NAN CAMPION
REAL ESTATE BROKER
SENIORS' REAL ESTATE SERVICES
The term “seniors” covers a very large portion of our lives. According to the government we are seniors when we reach 65, to some movie theatres it is recognized at 60 and in some drug stores it begins at 55 so what really is a senior?
The term seniors covers a multitude of life stages but when we are discussing real estate I think that it can be divided into approximately 3 types of needs and/or desires:
1. A NEW ADVENTURE
For those whose children have left the nest recently this might well be a time of great adventure. It is an opportunity to start fresh on a totally new stage of life. After having lived in the family home for many years it is sometimes difficult to know just where you want to move to and what lifestyle will now suit you best. For these needs I refer you to my page on “Lifestyle Changes”. There you will find plenty of information that will be helpful in your search whether that be for properties in Toronto or elsewhere. Also you will find articles on my blog periodically which I think you will find of interest.
2. EASE OF LIVING
If you are at the stage of life where you want less property maintenance and perhaps want to travel more or are now ready for the ease of living on one level, you too will find plenty of information in the “Lifestyle Changes” page. There you will find info on condos, bungalows, retirement living and second homes. I also refer you to my blog in which you will find additional info as time goes on.
3. A NEED TO MOVE
While buying and selling a property can be an exciting venture, it can also be a necessity. Having lived in a property for years and having made a life in it, many people understandably want to stay in their homes as long as possible, but sometimes that means that when the move is necessary it is not easy. Especially in this situation, my goal is to make your move as comfortable and stress-free as possible. This is the purpose of this page so if this situation is familiar to you, please read on – this section is designed just for you.
MY EXPERTISE IN ACTION
I love using my expertise to guide clients though today’s real estate market. With over 36 years of experience in real estate, I am very aware that every client has individual needs and it is imperative that these be taken into account in the selling process.
It is because I choose to accept only a few listings at a time and therefore am able to handle each detail of the sale for my clients, I am able to offer personalized service in each of the following ways. Please click on the links below to read how I can most effectively help you with the detailed process of selling your home.
SHOWINGS
On most listings, showings take place between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. While this is convenient for the buyers, for some sellers the scheduling of showings needs to be better planned. Some sellers need to avoid showings near meal times. Some like to have an afternoon nap and some just prefer to have showings start later in the morning and end earlier in the evening. While giving buyers the opportunity to see the house is of course a necessary part of selling a house, showings should not feel invasive to the owner. After all, it is your home and you should be able to invite people into it when it is convenient for you. I can always work around your needed schedule. In addition, sometimes my clients feel most comfortable if I am in attendance for showings. I am happy to accommodate these situations as well.
OPEN HOUSES
An open house is a traditional way to market a property, however, not everyone feels comfortable opening their home up in such a way. Be assured that if you don’t feel an open house is appropriate for you, we can easily avoid them. There are other excellent ways of marketing your home that are less intrusive and finding the balance between maximizing the marketing potential of your home with the degree to which you are comfortable having to open it to prospective buyers is an essential part of my strategy to make the process easy for you.
PARING DOWN
Many people keep avoiding selling their homes as they can’t face the thought of having to find out just what is stored in the closets and basement. They know there is a lot and cannot imagine where to begin the process of paring down. This is where I can help. Actually, believe it or not, I can have all of this handled while avoiding most of the stress for you. With your approval I will bring people in who know how to make this easy. All you have to do is sit in a comfortable chair and tell these people whether you want an item moved to your new place, donated for someone else to benefit from or disposed of. Once this is done those things that are to be donated and/or disposed of will be delivered to the appropriate outlet with no involvement from you. Life can be easy.
STAGING
Staging is a relatively new trend and I don’t believe that it is always necessary. If it is done right it can make a difference to the buyers’ perception of the property and therefore to the selling price, however it can be expensive, unnecessary and sometimes even detrimental. I have seen situations where the house has been so neutralized so as to eliminate all personality and warmth and sometimes it made a wonderful difference. Deciding to stage must be on a case by case basis. Often if the furniture in your home is in a style that suits the character of the home, all you need is to have someone par down as in the category above. It doesn’t always have to be as expensive and intrusive as some people have experienced.
REPAIRS
If repairs are needed before the sale of your house, don’t be concerned – I have a whole team of people who can handle every detail. Most homes only need a few details attended to but whether you need painting, wiring, plumbing, gardening, cleaning of eaves troughs and windows, roof repairs, a cleaning lady, or anything else, I have it covered.
THE OFFER
When a person hasn’t sold a property for many years and especially if the person is relying on the monies thus realized to fund retirement, dealing with an offer can be extremely stressful.
It is important that before the day of offers we sit down together and discuss what you can expect of the process and what you need to know before hand in order to make a good decision.
When an offer or offers are ready to be presented, I am happy to do that exclusively with you, with you and your family, or with you and your lawyer. I take as much time for my clients to make a decision as necessary. This is one of biggest decisions most people make in their lifetime and while I pride myself on getting the best results possible for my client, it is essential that you feel happy with the final decision.