Realtors - A Valued Partner in the Senior Industry
Retirement communities throughout the country are in a constant state of transition. Whether serving those who are independent, in need of assisted living or memory care, or advancing to skilled care, by virtue of the clients they serve there is constant turnover.
When working with seniors considering a move from their long-time home to a senior community, most clients are inclined to sell their home before making that move. Therein lies one of the biggest obstacles any senior community sales representative has to address, advancing the home selling process.
Having a skilled realtor, one who has an understanding of the unique needs of older adults, can be a highly valued professional partner. Since many seniors haven’t sold a home in years, possibly decades, the real estate agent needs to have the skills to guide them through the home selling process, but also the patience to explain what to expect, and how to overcome obstacles that occur along the way.
Add to that, if this realtor also has a team of service providers they use to offer solutions to their clients, their value to the senior industry professional grows even more. One stop shop…that’s what a lot of the successful realtors provide in this special partnership.
A realtor’s value involves more than just listing the home. Frequently the senior client is downsizing a lifetime of treasures, they may have antiques of great value that will need to be assessed. They likely will need help with packing and organizing, so having a professional move manager can expedite this whole process for your senior client as well as the senior sales professional. If there are repairs needed before selling, having your go-to basement professional, a roofer, painter and more will not only make the process more manageable, but it will help to expedite the transition from the senior’s long-time home to the senior community.
Let me be clear…with constant turnover in senior communities there is notable emphasis on occupying vacated apartments. There is also a large number of needs driven moves occurring…seniors who face a health setback and are no longer able to remain in their homes. Those moves happen twelve months a year, often with little notice. That means the senior, their family and the senior community are all looking for service providers to help them expedite each step of the way. Since their home is often their largest asset, and they’re looking to liquidate that asset to help pay for their care, the realtor becomes the most vital link in this process.
How many times in life do we have the privilege of providing a service, touching lives in a meaningful way, having a great work/life balance, and being paid to do it? That’s what building your senior focused niche real estate practice can do for you. Check us out at www.bruceallenconsultants.com. We’d love to help you grow your real estate practice while doing something meaningful and living a quality life.
Written by Adele Lund, Managing Partner/Bruce Allen Consultants
