Aging is a part of life. Perhaps not the one we like to think about the most, but there does come a time when we are not able to care for ourselves. Most importantly, our loved ones can no longer care for us and we need further supervision.
These are not times that any of us look forward to, and we certainly don’t look forward to when the decision has to be made about our parents.
However, that is exactly the situation a close friend and client is having to go through at this time. Her elderly mother, at 90, has recently been placed in a memory care facility.
Dad is still able to be at home, but definitely needs help and won’t be able to stay at the house much longer. He’ll probably need to move within the next three months.
These are always difficult situations to be involved with, because in most instances the client has been in their home for over 30 years. There is a lot of emotional attachment to their homes, and most importantly, they don’t necessarily want to leave.
In the case of my friend, her mother didn’t know what was going on and why her items were being moved.
The entire experience can be extremely emotional for all parties involved. That’s why she reached out to me to help with the sale of her parents home. Not only is this person a good friend, but she knows that I’m a caring ear to listen when things are overwhelming.
There’s a lot that actually is going into the sale of her parents home. When a homeowner becomes incapacitated then there are barriers that need to be handled so that the proper signatures are on a Real Estate Purchase Contract.
There are also different level of Power Of Attorney (POA). Many people don’t always have the correct type of POA to sign for their spouse. It’s important to understand what documentation is needed during these situations.
In the case of my friend it should be fairly straightforward. Her parents house is in a trust, and a medical directive from a doctor should suffice for her father to sign the documents. Of course, I’ll be working all of this out before we are even ready to list on the MLS.
It’s also important to have all documentation together and in a file before listing a property in this type, or similar type of situation. This will save a lot of time, and it will keep the process moving smoothly so the property will close escrow on time.
You want to have someone who is understanding to the situation and knows how to navigate the emotions surrounding a property for sale where the owners are moving into assisted living. Not only do you have the owners emotions, but many times there are other family members that have emotions about the house. An experienced Seniors Real Estate Specialist knows how to guide the entire family through the process.
In the case of my friend and her dad, well, he was pretty direct with me at the beginning and had his own concerns. I was able to address his concerns and assure him that his family’s needs will be met as we prepare the house for sale.
