Published: May 2022

5 Tips on How to Sell an Elderly Parent’s Home

Learn more about what is needed to sell a parent's home
5 Tips on How to Sell an Elderly Parent’s Home

When the time comes for your parent to move to a senior living community, you might be asked to take on the responsibility of selling their home. At first, taking on such a task can seem daunting, but with a well-organized plan in place, the process will go more smoothly.

Here are 5 great tips on how to sell your parent’s or older loved one’s home.

Proper Legal Documentation   

If your elderly parent or loved one wants you to entirely manage the sale of their home, you will want to make sure that you have the proper legal documentation to show that you are authorized to do so.

Seek legal advice on what paperwork (such as a Power of Attorney) will be needed in order to act on behalf of your parent. It is very important to take care of this portion of the process early on, as you do not want to be in a position where a buyer for the home is found, but you cannot legally execute the sale.  Learn more about the Power of Attorney.

Declutter

The first step in selling any home is to clean it and remove any unwanted or unneeded furniture or other items from the property. Decluttering is always a good idea, as it makes a house look larger and gives prospective buyers a better idea of whether the home would be a good fit for them.

After family members decide what items they might like to keep, contact a local donation shop or thrift store to take everything else that is being discarded.

Make the Home as Marketable as Possible 

Before putting the home up for sale, look around and repair anything that is broken or needs replacement. Doing this will make the house as attractive as possible to buyers and also optimize the selling price.

Choose a Reputable Real Estate Agent 

Selecting the right real estate agent to represent your home to the marketplace is critically important. Find an agent that knows your local area and can help you determine the right price to ask for it. Some agents specialize in helping families with selling older loved one’s homes and can provide great insight on how to best go about the process.

Staging

Staging is a very important strategy for selling a home. Arrange furniture and other household items in such a way that it makes the interior rooms of the house as attractive and roomy as possible. Your real estate agent can help you determine the best way to stage your home’s layout and grounds.

Keep your Loved One Informed

Many seniors have lived in the same place for years, even decades. Even though moving to a senior living community is a very positive experience, the thought of selling their home can trigger many emotions for an older parent or loved one. Be sensitive to this and keep them informed of all progress being made on the sale. This will help them feel a part of the process and make the transition to their new residence easier.

Frontier Senior Living is Here to Help

The experienced and highly knowledgeable team at Frontier has helped thousands of families make their loved one’s transition to a senior living community a smooth and easy one. If you would like more information about what our communities offer, we would love to speak to you.

We cordially invite you to visit one of our beautiful properties, take a tour and speak with our friendly and compassionate staff.

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9000 Southwest 91st Avenue
Tigard, Oregon 97223
(503) 213-6494
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Vancouver, Washington 98665
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Happy Valley, Oregon 97086
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