors, stagers and photographers that got our home sold at our price in four days (after 15+ showings). Bottom line: Go ahead and downsize and/or start packing…THEN call the Sullivans. Expect things to happen quickly.
Ingrid, thank you for being all that you were as our Realtor. We appreciate all the time and devotion you gave us. Your expertise made everything work well and knowing you were always there for us helped make our transition easier.
Making this change in my life was daunting and difficult, but John and Ingrid tried very hard to make it as easy as possible. They kept me informed and up to date on everything! I felt great relief when they came on board and I feel I’ve made new friends.
You are very thorough and you know other good, reliable & honest people to help you. Good follow-up on everything. Thank you so much.
I send you both a prayer of thanks every time the thought crosses my mind (often) of how not having my mother’s house hanging over my head has lightened my load and thus, my life. Be assured–you are the ones I will recommend to anyone i know who is buying or selling a home. Thank you!
Ingrid provided exemplary customer service from the first meeting. She came fully prepared with all the comparable properties and information for me on the process of selling. She immediately instilled confidence and trust. On the third day she brought me 5 offers, one way above asking price because the buyer really wanted the house. She guided me through each step and has a superb network of people to assist on any task or repair. She went above and beyond many times, especially advising my son who was selling a house in another state and needed her thoughts on how to improve its visibility. She is the best at her job and you will love working with her. There is not a high enough level to describe her professionalism and dedication.
Mom and I want to thank you for selling our house. We know that it wasn’t an easy task – we had problems we didn’t even know about. But thanks to your expertise we got it done. You have a great team of people that also helped us out. Please send our thanks.
