Selling your parents’ home in preparation for one or both of them to move into a retirement home is a big job, and it can take a huge emotional toll on everyone involved. If they have lived at the same place for many years or if one of them is suffering from an illness, it can be particularly difficult for the entire family to make the transition. It’s important to do as much as you can to make the entire process as smooth as possible, both for the mental health of your loved ones and for your own.
The key is to get organized and make sure all legalities are in place before beginning a sale or move. In some cases, if a parent is incapacitated or is suffering from an illness that makes the sale of a house impossible for them, a power of attorney will be necessary–and you should be the attorney-in-fact. Plans will need to be made for their care and new living arrangements, which is a huge job on its own, so you might consider asking a close family member to help you take care of everything.
Here are a few tips on making sure the sale and the move go smoothly.
Know your rights
If you have power of attorney rights when it comes to your parents’ estate, it’s imperative that you know exactly what that means where you live and what you will be responsible for. Do some research online to find out everything you can about the laws in your state, as well as some misconceptions about the rules.
Get some help
Not only is the sale of the house a big job, but preparing it is, too. Making sure every room is cleaned and your family’s belongings are in order can take weeks, so give yourself plenty of time to get it done and ask for help when you need it. In fact, you might consider hiring a maid service to come in and clean up before moving day just to ensure it’s spic and span for the new owners. The average price for a maid service to clean the interior of your home is $117-$217, with a timeline of about five hours. For some great info on these services in your area, click here.
Let your parents help if they can
Unless your parents are incapacitated, it’s always best to let them help with selling the house in some way, whether it’s going through belongings in order to downsize or taking care of smaller tasks, like changing their address with the post office. Being involved in the process can help them feel like they have some measure of control during this tumultuous time.
Take care of yourself
This is a busy and difficult time for everyone involved, so it’s important to practice self-care as much as possible in order to boost your mental health and reduce stress. Get enough rest, eat well-balanced meals, exercise daily, and take time to recharge as often as you can. This is great advice for your loved ones as well, especially if they have suffered a recent illness.
Ask for help on moving day
Not only is moving day a big job physically, it can be hard emotionally, too. Ask for extra help that day from friends and family; if your parents have pets, make sure they’re well taken care of and out of the way so they won’t get lost or injured during the move. Designate someone to be in charge of gathering info about the new residence, such as what to expect for meals, activities, and visitors, and remember to rest often and stay hydrated.
Remember that selling the house and moving into a retirement home or assisted living facility might be the best thing for your loved ones, especially if they’ve had health issues recently. It’s a new phase of life that can bring about positive change, so try to be patient with the process and view it as a good thing.
Author information: Mr. Seth Murphy first got into doing DIY projects to save money, but over time he has developed a real passion for this hands-on, intensive work. He started PapaDIY to help others make their home DIY projects successful.
