Senior Real Estate Specialist
Lyssa Phillips, RN, Real Estate Agent, SRES
Are you thinking of downsizing or aging in place?
As a certified real estate specialist, I understand that each person, couple, or family has unique circumstances and lifestyle objectives.
You are not alone if you feel unsure about downsizing vs. aging in place.
Should you move? If so, where?
There are many options when choosing housing that meets your (or your family's) current and future needs.
I’ll provide a plan customized to your individual situation. We’ll review the options that are available to you in the community.
As a registered nurse and a certified aging in place specialist I can advise you on how to adjust your home to accommodate your changing needs, such as:
Changes to your home such as bathroom remodels for the elderly
Aging in place home care services
Community resources
VNA services
Durable medical equipment
Housing alternatives
If you prefer to downsize, my network of community connections and senior specialists such as estate planners, CPAs, and Eldercare Lawyers, along with local community resources, can help with any questions that may arise.
Our mission is to help you navigate the maze of financial, legal, and emotional issues that accompany the sale of your home.
Is your close family on board with a decision to sell?
It is a good idea to have a discussion with your family to make sure you all are on the same page prior to signing any commitments.
A family talk can help prevent later misunderstandings and avoid delays in the process.
If the move involves significant downsizing, this also might be a good time to bring up property and possession issues.
Appointing a leader to help with sorting and organizing can help manage questions and facilitate discussions.
What are the tax implications of selling your home?
Selling a home can trigger significant taxation.
Capital gains tax may apply in the event the home sales proceeds are not used to buy another home.
Before listing a home for sale, it is a good idea to consult your tax specialist/financial advisor.
If you do not have someone I can provide you with a list of trusted professionals.
What effects might a house sale have on future income?
Many factors affect how much money you will get from the sale of your home, as well as how proceeds will impact your future financial situation.
Looking at these issues before selling your home is a smart move, rather than getting an unexpectedly large tax bill after the sale.
Tax and estate planning will help anticipate any consequences to future income.
What are the legal considerations for selling your home?
It is important to retain the services of an elder law attorney that can assist with estate planning, power of attorney, health care proxy, and wills.
There are many different ways an elder law attorney can help. Everybody has a different set of circumstances.
Is downsizing and moving the best option?
If you are not sure if moving is the best option for you, I’m happy to meet with you and discuss the community resources that are available to you to help you age in place.
This includes but is not limited to, private home care, community resources, VNA services, durable medical equipment, adaptations to your home, and housing alternatives.
Top 10 Downsizing Tips for Seniors
Start with the easy stuff.
Eliminate anything that’s broken, damaged, or no longer wanted. Then, go to the out-of-the-way spaces like attics, crawlspaces, and garages. Progress in these "easier" parts of your home will help you build momentum and tackle the harder-to-decide areas.
Ask yourself, "If this disappeared tomorrow, would I run out and replace it?"
If you wouldn't miss it or need to replace it, it's probably not worth keeping.
Don't be a storage unit for others.
If friends or relatives have left things for you to store, it's time to ask them to pick up their possessions — or arrange to have them shipped. You may need to be tough and set a firm deadline, after which you will donate the items.
Ask for help.
Although you can do much of this work on your own, a family member, a good friend, or even a professional organizer can help make the job more manageable.
Decide what's important.
Pretend you are moving overseas, but you can only take a severely limited number of items because it costs a small fortune to ship them. What items belong on your list? These are the things that matter most to you!
Is this something from a lifestyle I no longer have or want?
For example, if you have three cabinets full of plastic containers, but only cook for one or two people, it’s reasonable to eliminate a few plastic sets — and dishes, pots, and pans.
Schedule a regular time each week — or several days a week — to work on rightsizing.
Realize that rightsizing is a life-changing marathon, not a sprint. You didn't accumulate everything overnight, and you won't sort it all out overnight, either.
Value what you keep.
The fewer things you keep, the more you will treasure and enjoy what you have, instead of tucking items away in a closet or stacked among dozens of other things. These are the select, meaningful items worth having in your personal space.
Prevent new collections from forming.
Instead of material gifts, ask people to spoil you by sharing time, enjoying new experiences, and helping you indulge in luxuries (spa certificates, imported chocolate, a musical or other theater production, gift certificates for dinner out, etc.). In other words, ask for special treats that you love and want, but don't always buy for yourself.
Use age to your advantage.
Now is a great time to give items to family members that you eventually want them to have. Take a photo (preferably a digital one) of your recipients holding their treasured gifts and create a scrapbook of "next generation" memories. These images can serve as powerful reminders of your most cherished items moving forward into posterity with the most special people in your life.
Download your own copy of these tips for getting started.
No form to fill out. Just click the button and the pdf should download automatically.
You are not alone if you or a family member feels that you are in unfamiliar waters with these questions.
Contact Lyssa and we’ll set up a time to chat through your options and situation.
What My Clients Are Saying…
“★★★★★ Lyssa and I connected on our first meeting.
I brought my children up in my home and have lived there for 43 years, Lyssa was understanding of the emotions I was going through. She was sensitive when suggesting improvements that should be done before the open house.
I can not thank her enough for suggesting the team of professionals that she recommended from staging my home to closing, the sale went smoothly and as stress free as possible.”
- Judy, over 55 client
