Step #1 & #2 of moving for seniors

Many of the questions I answer during consultations have to do with the move process or with the actual sale of the house.  I thought it might be fun to take a stab at starting a laundry list of these tips.  I'll file them under the "Moving" category so you can find them easily.  If you have some you'd like to add, please feel free! 

Whether you're moving yourself, or you're helping a loved one move, put together your move plan before you think about puting your home on the market.  Figure out a plan that feels good to you.  Once this plan is in place, everything else can get planned around it.

Step  #1 Define your new home and your new community. 

Well, I didn't say this was going to be easy!  This is going to require some thinking and planning on your part! 

The first step in a move plan is for the senior who is moving to to define what the next community should look like. This is a lot like defining your own mission statement. Get out a pad of paper and pen and write down the answers to these questions.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is there a particular neighborhood in which you'd like to live?
• Will it be a senior community?
• Will your friends and family be near by?
• Will you move to a senior community?
• An apartment or a town home?
• Stairs or one-level living?
• Will you want a garage?
• What services do you want there to be when you move in?
• What services do you think you might want in 1-5 years?
• How close do you want to be to public transportation?
• Other neighborhood amenities that are important to you (walking trails, close to the pharmacy)?
• Will you bring pets with you, or will you want a new pet?
• Is a security system important to you?
• Would you rather have a large apartment, or beautiful large community rooms such as libraries, craft rooms or computer rooms?
• Do you need assistance with preparing meals, transportation, housekeeping, medical care or overcoming loneliness?

Step #2 Get a copy of the Senior Housing Directory.  It's the best directory of the Twin Cities Senior Housing options in paper form.  Click here, and I'll send you one.  I've also started an electronic directory of Twin City senior housing separated by city here.

Comments

[Maria]

I found this most interesting. I am hoping to stay in my own home as long as possible. This is a small town and I worry about getting around without a car some day and what I will do when I no longer can take care of myself.

Meanwhile, thanks for dropping by my site.