Curb Appeal -Things you may not realize that affect value! You’ve heard curb appeal is important to selling your home. Did you realize that your roof is about 40% of what people see when they see your house?

Did you realize that roof color can affect your sale price? The most popular roof colors – charcoal and dark grey, next is brown. Avoid “personality” colors as they limit your buyer pool and last 30-40 years. 

Are your gutters and/or downspouts rusty, leaking or debris on roof or gutters?

LOW or NO cost musts!! Move parked cars, to allow the house to be the focus. Hide trash cans, put away bikes & outdoor toys. Take down an above ground pool, discard dirty or broken décor like old wind chimes, water features, dead plants and broken or empty pots, and mow the lawn. Add plants and flowers, seed dead grass or put in some sod pieces. Get rid of weeds & trim trees so the house can be seen. Clean your windows inside & out (vinegar & dawn soap works great). Paint the front door, get fresh house numbers to be seen from the street, refresh or replace your mailbox, get a new door mat. For a consultation & the TO DO list, give a call. It’s never too early to start.

🏡 Multigenerational living is on the rise. 

Whether you’re sharing expenses or prioritizing togetherness, more families are choosing to live under one roof.

But not all homes are created equal when it comes to comfort, privacy, and practicality for multiple generations. If you’re house hunting with your parents in mind, here are a few must-haves to consider:

👣 Main-Level Bedroom & Bathroom 

🚪 Separate Entrances or Living Spaces 

🛁 Accessibility Features 

🍽️ Flexible Shared Areas 

🌳 Outdoor Access 

📦 Ample Storage

🧭 Thoughtful Layouts 

✨ Every family has a different idea of what home should look like. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), I help families find homes that support their needs today and offer flexibility for tomorrow. If you’re looking to buy, give me a call!

Helping Families Navigate Their Parents

I find when meeting with members of the families involved in the sale of their parents’ homes, it may be helpful to offer some guidance about potential challenges in the interaction, which they may not be aware of or perhaps aren’t expecting.

Patience is key. 

For a parent, selling a home can be both emotionally and physically challenging. Helping the family understand that this may not go at the pace they want or expect can be a valuable conversation.

It's a time to be sensitive. 

Criticism and judgment can make parents feel defensive, just as they would anyone. Coaching family members to express issues they might have in ways that sound empathetic (e.g.: “I feel concerned about how this might impact you”) rather than critical (e.g.: “You don’t know what you’re doing here”) will help the process immeasurably.

Practice calm. 

Selling a home can be a big deal for anyone, but seniors may be especially edgy about this event. Reminding family members that they might need to take a breath (or two) in the process can help everyone move successfully toward the finish line.

Involve parents. 

Help families appreciate that involving parents in conversations related to the sale of the parent’s home will usually make the process go more smoothly.

Though that involvement may take extra time and require additional patience, it will help the result be a more positive experience for all.

Timing is everything. 

Guide families to have challenging conversations on days when everyone is feeling more relaxed and secure— productive conversations rarely happen during times of stress. 

Focus on benefits. 

When proposing solutions to challenges, families should focus on the positive aspects. For example, if assisted living is a solution, the family might emphasize the social and recreational activities of these communities.

Describe the consequences. 

Sometimes, each of us becomes stuck in a view. For aging parents, that view may be that they don’t want the change or some of the changes ahead. Calmly helping them understand the challenges of not changing may become a necessary part of the conversation.

Pick your battles. 

Dealing gently with aging parents on subjects such as the sale of their home may not come easily. If conflict does arise, it may be best to take a short break and resolve the issue another day.

A friend may help. 

Sometimes, it can be easier to hear uncomfortable information from someone outside of the family—a close friend or neighbor of a senior parent may be just the person to involve. A little upfront coaching with family members—to hear their concerns and help them understand how best to navigate those- may be a role for you that helps the process move more smoothly.

The SRES® Professional | Helping Families Navigate Their Parents