Moving as a Senior or Dealing with an Estate Sale: What You Need To Know

When moving as an older adult, more things need to be taken into consideration. These things include whether or not you will have an estate sale, the size of home you need to downsize effectively, and whether or not you need care where you will be living. 

Amenities available and recreation or social activities around your new place of residence will also need to be considered. Since moving house as a senior requires a bit of extra care, there are some things you need to know before you leap.

Establish Your Needs 

It can be hard to come to terms with what a person needs from the outside looking in. That is why older adults planning a move need to establish what they are looking for in their new home. 

If an older adult cannot take care of oneself, simply downsizing may not be the best option. However, if they have no health issues to speak of, it is unlikely they require a long-term care living situation.

Everyone’s needs are different, and they need to be established before deciding on where to move and how to go about doing so.

The Right Time to Make a Transition 

Transitioning from your current residence into a new home is one of the first things you’ll need to consider. The right time to make a transition will differ depending on personal circumstances. For example, some older adults may be looking for a smaller house to take care of since their long-time home has become empty and too big for them to handle on their own.

Other older adults may be dealing with chronic health issues that require them to be close to healthcare or have access to 24/7 care. These scenarios are both possible but will require different transitional periods. The former situation is less of a rush, whereas the second requires a more urgent approach.

Know Your Options 

Many older adults have various options to choose from when it comes to moving, such as selling their current home to purchase a smaller and more manageable property or opting for living in a retirement residence. 

There are plenty of options available for older adults that help them make the most feasible decision for themselves. One such option is CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). It is a non-profit accreditor that provides older adults with access to services that assist with the entire moving process. 

Know What To Keep and What to Toss 

As an older adult, you may have accumulated an excessive amount of stuff throughout your life. When downsizing, it is not reasonable to keep everything. You have two options: you can toss what you no longer need, or you can hold an estate sale to get rid of things that hold value but no longer serve any purpose in your life.

Holding an estate sale is another complicated process involved in moving as an older adult. It should be done with the help of an organization or person that has expertise in that area. 

Selling your home and moving as an older adult may seem like a punishing and emotional process. That being said, it can also be exciting and seamless if you are aware of what you need, the services available to you, and the steps you need to take to get you into your new home.