McClelland Minute - June 21, 2009

When a Loved One Needs to Move – Part One

There is a cycle to real estate just as there is to life.  In June and July my phone starts to ring with questions from families about Mom or Dad’s house.  Their loved one(s) has struggled through the winter, and now find that for reasons of age, health, or frailty, that they can no longer live safely in the family home.  These conversations are often precipitated by sons or daughters coming from a distance to visit, and being shocked at the change in circumstances they find.

Personally, I don’t mind being involved in the discussion of a transition plan for elders because for over twenty years prior to becoming a Realtor, I worked in health services in both provinces.  Home and long term care was a major part of my career, which included five years representing Saskatchewan on two national boards, and serving as one of the founding directors of the Canadian Association for Community Care.

One thing I came to believe by participating in a number of these talks with families is that it is much more preferable to make these transitions while we still have the health to direct the adjustment, and time to plan the next logical step.  I also speak from personal experience, having just gone through this with both my parents and in-laws over the last five years.

Obviously, the Realtor’s primary role is to give an opinion of property value that can be used in support of family discussions.  However, we are often faced with an emotional, and usually stressed, group of stakeholders.  The elders may feel they are being pushed by their family in a direction they don’t want to go, and the adult children are trying to do what is best for their parents, while feeling guilty or uncomfortable with the new assertive role they need to play.

As for the property itself, it likely has been suffering from several years of deferred maintenance.  If time and finances permits, I will recommend that certain key aspects, e.g. shingles or yardwork, be addressed prior to going to market.  I don’t advocate a full scale renovation or anything like that – just clean out the clutter and wipe the whole place down.  Often these properties make perfect starter homes for some young couple, so they will paint and upgrade flooring themselves.

The second major obstacle may be what to do with the sixty or seventy years’ accumulation of furniture and personal effects that require distribution.  The usual three point plan for situations like these comes into play – 1/3 to be transferred with the owner or given to family, neighbours, and friends, 1/3 to be sold at auction or recycled through community organizations like ReStore, Salvation Army, or Interval Home, and 1/3 should simply be sent to the dump. 

The third step I have observed when following up with clients after they have moved, is the importance of making the new accommodation, particularly a suite or condo, as “homey” as possible.  Frankly, the wallet should be opened up a bit, with purchases of some new furniture to integrate with the old, updated family photos in modern picture frames, and silk plants that fit the new location and makes it special.  Our elders are used to pinching pennies, so they may need to be encouraged to treat themselves a little.  Just doing it for them works too!

Vern McClelland is associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster.  If you have questions or comments on this article or other real estate matters, he can be reached at 780.808.2700 or through the McClelland Group website www.mcclelland.ca

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