The Downsizing Two-Step

Downsizing is not always a one-step process. Recently we are seeing our clients view downsizing as a long-term process that may involve two or more moves. We are having more and more consultations with clients that involve selling their large home and then planning on buying a smaller house and then a condo. Each homeowner’s needs will vary but the bottom-line is that downsizing is a fluid process based on your needs and that may involve multiple moves. Here is a recent client story which outlines what we are seeing as a common downsizing journey. A Bloomfield Hills, Michigan couple raised their children in a beautiful house. For 30 memorable years, their home had been the epicenter of their family life. But as time passed and their children grew up and left the nest, the couple found themselves at a crossroads. After the last child had flown the coop and the echoes of laughter faded in the not too big family home, the couple decided it was time for a change and decided to sell. They were looking to travel more and didn’t want to be tied to their large home that was now too big for just the two of them. They bid farewell to their cherished family house and embarked on a new adventure. Their destination? A two-story condo not too far from their Bloomfield Hills neighborhood. The couple loved the lock-and-go lifestyle of condo living. They met new neighbors and settled in nicely. Their condo was large enough for them to cook and entertain family and friends. Life was great and got better with one of their daughters moving back to Metro Detroit and settling into a new home in Oakland Township. The best part was their daughter was expecting twins. While condo living was great the couple was enjoying their home, eventually their hearts led them on yet another downsizing – or rather – rightsizing journey. They made the life-changing decision to leave condo living behind and embrace the comforts of a house once again. They thought they would never live in a house again and all of the maintenance and care a house needed. They chose a charming ranch house in Rochester Hills. The ranch house was close to their daughter and their soon to arrive grandkids plus it was on one-level. As they aged, the couple would not have to navigate stairs. The open floor plan allowed them to enter family and friends just as they did in their condo. The best part was being close to their grandkids. This couple didn’t think they would be doing two downsizing moves, but their lifestyle and desires changed. We always remind our clients not to put too much pressure on downsizing. Think about what you want and your current and near-term future lifestyle but be flexible enough to move again if your lifestyle changes. If you are thinking about downsizing, check out The Rightsizing Method today. The Rightsizing Method is our proprietary process for downsizing or rightsizing your home on your terms and in a stress-free way. 

Are Grandparents Moving To Be Closer to Their Grandkids?

During the pandemic, many people distanced themselves from their loved ones for health reasons. Grandparents were told to stay away from their grandkids, especially as schools started to open. That’s because it would have been risky to visit with their grandchildren who may have gotten sick from school. Now that the pandemic has passed, many grandparents want more than ever to be near their grandchildren again to make up for that lost time. But how are they getting that “Grandparent Wish?” The data tells us many are moving to make sure they’re getting more quality time. Grandparents Are Moving To Be Near Loved Ones Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows people between the ages of 55 and 74 are moving farther (more than 100 miles) than any other age group (see graph below): The average age of grandparents in the U.S. is 67 years. The logical leap is that at least some of the people who are moving the furthest are grandparents. But what’s causing them to move so far? The same report from NAR shows the top reason people move is to be closer to loved ones (see graph below):   Based on this data, it’s fair to say many grandparents are getting their wish of more quality time with their grandchildren by moving to be closer to them. And after experiencing isolation and loneliness during the COVID pandemic, that’s an especially good thing. If you’re a grandparent, you know how important your grandchildren are. And you may be willing to sell and move just to be closer by. As Vance Cariaga, a journalist at Go Bank Rates, explains: “Never underestimate the power of grandchildren – especially when it comes to lifestyle and financial decisions. Recent data shows that many baby boomers are relocating further away from home than they used to so they can be closer to their grandbabies.” The data shows grandparents are moving further to be near their grandchildren. If you have grandchildren of your own, maybe you can relate. When you decide it’s time to be closer to your loved ones, let's connect. If you are interested in learning more about our downsizing program The Rightsizing Method or receiving our guide to downsizing visit The Rightsizing Method. 

