Is it Time to Sell?

BY BILL BUDLER

WANT to sell, NEED to sell, or do you HAVE to sell your home? For many senior homeowners, the decision to change their living situation is one of the most difficult times of their lives, especially if they have been in the family home for a long time.

Wanting to sell is typically motivated by a desire to transition into a more comfortable lifestyle. Perhaps you’ve reached a point in life that the yard work is just no longer as enjoyable as it once was. Or shoveling snow is more strenuous than you’re comfortable doing. Maybe a maintenance-free condominium or townhouse would free up time to do the traveling you’ve always dreamed about.

Needing to sell your home may have similar objectives. But in these cases, the senior homeowner may be faced with mounting maintenance that they are simply no longer able to keep up with due to physical or financial limitations. Or perhaps the loss of a spouse may mean those household repairs are no longer being done. The deferred maintenance builds up and you think about moving but you really don’t want to, at least not yet.

The most pressing scenario is when a senior homeowner has to sell.

Often this is when a sudden change in health or financial situation forces them to make an almost immediate change. The sudden impact of having to sell immediately is unfortunately an all-too-common situation for many seniors.

Selling your home when you want gives one the most flexibility. The only sure way to avoid it is to plan ahead and sell your home before events force the issue.

Planning ahead is always beneficial. The tough decisions are even more difficult when left to the last minute. Talk it over with your family, seek counsel from trusted professionals, and look forward to a positive outcome.

Bill Budler is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist© with BancWise Realty and a contributing writer for Lincoln 55+ magazine.