Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Is It Time To Downsize?

When the time comes for us to leave our family home, there are many things to think about.  This is never an easy decision.

It seems like all of a sudden you don't need your large house anymore; you don't want to clean the large house anymore; you don't want to take care of the large yard anymore, and you don't want the financial burdens that come with owning a larger home.  But the biggest one for most of us, you don't want to think about the emotional roller-coaster that will come when sorting through everything to downsize.  Simplifying our lifestyles becomes more appealing as we want less maintenance, and more travel and leisure time.

We have all seen the television commercial that coined the phrase  "Help! Help! I've fallen and can't get up" and the elderly woman reaches for a lifeline necklace to alert an ambulance.  The reality is, that we have always deferred our decisions to the greater wisdom that our parents possessed.
There will come a time, or it is already here, that requires you to deal with some direct and vital issues regarding your aging parents.

You need to ask the serious questions before...
  • Their mobility and memory has been impeded.
  • There has been a catostrophic event - slip or fall
  • There a medical emergency - Heart attack or Stroke 
  • One passes away leaving the other alone and confused
In my personal life, I remember talking to my parents about downsizing. Then suddenly one passed and now it has become more difficult to discuss because there are too many memories in that home.  I remember asking my mother why she did not want to move into a bungalow, or just a smaller home with a smaller yard, and she said that she didn't want to think about renovations, and she couldn't hold the drywall for dad anymore.  I, myself, have many happy moments in this home where I grew up.  I did not expect to change my perspective of asking advice from my mother to trying to make healthy decisions for her.  Yet the financial realities of elder care and the direct cost of nursing homes or assisted living centers needs us all to reevaluate how we will deal with these issues.

By 2011, more than 1.3 million Canadians will be over the age of 80. Boomers and their aging parents need to be talking to a financial advisor or planner about their options to ensure financial security in times of death, disease and disability.

How can I helpContact me directly and let me get started.  My team is waiting with answers to many of your questions.  Let my patience and perseverance in getting things accomplished go to work for you.  No pressure tactics.  YOU decide.
Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
Office: 905 828 3434
DIRECT: 416 427 1875
Web Site: bettybart.com
PERSISTANT AND PATIENT IN DELIVERING RESULTS! ALL REFERRALS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED
not intended to solicit buyers or sellers under brokerage contract



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