Microstaging: The Art of Maximizing Your Home Sale Price

Selling a home is a significant undertaking, and one of the most critical aspects of the process is creating an exceptional first impression for potential buyers. There is an art to maximizing the sale price and the goal of a home seller is to sell their home for top dollar in the shortest timeframe possible. It’s all about first impression. The moment a buyer steps through your front door, they begin forming opinions about your home. That's where microstaging comes into play, and it's a pivotal part of our unique home selling system. “The Sold Solution”. Introducing Ready-Set-Sell At the core of "The Sold Solution" is our exclusive Ready-Set-Sell service. It's more than just a staging consultation; it's a strategic approach to help you showcase your home's true potential using your existing furnishings and maybe adding some artwork, home accessories, hand towels, plants or flowers. With Ready-Set-Sell, our home selling clients meet with our expert design partner Hollie Gyarmati of HG Makeovers. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and her goal is to assist you in preparing and staging your home effectively, utilizing primarily the items you already own. The Benefits of Ready-Set-Sell Our home selling clients have seen better results when taking the time to do a Ready-Set-Sell consultation. What kind of results? Selling their home faster and for a higher price than they would have without a Reay-Set-Sell consult. Benefits include: 1. Maximize Your Home's Appeal: Our design partner Hollie Gyarmati has an innate ability to transform your living space, arranging furniture and decor in a way that maximizes the visual appeal of each room. This not only makes your home look its best but also helps potential buyers see its full potential. 2. Quick Results: With microstaging, you're not waiting for rented furniture or a complete overhaul of your interiors. We work with what you have, making the process faster and more efficient. This can lead to a swifter sale, saving you time and reducing the stress associated with a listing that lingers on the market for months. 3. Cost-Effective: Unlike traditional staging, Ready-Set-Sell doesn't involve the expense of renting or purchasing new furniture and decor. It's a budget-friendly option that helps you get your home market-ready without breaking the bank. Typically, we will pay for the Ready-Set-Sell Consult for our home selling clients. 4. Higher Sales Price: Our experience has shown that homes prepared through Ready-Set-Sell consultations often command a higher sales price. When your house or condo looks its best, potential buyers are willing to pay a premium for a well-presented, move-in-ready home. Recently we had a home selling client in Birmingham go through the Ready-Set-Sell consult and process. We used the homeowner’s existing home furnishings to put the home’s best attributes – a big kitchen and a great primary suite – in the spotlight. The results? We sold the home for a record price for the street and in a timeframe shorter than the average days on market. Contact Us Today! If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of your home and achieve a higher sales price in a shorter timeframe, Ready-Set-Sell is the solutions you’ve been seeking. Our team, led by Jeff Higgins, is committed to helping you succeed in today’s competitive real estate market. To learn more about Ready-Set Sell or to explore all of the benefits of The Sold Solution, contact us today. Your journey to a successful home sale starts here, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.  

Retirement Journey: Mitten State to Sunshine State and Back

Baby Boomers don’t have it easy. You may be the ultimate caregiver – caring for your adult kids or your aging parents is tough. The journey of caring for aging parents often involves making tough decisions, including where they should spend their golden years. In some cases, this might mean relocating them closer to family for better care and companionship. We are seeing Boomers retire to Florida to enjoy their retirement years to return to Michigan in a few short years with mom or dad in toe so their aging parent can get access to the healthcare they need and most importantly to be close to family. Recently we received a call from a client whose mom had moved to the Sunshine State years ago. During the pandemic she had the opportunity to work from home and chose to relocate to Florida to enjoy the Florida lifestyle and be close to mom. Life was great for both mom and daughter. Mom was part of the generation drawn to the Sunshine State for its warm weather and retirement-friendly lifestyle and cost of living. The palm trees, sandy beaches, and endless sunshine became the backdrop to her retirement dreams and new life with new friends. The icing on the cake was her daughter was close by and enjoying her life in Florida. As the years passed, our Baby Boomer client began to notice changes in her mom's health and overall well-being. She started to realize that her mom needed more care and support than she could receive in Florida, far away from her family. This realization led to a difficult decision: it was time to move her mom back to Michigan, closer to the family who loved her. Our client knew that moving mom back to the Mitten State was going to be a logistical puzzle requiring careful planning and attention to detail. We worked with our client to craft a plan, prioritizing her mom and navigating the journey of getting mom move back to Michigan. The plan required proper timing as mom needed to sell her home in Florida and find a new home near Bloomfield Hills or Rochester to be close to family. Simultaneously her daughter needed to find a renter for her Florida home and find a ranch condo for herself in Troy or Bloomfield Hills. Years of mom’s accumulated possessions in Florida had to be sorted through, with cherished items carefully packed and moved, while unnecessary clutter was donated or discarded. All of this needed to be done to get mom’s house on the market and simultaneously find her a new home in Metro Detroit. Getting mom situated in her new Michigan home was priority. With the daughter’s hard work and help from her family, she was able to find a new home for mom in a top-notch assisted living facility and one of our Florida partners sold her Florida home for top dollar. And for the daughter? Another Florida partner of ours took over the management of her Florida house and it became a great investment property – an Airbnb. We were able to find the daughter a ranch condo in Bloomfield Hills so she could be close to mom. Once mom was safely in her new assisted living home, her daughter continued to be a pillar of support with the help of her Michigan siblings. She helped her mom adjust to her new surroundings. She and her siblings were able to visit regularly as they lived nearby. Throughout this entire journey the importance of family became evident. The Baby Boomer and her siblings rallied together to make the transition as smooth as possible. Their collective effort and love created a strong system for their mom as her journey to her back home to Michigan. Moving an aging parent back home to Michigan from the Sunshine State is a journey filled with emotional and logistical challenges. However, for many families, the decision is driven by a deep sense of love and responsibility for family. In our Baby Boomer's case, the move from Florida to Michigan allowed her mom to receive the care and companionship she needed in her later years, surrounded by the family who cherished her. This story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and devotion that Baby Boomers and their families often make to ensure the well-being of their loved ones in their senior years. For more information on downsizing or relocating to Florida or Michigan, contact Jeff Higgins today or check out The Rightsizing Method, our proprietary process for downsizing your way.