A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy Two Is Moving!

A Tale of Three “Lucy”s – Lucy Two

You have probably heard from several sources to plan ahead when moving.  It’s never too early to start thinking about what to pack and how it will get to the new facility.  This past November, I was faced with three moves at the same time.  I will call my clients Lucy 1, Lucy 2 and Lucy 3. 

Lucy 1 lived in an apartment on the 15^th floor.  The view was wonderful, the space was large.  But there was this pesky little issue of persistent leaks that the property manager shrugged off as a small problem.  But mold growing under the carpet for years, and several trips to the hospital were hardly small issues for my client, retired from her teaching position.  It was time for a move.

Lucy 2 lived in a maintenance-free townhouse.  At 89 years old, her memory was failing and she had caregivers coming every day to help her dress and eat.  As her disease progressed, it became clear to the daughter that her mother needed someone watching her 24 hours/day. 

Lucy 3 lived in development specifically for residents over 55 years of age.  The homes were single family, but maintenance-free.  A widow, she lived there alone, but had children and grandchildren in the area to help.  She was able to drive, but when her multiple sclerosis and the weather got worse, she was unable to go outside.  She had to rely more and more on others, and began falling more frequently.  When she fell, she couldn’t get up on her own.  She decided to move to assisted living.

Over the next few posts, I will tell the stories of each of my clients and the unique challenges each faced. 

Here is the story of Lucy 2:

Lucy Two lived in a maintenance-free townhouse.  Her daughter had recently taken her car keys away from her because her memory was failing and it wasn’t safe to have her on the roads.  She was 88 years old when I started visiting her a few times a week to take her to the grocery store, to get her hair done, etc.  All those things she couldn’t do herself because she wasn’t driving any more.

Dining Room Before Staging

Over the next few months, her health remained stable, but her memory was fading fast.  She would forget to eat.  She didn’t know night from day.  She thought her bedroom was her house, and the rest of her house was the office where she worked.  She soon needed assistance 7 days/week, and someone to visit her every night to make dinner.

This went on with a bevy of caretakers over several months.  Lucy began getting more confused.  She didn’t understand why people were coming over when she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.  She thought we were only visiting, and became belligerent when we tried to help.  After some serious episodes, her daughter, Lynn (the only child living in the area), decided to put her into Memory Care.

That decision was difficult enough for Lynn.  But then came the task of selling the townhouse.  It was full to the brim with family memories and loving knick-knacks – most of which Lucy couldn’t even remember how

Parlor Before Staging

she’d acquired.  The day of the move, November 1, Lynn and I took Lucy to her new rooms, stayed for lunch with her, then went home to pack up some belongings while Lucy attended mass at the facility.  We packed enough clothes for the winter months, and some personal effects, like photographs of the great-granddaughters she loved so much. 

The next step was to allow the family to claim what they wanted from the house.  Children came from out of state to pack up/claim what they wanted.  Then, with the help of the real estate agent, we selected those items that would stay in the house for staging.  I marked those items with painter’s tape.

Dining Room After Staging

A junk removal company, Ease Services, came to pick up the furniture we didn’t need for staging.  They took items in good condition to a charity.  Once the belongings were pared down, the entire house was painted and new carpet was installed.  Lynn had a handyman come and do some small cosmetic repairs.

I packed up the small items that we didn’t need for the showing, and with the help of Lucy’s daughter and grandson, the boxes got loaded and dropped off at a local donation center.  I used what was left to stage the house.  I brought in some accent pieces and colorful towels, and set the dining room table.  It looked like a warm, loving home.  

The house was listed on a Thursday.  By Saturday, it sold!  Yes, that quickly!  What did that mean?  The rest of the cabinets had to be emptied, and the furniture removed.  No rest here!  So the phone calls started again. 

Lynn had friends/family come in to take what they wanted/needed for themselves or children who were moving into their own apartments.  Lynn got estimates from moving companies for shipping her sibling’s items to her in Idaho.  Their brother drove up from Florida with a van to get his things.  Once we knew what was unclaimed, I finished emptying all the cabinets, garage, laundry room, etc., and boxed everything up for

Parlor After Staging

charity.

Ease Services came for a second load, taking the items we knew wouldn’t sell.  Then I called an auction house, who loaded up their truck the same day as Lucy Three's load, and paid Lucy Two for what they took away.  I finished cleaning out the garage, taking the garbage to the dumpster, and the last of the donations to Goodwill.  

The house was empty!!  The closing took place on March 28.  It was a real whirlwind of activity.  Thank goodness Lynn worked close to her mom’s house, so between the two of us, we were able to meet with drivers, repairmen, etc..  And although there were a few glitches, it all worked out in the end.  My final task was to mail some mementos we found in Lucy’s drawers to her daughter in Idaho and her grandson in Oregon. 

Lynn and I are going to dinner to celebrate! 

Click here to see Lucy One's Story
Click here to see Lucy Three's Story

Should I Remodel My Bathrooms Before Selling?

Moving on Monday

This question is often asked by homeowners when they are planning to put their house on the market.  The answer isn't an easy 'yes' or 'no'.   Can it increase the value of the house?  Of course it can.  But there are several factors to consider before diving in.  

First, how much would it cost to remodel the space?  If you are doing simple cosmetic changes, the cost will be much less than if you were tearing out the vanity, tub and toilet.  How old or worn do the cabinets look?  Are the tiles in bad shape?  Or would a good grout cleaning brighten the space? 

