Sometimes the decision to sell a home doesn’t begin with a decision to sell at all.
It begins with a feeling.
Maybe the house has become more work than it used to be. Maybe the stairs are getting harder to manage. Maybe a parent is living alone in a home that no longer fits their needs.
It could be a divorce, a change in finances, retirement, the loss of a spouse, or simply realizing that the home that worked perfectly for one chapter of life doesn’t work as well for the next one.
You know something needs to change.
You just don’t know what that change should be.
You Don’t Have to Start With “Should I Sell?”
One of the mistakes I see homeowners make is assuming their first decision has to be whether or not to put the house on the market.
It doesn’t.
Before talking about selling, I think there are more important questions to answer.
Where would you go?
What would your next home cost?
Would downsizing actually improve your financial situation?
If you’re helping an aging parent, what does Mom or Dad want?
If several family members are involved, is everyone working toward the same goal?
What needs to happen to the current home before a move would even be practical?
And perhaps most importantly:
What would make your life better?
Those conversations should come before the listing agreement.
Sometimes the House Isn’t Really the Problem
Real estate is often only one piece of a much larger transition.
A senior who wants to remain independent may need help with home modifications rather than a FOR SALE sign.
Someone going through a divorce may need to understand the value of the property and their housing options before deciding what should happen to the marital home.
An adult child concerned about a parent may need help identifying senior-living resources, contractors, estate-planning professionals or financial advisors.
A homeowner considering retirement may discover that selling makes sense—but they may also discover that staying exactly where they are is the better choice.
That’s why I believe the first job of a real estate advisor in these situations is to help people understand their options.
The transaction comes later—if there needs to be one at all.
Start With the Destination, Not the Sale
I’ve always believed that one of the most important questions I can ask someone considering a move is:
“Where are you going?”
Selling a house without understanding what comes next can create an entirely new set of problems.
Before making a major decision, let’s look at the whole picture.
What type of housing would work better?
What communities make sense?
What will the finances look like?
Who else should be involved in the conversation?
What needs to happen first, second and third?
Once those questions are answered, the real estate decision often becomes much clearer.
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
This is also one of the reasons I’ve been building Rhode Island Homeowner Information (RIHI) and developing relationships with trusted local professionals.
Homeowners in transition may need much more than a REALTOR®. They may need an attorney, lender, financial advisor, contractor, insurance professional, mover, senior-care resource or another local professional.
My goal is to help people find the right resources and put the pieces together.
Because sometimes the most valuable conversation isn’t:
“What can I sell your house for?”
It’s:
“Tell me what’s changing, and let’s figure out what your options are.”
If you’re thinking about a move—or you’re concerned about a parent or family member—but you aren’t sure where to begin, that’s okay.
You don’t need to have the answer before we talk.
Sometimes the conversation is how you find it.
Joe Luca, REALTOR®
SRES® | ABR® | MRP | CIPS
RE/MAX Preferred
Helping Rhode Island homeowners make good decisions during life’s transitions.
Joe is a Licensed REALTOR, providing Residential Real Estate Services in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Income Property Advisory Services nationwide.
Joe is 2018 President of the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS. Member, Board of Directors, National Association of REALTORS®.
Joe has worked with many 501(c)3 corporations as a Broker and volunteering his time, skills, and services.
