Posts Tagged “Senior Living”
Falls in a home can result in minor injuries or may even become fatal, but a fall in the bathroom is a commonplace where people can get hurt. Take the necessary steps to increase bathroom safety for seniors who want to live independent lives. A few simple and inexpensive changes to your bathroom can decrease your chances of injury and make it a safer place. It’s also advisable to bring your cell phone or emergency alert gadget to the bathroom with you in case you fall and require immediate assistance.
Some medical conditions like diabetes make your skin less sensitive to water temperatures so ensure you turn the cold water on first and off last when having a shower and be sure to check the water temperature in a bath before climbing in. Do not grab onto the tap when entering the tub but hold onto a grab bar for better balance. Some seniors find it difficult to get into and out of the tub without assistance so it will become necessary to follow the tips listed below to prevent serious or fatal falls.
Improve Bathroom lighting
Place a nightlight outside and inside the bathroom to keep it well lit. Poor visibility due to inadequate lighting can also increase the risk of a fall so ensure the bathroom is well lit and the path from the bathroom to the bedroom has adequate lighting.
Non-slip-mats and bath mats
Use a non-slip mat that has a rubber back in your tub to prevent slipping. Rinse off your bath mat regularly as soap buildup will prevent it from securing snugly to the tub. Add a nonslip rug or mat on the floor in front of the tub, toilet, and sink to minimize the risk of falling on a slippery wet floor. Ensure your bathroom floor is free and clear of towels, face cloths and clothing, and other items to prevent tripping.
Install a Shower caddy
Install a shower caddy for holding toiletry items that can be accessed without stretching or bending. Install it at arm’s height so it’s easier to grab shampoos and soaps. Wall-mounted shower caddies are easy to refill and you don’t have to worry about shampoo bottles or soap falling out of your hands and into the bathtub or shower.
Install Grab bars
A wet slippery surface can be a hazard in your bathroom, so install grab bars in the shower, by the toilet, and other places in your bathroom but make sure they are installed properly and do not pull away from the wall when force is applied. A properly installed grab bar is essential for seniors who have difficulty getting into and out of a bathtub and provide assistance for better balance. Grabbing onto a towel rack for balance is not advisable and is not designed to support your full weight and could come to loose from the wall resulting in a fall.
Shower chair – transfer bench or walk-in tub
A shower chair or bench provides a place to sit and rest while showering as some seniors have difficulty standing and staying balanced. Purchase a chair with rubber tips on the legs to prevent slipping and sliding in the tub.
Raised toilet seat or install a taller toilet
A taller toilet with a grab bar nearby anchored to the wall will give a senior something to hold onto while raising and lowering themselves onto the toilet. Traditional toilets may be too low for a senior who has problems getting up and down. Also, a raised toilet seat provides better access by a few inches and provides assistance for getting up and down. Again ensure a grab bar is handy to reduce falls.
Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here
When you list your home for sale, don’t overlook the importance of your exterior landscaping as a tool for increasing the volume of potential buyers and selling your home more quickly. In real estate, while you can’t always “tell a book by its cover,” having a home with curb appeal is more likely to get people to request an appointment after seeing it on a website or from a drive-by. A home that looks neat and inviting from the outside is likely to be the same way inside.
Landscaping Upgrades That Add Resale Value
Just as with other upgrades you do to your home before sale, you should not go crazy with exterior landscaping or add features with questionable resale value, such as a pool, water feature, or a large garden. You want to present property that is well-maintained and attractive, while not seeming overly difficult to maintain. As a result, planting some colorful flowers, adding a hanging basket to the porch, upgrading the exterior doors, refurbishing an existing deck or adding a new one, and playing an attractive stone walkway may be well worth the money in resale value and speed of sale.
According to Carson Arthur, landscaping designer, often seen on TV home shows, great landscaping can increase a home’s value by 7%, which amounts to $42,000 on the $600,000 home. Patios may add a 12% return, while decks, especially low to no maintenance types, have a 10% to 15% rate of return. An awning, pergola, or even a tree that offer backyard shade might increase your home value by $2,000-$3,000 each. In general, adding trees, a bench in your front yard, a stone walkway or driveway, and attractive plantings are among the key upgrades that pay off.
“Preparing to Downsize” please click here
Managing Exterior Landscaping
If you are selling your home because you are no longer able to keep it up as you like, the whole concept of exterior landscaping may be overwhelming. Given the extra value that great landscaping can add to your home, hiring someone to do the work will be well worth your investment. If you are up to it, putting some effort into the outside of your home can be the perfect closure for transitioning to a new place.
