Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 26
Guiding Parents
Through a Home Sale
Assisting older parents get past a well-lived life experience is much more
than logistics planning. Aging parents on the cusp of leaving a long-term
residence is about much more than simply moving them out; it has to be
about logistics. We have to think about the practical needs, but also have
to be gentle with how they want to use and act with compassion, and
really keep them feeling safe and honored as they go through a process
of passage through which they’ve so much memories. Start honestly when
you start a real conversation about it or listen to their fears and hopes
but don’t rush them into making choices. A home that has been inhabited for generations has emotional consequences — that takes time and
understanding. For many families, that transition involves downsizing to
a smaller home or moving into senior housing, which frequently entails
selling that property that they have loved for a long time — and often
on short notice.
After the decision has been made,
you might assess the site for delayed repair work like threadbare
carpets or outdated 昀椀xtures that
add to a buyer’s 昀椀rst impression.
Some families do feel that repairs
are the right thing to do, but it is
much better for you to cater to what
your parents are comfortable with
and at the same time keep them
open to what the market needs — or
to work in concert with Minnesota
home buyers who buy houses as-is
so that updates are unnecessary.
“For seniors, selling a home is
not just a 昀椀nancial decision —
it’s an emotional one,” says Jim
Lesinski, chief growth of昀椀cer
and senior transition adviser
at Homestead Road. “Families
who move slowly, communicate
openly and take unnecessary
pressure off their shoulders
tend not to experience any of
that.”
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