Are you considering moving to a senior living community? Whether you’re moving in soon or still considering your options, we have compiled some tips that will help you prepare for the future.

And remember, many senior living communities can also offer professional assistance to help you sell your house and make the move. If you’ve already chosen a community, check with them first to see what services they could offer you.

Contact a Professional Move Manager

You don’t need to spend weeks in the attic, basement, or garage. When you start going through boxes from storage, sometimes all you have to show for your work is a new pile of boxes to keep, sell, or donate.

Instead, think about it this way: what would you grab if your house was on fire? Now that you’re focused on what’s really important, assume you have a little more time. What would you want to bring with you no matter where you go? A family heirloom? Artwork? Your favorite furniture?

Make a list. Don’t think about the basement and the attic right now — you might not even remember exactly what’s stored there.

The National Association of Senior Move Managers

Through this organization, you can find a professional in your area who has helped thousands of older adults downsize painlessly.

These professionals will visit you, help you identify the items you must bring, make sure everything fits in your new home, pack your things, and organize the move. In your new home, they’ll unpack everything, making sure boxes are gone, beds are made, and everything is in the right place.

Still looking for your new home? Explore Presbyterian Homes communities  >>

Contact a Real Estate Relocation Professional

While you will ultimately work with an individual real estate listing agent to prepare your home for listing, you might want the help of independent professionals to help identify the best agent in your area.

Real estate relocation professionals can help manage all aspects of your move, from finding the right real estate agent to hiring a moving company.

It’s not only high-powered executives who can benefit from the services of a relocation company; now older adults planning to move to a senior living community can benefit from the same professional advice.

You will be in a better position to sell your home quickly and for the highest price if you have good advice, which means choosing the real estate agent across the street just because you’re friends is not necessarily the best choice. This is a large financial transaction, so if you select the wrong agent, you may not get the best price and it may take longer than necessary to sell your home.

Four Chicago-area services we recommend are MySolutions, Moving Station, Move Me Managers, and Dwelling Spaces.

More Helpful Tips for Selling Your Home

Don’t assume you must make costly repairs and improvements prior to listing your home. The right real estate agent will help you decide which repairs or improvements are necessary to increase your home value and reduce the time it takes to sell.

Also, never answer the question, “How much do you think your home is worth?” on your own. The first month your home is listed is the most important, and you don’t want to be at the wrong price. A better method is to get a professional home inspection.

Finally, get a comprehensive competitive analysis from two or more real estate agents and compare them. Never rely only on one agent’s opinion.

Discover a Senior Living Community for You

If you’re still looking for a senior living community, there are so many choices and questions to ask that you might be wondering how best to proceed.

Our free guide to choosing a senior living community will help you learn about the costs, benefits, and amenities to look for among various living options. Plus, it will answer some of the most common questions to help you get your search off to a good start.