Any home will benefit from neatly trimmed lawns, gardens, and shrubs, along with a patch of color. If you don’t have much to spend on updating a moderately priced home, hiring a neighborhood kid to clean up the area, cut your grass, and plant some flowers might offer the boost you need. If you have a higher-end home where you are hoping to extract maximum value, or if your landscaping is outdated and out of shape, you should go to the next level of hiring a landscape designer or landscape architect to plan out your improvements. A professional will be able to suggest the proper plantings and upgrades and even do them in an eco-friendly way that appeals to many modern buyers.
Ask Me About Curb Appeal
If you are ready to sell your home and wonder whether your property needs more curb appeal, give me a call for an honest assessment as to what you need to do before we list your home.
Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here
Need a change in your life?
Consider downsizing with less space and fewer possessions. You can spend less time and money cleaning, organizing, and maintaining things and focus on other priorities.
10 Tips for Downsizing
1. Boomer and senior need less space. Large homes with multiple levels and a big yard represent your past, while a smaller house, condo, or apartment is the present.
2. You want space, so be selective downsizing. Choose a large master bedroom, but fewer secondary bedrooms. An open-concept kitchen but not a big dining room.
3. A smaller home or condo may cost less. If the space is right for you, even paying an equivalent or higher price may be worth it.
4. If you have less space, your utility cost should be less.
5. Moving to a smaller home usually means ridding yourself of some furniture. Some pieces won’t fit the space, so splurge on new pieces that are perfect for the new space.
Preparing to Downsize Report
6. Consider the move a fresh start cutting down on clothes, kitchen gadgets, hobby equipment, and other things you don’t use. Reducing the volume of “stuff” will make your move easier and help you get settled in your new home.
7. As the items that won’t make the move pile up, use Kijiji, garage sales. Donate all or part of it to an organization or a needy familiar.
8. If you have collectibles, jewelry, household goods, or other treasures you want to give to your kids or grandkids, distribute them as you downsize and reclaim the space.
9. If you discover you still have more than you need to move into your new home, don’t be afraid to continue the purge as you get settled to make sure your home stays uncluttered.
10. Though you might feel sad as you let go of your big house and stock of possessions, revel in the fact you are downsizing on your own terms.
Downsizing is a process but a rewarding one. It can be an opportunity to right-size your life and move onto the next chapter with more independence.
Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here
The one thing that unites young buyers is they do not want to buy a place that looks old and dinghy and needs lots of unexpected, expensive repairs – regardless of when it was built. They are looking for something that allows them to move in and do minimal work to update the property.
Making An Old Home Young At Heart
What this means is that if you are selling an old home to young buyers you must take some steps to make the home young at heart, even if you have a 100-year-old home in a historic neighborhood. This does not mean you need to add expensive amenities. While some buyers come to the home buying process with unrealistic expectations that granite counters and stainless appliances are essential to their well-being, most come to realize that homes with good bones can be turned into a perfect home. So what should you do to make a home stand out to young buyers?
Verify the condition of the home with a home inspection.
Young buyers usually cannot afford to fall into a money pit. For a few hundred dollars, a home inspection uncovers most problems a professional can see without ripping the home apart. Whatever the inspector finds that is not fixed must be disclosed. Savvy young buyers with vision can get a renovation mortgage to take care of some issues. Having any problems on the table will enable them to make a good decision based on how much remodelling they can handle.
Do the basic upkeep
Clean out the gutters, have the furnace and chimney cleaned and serviced, and have the septic system pumped. Having these services done (and showing would-be buyers the receipts) will offer peace of mind that basic systems are in order.
Flooring is critical
Carpets are a huge negative when selling your home. If you have hardwood under the carpet consider removing the carpets and exposing the hardwood floors. If not, it’s advisable to brand new install hardwood or laminate.
Lighten it up
For a fresh, modern look, paint the walls in neutral colors. Remove the dark floral wallpaper and update the light fixtures. This will offer the buyer a taste of what the home could be like if it were their home.
Play up the neighborhood
The location of the home can sell it as well as the features it has. If buyers can walk to amenities they like, or reach them with a short drive, the neighborhood may offer special appeal. Young buyers may want cafes, restaurants, shopping, fitness centers, and nightlife, along with great schools, parks, and a nice yard for their children and pets.