If you are simply painting and replacing the countertop, the changes are worth it.  If you have to replace everything, the cost may be more than the return on investment. 
The average ROI on a bathroom remodel is 172%.  So you would probably recoup your money on simple changes.  However, if you go with high-end cabinets and granite countertops to compete with the neighbors, will you get that money back on the sale of the home?  Possibly. 

Buyers like rooms that don't need remodeling.  But if you have to drastically increase the selling price of your house to recoup the costs, it may not be worth it. 

The solution?  Be sensible.  If you want to update the space, look for deals.  There may be tile close-outs on discontinued patterns.  Or visit a Habitat for Humanity Resale store for deals on vanities and cabinets.  Look for paint 'mistakes' at your hardware store to see if there is a color that will work in your home. 

Finally, are you going to do the work yourself, or hire someone?  If you do it yourself, it will be less expensive.  But will you have the time to get it done before listing the property?  Are you experienced enough in laying/grouting tiles?  Even new tiles that are poorly laid will not attract buyers.

So yes, it can be worth your while to remodel, but be smart in your choices.

Showing Your Home in the Spring

Moving on Monday

Now that the weather is warming up, more home buyers are getting out to look at houses. There is a large inventory of homes on the market, some from last year, and new ones from this year. How will yours stand out from the rest? What will make buyers choose yours? Does it look its best now that winter's snowy cover is gone? What was hidden from view?

Now is the time to take a good look at your home and spruce it up for the spring.

• Clean out gardens from leaves and branches.
• Cut back dead foliage and broken branches from plants.
• Lay new mulch to retard weed growth.
• Clean out gutters.
• Look for damage to your roof.
• Have your asphalt driveway sealcoated.
• Open windows and let in fresh air.
• Have carpets cleaned and floors washed.
• Clean winter's grime out from your garage floor.
• Mow the lawn often during the growth spurts of spring.
• Fertilize and lawn and apply weedkiller.
• Wash your windows and clean the draperies.
• Dust the cobwebs from the corners.

Remember, your home has lots of competition. Make sure it sparkles!

Is Your Home Ready to Put on the Market?

Senior Thursday

As we age, our lives change. We've perhaps married and had children. We've raised those children, then sent them off to college and witnessed them marrying their childhood sweethearts. Suddenly, the homes we built to raise our families are empty. There are bedrooms that aren't being used, corners of the basement that are rarely seen, and large kitchen tables with empty seats.

If you are in retirement, your income has changed also. It probably isn't as high as when you were working. The cost of everything is going up, and funds are tight. So you decide to sell your home and move to more affordable housing.

But where do you start? You have a home filled with 30 years of memories. There are boxes packed away that you haven't seen in years. Some are yours, some are the kids. There are souvenirs from your trips, and prom dresses from high school.

Once you decide you are going to sell your home, the first thing you should do is de-clutter it. Get rid of all that excess.

It won't be easy. There will be some very difficult decisions about what you will bring to the new home, what you will give to the kids, and what will go to charity. There are memories attached to most, if not all, of the items. How can you throw away something from a family wedding or favorite vacation? You don't have to throw away everything. Keep those items that mean the most to you. If you want, take photos of the items you are getting rid of.

Just keep in mind that memories will always be with you, even after the item is gone. And what is important to you, isn't necessarily as important to the rest of your family.

Your Moving Timeline--Three Months Before

Moving on Monday

Last week, we talked about the importance of planning ahead for your move for the least amount of stress. Sometimes moves come on suddenly, and the planning needs to be done in a short amount of time. But when you know about your move months in advance, start planning as early as possible.

We covered what you can do six months before your move date. This week, we'll look at what you can do three months before your move.

• Begin packing off-season items
• Arrange for temporary storage
• Stage your home for the sale
• Get your credit report for future financing needs
• Start weekly To-Do lists and enter tasks on calendars

Showing Your Home During the Holidays

Moving on Mondays

It is important to keep your house looking its best while it is on the market. This can be challenging if you have children, pets, or work full time. It can also be challenging during the holidays. Besides being busy with preparations, you have all that extra…clutter…around the house.

There's gifts, wrapping paper, decorations, cookies, and cards. You have packages to wrap and ship, recipes to find and bake, and cards to write, address and stamp. While projects in process can usually be left out, it's not a good idea when your house is on the market. You don't want the home to look too cluttered.

Here are some tips for keeping your home neat while it's on the market during the holidays:

• Keep decorations to a minimum. Don't overdo it by covering every inch of space with garland, trees or knick-knacks. Select a few key areas to decorate. Respect the fact that others may not share your traditions. Some potential buyers may be turned off by a home that is screaming "Christmas."
• Don't overcrowd rooms. Decorations can take up valuable floor space. Placing your tree in the corner means the chair has to come out into the middle of the room. Keep pathways clear, and store extra furniture off site if possible.
• Don't have packages (wrapped or unwrapped) piled under the tree. This is a prime time for thefts. Potential buyers may be thieves casing your house.
• Baking cookies can fill your home with wonderful aromas. Just make sure to put away all the ingredients and bake ware when you are done.
• If you are traveling during the holidays, let your real estate agent know you will be out of town. Put your lights on timers so the home is never dark during the hours it might be shown.