My Mom Wants A New Home Does Yours?

My Mom  Wants A New Home, Does Yours?

I am having a nice visit with Mom yesterday and she drops the bomb.   " I want to look at some homes", she says.   

Now you have to know that we have gone down this road before.   She falls in love.  Dad doesn't want to move.   


So sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of tea... I say, "Mom, I love you, but I am not going to show you houses unless Dad is on board!"    "Oh, he will be", she says. 
 Hmmmm, I have been here before too.


But is this time different?  They own a 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with a nice lot in a very nice neighborhood.  They are paying a ton of taxes and have more house then they need.    

Why shouldn't they buy a new "Active Adult lifestyle" home? 
 
You know what?   They should.   And, I should be the advocate for them doing so!    So, tomorrow, we will  start looking at these homes.   Mom will fall in love and Dad.   Well, Dad loves Mom.... so we will be putting their home on the market...  I think.

And so should many others.

Many of my friends folks are living in large single family homes.    Many by themselves.     Many worry about the yard or the roof or shoveling snow or raking leaves and don't have anyone to do it for them.  

Why do they stay in these homes?   Maybe the task of moving is to much to think about or they don't know the value of their home in today's market or what is available to them should they choose to make the move to a maintenance free lifestyle.  Maybe they just don't know where to start!    After all it's been years and things have changed drastically even in the last 6 months for crying out loud!

Possibly they are concerned about condo fees in a new home.    They might not want to leave their memories behind.     But more than that, it might just be the task of packing up and cleaning out.    After all most have accumulated years of stuff.    Hey in my parents case, they are storing their kids things.   Isn't that silly! 

All of these folks should be out enjoying themselves and not a slave by their homes and the up keep.    

 If your parents have too much home, talk to them about making a trade in lifestyle.  

They deserve it!

  

Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

Cal@AlandCal.com

508-494-9061

Mrs. Home Seller Are you a Chatty Cathy?

I find that the guidelines in life are generally there for a reason.   For example, you are required to show identification when cashing a check, because some one has taken advantage of the system  or, there is a disclaimer on a hot cup of coffee that lets you know that the coffee is Hot!  :)    You know what I am talking about.

The suggestions your real estate agent makes are done so for a reason too!    

One of those suggestions will surely be...  when there is a showing on your home, leave!  
All too often, a Seller will feel the need to stay for showings, maybe to add information that they feel the buyer needs or because they are just uncomfortable with people being in there home when they are not there.  

This is what happened the other day when Mrs. Seller remained home.  

My Buyers are relocating to the area.  They are deciding among several communities and we were to look at a couple of homes in a particular town that were side by side on the end of a small, intimate cul de sac. 

Now, in this area, most of the agents use the lock box system, which allows a Buyer with their agent to view the property unaccompanied by the listing agent or seller.   (typically this is viewed as a good plan as it allows the buyers to really look through the home without feeling rushed or uncomfortable.)

We viewed a number of homes that day and there was one where Mrs. Seller decided to stay home.    She gave us permission to view the home and provided us with some information on the property.  And then she started!   Chatty Cathy!      She told us all about the neighbors.  She let us know that there were more folks leaving.    She told us of the folks (another home for sale) getting a divorce, and others leaving to get into a new school system.   She let us know that she was looking around in another town for a "smaller" home and the list goes on!   

Now let me tell you, that if my Buyers, did like the home, they now decided against that neighborhood and that entire town by what Mrs. Seller had to say!   

She sabotaged a possible sale of her own home by trying to be just nice!


So, please Mr. or Mrs. Seller.    Heed your agents suggestion on taking a walk!    We know you love your home, but, you don't want to inadvertently talk a Buyer out of it!

Want more home selling guidelines?

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Want to know what your  home is worth in today's market?

Contact   Carol-Ann Palmieri     Cal@AlandCal.com    

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