Make Your Older Home Feel Like A New Home
By taking a few simple steps, you can make an old house appeal to younger buyers. Since the next owner will want to put their stamp on the place, your goal is to remove obstacles that will block their vision.
Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here
In our era of identity theft, title fraud costs Canadians $300 million annually. It’s a serious problem that often impacts older adults.
What is Title Fraud?
Title fraud occurs when someone other than the lawful owner transfers the property to themselves or obtains a new mortgage to pull cash out of the house. This leaves the true owner with a mortgage registered against the property.
Scammers are attracted to higher-value properties that are already mortgage-free. These are easier for the thieves to perpetrate the fraud against. Typically the scammers will place a fraudulent mortgage against a property and disappear with the money.
No payments are ever made on the mortgage and months down the road, the mortgage company begins to attempt to collect on the delinquent mortgage and this is when the homeowner becomes aware they have been defrauded. While the homeowner is trying to prove they didn’t take out the mortgage, the mortgage company is starting to go thru the collection and foreclosure process. If you suspect that you have become a victim of mortgage fraud, contact your local police department right away.
Seniors can be popular targets for several reasons:
– Many seniors have their homes paid off, making it easier for thieves to place a mortgage on the property.
– If you are a snowbird and winter down south, having your home vacant for months makes it a target. Take precautions to ensure your home is regularly checked in your absence.
– Relatives or caregivers can take advantage of people suffering from a loss of mental capacity and forge a power of attorney to gain control of a property and then sell or mortgage the property.
With so much personal information available on the internet, it has become even easier to commit title fraud and some people have lost their homes to this crime. Do a property search at your province land registry office to ensure that the title to your home is in your name.
Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud
There are a variety of legal actions a person can take to recover from fraud, but what can be done to prevent title fraud in the first place? Everyone, especially seniors, must be vigilant.
Have a Lawyer review your real estate documents when purchasing and selling your home. Be clear about what you are signing. Legal language is confusing to anyone. Acquire title insurance when purchasing a property.
Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects your home from title fraud as well as other title problems. Buy it at the time of purchase but can be added at a later date. It is good for as long as you own the property, so it only needs to be purchased once. The cost is as low a few hundred dollars and I recommend all my clients invest in title insurance.
If you plan on living in your home for the next few years it can be worthwhile protection. There are several different title insurance companies that offer policies.
Don’t be the victim of title fraud! Your home is perhaps your largest personal asset. Don’t let anyone take it away.
Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here
In our era of identity theft, title fraud costs Canadians $300 million annually. It’s a serious problem that often impacts older adults.
What is Title Fraud?
Title fraud occurs when someone other than the lawful owner transfers the property to themselves or obtains a new mortgage to pull cash out of the house. This leaves the true owner with a mortgage registered against the property. Scammers are attracted to higher-value properties that are already mortgage-free.
The scammers will place a fraudulent mortgage against a property and disappear with the money. No payments are ever made. Months down the road, the mortgage company begins to attempt to collect on the delinquent mortgage. This is often the first time the homeowner becomes aware they have been defrauded. While the homeowner is trying to prove they didn’t take out the mortgage, the mortgage company is starting to go thru the collection and foreclosure process.
Seniors can be popular targets for several reasons:
– Many seniors have their homes paid off making it easier for thieves to place a mortgage on the property.
– If you are a snowbird and winter down south, having your home vacant for months makes it a target.
Relatives or caregivers can take advantage of people suffering from a loss of mental capacity and forge a power of attorney to gain control of a property and then sell or mortgage the property.
With so much personal information available on the internet, it has become even easier to commit title fraud. People lose their homes to this crime.
Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud
There are a variety of legal actions a person can take to recover from fraud. What can be done to prevent title fraud in the first place? The first thing is to be vigilant.
Before signing real estate paperwork, it is good practice to consult your own lawyer. Be clear about what you are signing. Legal language is confusing to anyone.
Acquire title insurance
Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects your home from title fraud as well as other title problems. Buy title insurance at the time of purchase, but it can be added later. It is good for as long as you own the property and only needs to be purchased once.
The cost is as low as a few hundred dollars. I recommend all my clients invest in title insurance.
If you plan on living in your home for the next few years it is worthwhile protection. There are several different title insurance companies that offer policies. Don’t be a victim of title fraud! Your home is perhaps your largest personal asset.
Roy Thomas SRES® (Senior’s Real Estate Specialist) is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Professional Realty. Since 1991, Roy specializes in helping retirees with their later in life real estate transactions. Call Roy at 902-497-3031 or contact Roy here