When to Sell Your Home in Spokane as a Senior Aging in Place

Family homes hold decades of holiday dinners and backyard barbecues, first days of school and kisses goodnight. Selling a nostalgic home can be difficult, and the finances alone can seem overwhelming at times. However, selling a home in Spokane as a senior isn’t impossible, and if the time is right to find a better system of daily support, it can even be beneficial.

This guide can help seniors and their families work through the decision of whether moving makes sense, while leaving room for the emotions. North Point Village offers assisted living and memory care in North Spokane, and our team often talks with families as they weigh their choices, even if they aren’t ready for a senior living community just yet.

Weighing the Financial Picture

Downsizing in Spokane, WA, to a smaller place or moving to a senior living community may not seem financially smart at first, especially if the house is paid off. Many seniors worked hard to pay off their house, so it makes sense to want to continue benefiting from it. However, a house costs more than a mortgage.

Owning a house, even a paid-off one, requires paying property taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, routine maintenance, yard care, pest control, and more. Itemize each bill when choosing to stay or move since the true cost of owning a home is almost certainly more than its monthly mortgage.

For Spokane County seniors, the senior property tax relief program could make staying more affordable as you review your options. Try to predict future in-home care costs and accessibility renovations. If you are already feeling like the house is becoming too much work, moving to a maintenance-free lifestyle may be easier than paying for costly upgrades.

This article is not intended as financial advice. Speak with your financial advisor where appropriate about planning and budgeting in your situation.

Keeping Up With Property Maintenance

Property maintenance often weighs on seniors as they age in place. Chores that once felt like a satisfying routine can become a tiring burden or even a health risk. This leads many to take unnecessary risks, like climbing ladders to trim hedges or putting off important repairs. A worn roof, clogged gutter, or worn furnace can lower the home’s value while becoming a source of stress.

If you feel less steady doing property maintenance and rely more on family members to drive over and help, it may be time to plan for a different lifestyle. Although a big property can feel like a source of freedom, it can take up more time and energy than you may realize.

Changing Mobility and Health Needs

According to the CDC, senior falls cause 4.5 million emergency room visits each year and result in 1.4 million hospitalizations. A senior living alone in a house not built with their changing mobility needs in mind may find themselves doing less because they fear falling. A fall or a close call that almost led to a hospital visit could be all it takes to turn a big house into a burden.

Stairs, raised bathtubs, uneven flooring, and big yards can contribute to this issue. To stay in their homes, many seniors invest in mobility upgrades, including grab bars in the bathroom and shower, shower seats, ramps, integrated and motion-activated lighting, and new flooring. However, the cost and logistics of these upgrades add up quickly. If the upgrades can’t keep pace with your mobility changes, it may be time to sell.

Involving Family in the Decision

Adult children and other loved ones often notice changes that you may have missed. You can rely on them for an honest opinion, especially if you start the conversation openly. Let them speak without pressure, and try to determine whether their observations warrant a change. They may have noticed scrapes on your arm you forgot about, missed medication doses, an unclean kitchen or yard, or another sign that the house has become too much.

Though you likely want to stay in your house, you also probably want to spend time with friends and family, visit restaurants, go on trips, walk local trails, and more. Living alone can quietly take away time and energy you could spend on better things.

Exploring Other Options in Spokane

Senior living in Spokane, WA, can provide another option, one that offers support without taking away independence. The biggest difference between assisted living and other lifestyle options is the level of support available, when needed, for daily personal tasks.

In a residential senior living community, the on-site team handles the day-to-day chores of property ownership, from lawn care to roof maintenance. Residents no longer need to climb ladders to check smoke alarms, clean gutters, or pay separate services to check plumbing, electrical, pests, trees, and everything else.

Instead, residents spend their time and energy on their hobbies, friends, outings, family get-togethers, charities, and more. The on-site support is there only for the tasks they need help with. This means each resident in the same community receives a customized amount of care.

Questions to Ask Before Selling a Home in Spokane as a Senior

None of this means that moving to assisted living is right for everyone. Here are some practical questions that seniors can ask before selling their home in Spokane:

• Can I comfortably afford the house for the next five years?
• Can I keep up with maintenance and yard work with confidence?
• Am I afraid of falling daily or weekly?
• Do I feel isolated or lonely?
• Do I cancel appointments and outings because of mobility issues?
• What care needs will I have in the near future?
• What do family members think?

These questions can help you find the right balance between comfort and support, which could be the family home if the house needs small upgrades or a little more outside help. However, if it has become too much to handle without health risks, it could be time to look for other options.

Frequently Asked Questions