Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013
B-3
How to decide whether to sell your home By Helen L. Flynn Selling a house one has lived in for 15 or 50 years is a major event. It is not like relocating for a job or moving up to a larger home. There are emotional, physical, spiritual, financial and social ramifications. And, it comes at a point in life when one’s physical and/or emotional strength may be depleted. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are considering a move: 1. Is my home safe and convenient for my current and expected physical needs? Stairs: Do you have a steep flight of steps to enter the house or multiple steps in the house that are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate? Perhaps you are living only on one floor of your home or in a couple of rooms because it is difficult to move around. By the way, check that the railings are secure and that stairways are well lit. Sometimes our glasses create a hazard with steps, not to mention the dangers of snow and ice. Bathrooms: They can be extremely dangerous due to the presence of water and possibility of slipping on hard surfaces. Can you maneuver in the bathroom if you should need a walker or other assistance? Showers can be retrofitted for safe-
ty, but perhaps the danger lies in using the bathroom alone without an emergency call system. Access: What is the proximity to neighbors and to emergency help? Living in the country or in the woods is lovely, but can someone get to you easily if necessary? How close are you to your doctors, church, friends, etc.? Is driving something that is becoming an issue? 2. What is the age and condition of your home? If major systems such as heating and air or the roof and windows need to be replaced, the cost can be considerable. Maintaining the lawn and garden may have been a joy at one time, but it may become a burden. Likewise, cleaning and maintaining the interior of a home can become increasingly difficult, especially during times of illness or other incapacity. Little by little the house may deteriorate and its value diminishes. Do you get out of the house and interact with other people frequently and have regular physical activity? So often I see people gradually becoming prisoners in their homes; not being able to get out and not wanting visitors to come in. Loneliness can be a major problem for seniors, especially if they are living alone, and it has real physical consequences.
When should you move? People often wonder if they should wait until the market is better before they sell. You should consider selling when the answers to the above questions indicate that change is necessary. The answer also depends on when you purchased your home and how much equity you have. Most mature sellers have been in their homes for a number of years. Disregard the false equity of 2004-2006. It will be several years before we see a significant increase in home prices, even though
the market at this time is improving. Discuss your options with family, doctors, lawyers and accountants or financial planners to make the decision that is best for you. Then be aware that your decision may change in a month, a year or a moment. Thinking and planning ahead is so important. It puts you in control of your future circumstances, rather than letting circumstances control you. See SELL YOUR HOME, page B-5
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