Sullivan & Sullivan Real Estate Team Aims to Empower Seniors to be Proactive about Late-in-Life Choices
Arlington, Texas (PRWEB) February 12, 2014 -- Ingrid Sullivan is on a mission. For more than five years she’s devoted herself to removing obstacles to new possibilities for older adults.
As co-owner of the Sullivan & Sullivan Team at Keller Williams Realty’s Arlington, Texas office, Sullivan observed, "In many cases, home ownership proves to be a heavy weight and a source of isolation for seniors. While remaining in the home may have been a goal earlier in life, by the time home ownership starts to feel unmanageable, the prospect of evaluating other options and actually moving, can feel completely overwhelming."
That’s why Sullivan has stepped up to the role of Arlington’s top advocate for a proactive, positive approach to where and how to spend one’s later years. During her hour-and -a-half presentation entitled, "Downsize Your Home to Upsize Your Lifestyle," Sullivan presents seniors with a framework for getting started on a plan, and urges attendees to look at all of the options available for a new chapter of life that calls for less maintenance and allows for more freedom and fun. The next two events are scheduled for:
• April 10 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 at Brookdale Town Village in Arlington and
• April 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Watercrest Mansfield
"Even if a home has been long since paid for, it still represents a financial burden," Sullivan emphasized. "That’s a key point for a generation that tended to place a high premium on frugality and thrift, and it’s often a starting point for consideration for other options."
In 2013, homeowners over 65 accounted for 25% of all homes sold, and that figure is on the rise. As such, Sullivan is urging seniors to evaluate their options and make decisions about late-in-life housing arrangements well before they get to the point that decisions have to be made for them. "It’s never too early to become informed," she emphasized.
As a real estate agent who has managed late-in-life moves for hundreds of clients – including her own parents and the parents of her husband and business partner – Sullivan is thoroughly aware of how emotional and complicated the process can be. Her message to seniors and their families: "You’re Not Alone."
Sullivan has sought out every available training opportunity in order to better serve the seniors segment. Starting with the Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES) designation when it was the only training available, she has recently achieved the more in-depth Certified Senior Housing Professional (CSHP®) designation following her participation in a training program developed by the Seniors Real Estate Institute®.
"Our action-oriented programs are designed for agents such as Ingrid, who have a passion for serving seniors and are looking to reach out to a broader base and connect with seniors who don’t know where to turn or how to begin to find an informed advocate, said Nikki Buckelew, founder and CEO of the Seniors Real Estate Institute.
Key to this kind of community outreach is the cultivation of a robust resource team of trusted professionals to whom Sullivan can confidently refer clients and consult with when needed.
A short list of the specialized kinds of services that factor into a late-in-life transition includes: evaluation of living options in light of finances and health; detailed knowledge of area 55+ communities; sorting through generations of memories and acquisitions with a downsizing expert; managing an estate sale, getting estimates for repairs or upgrades and working within the framework of what the senior client is willing to do to get the home ready for sale; working with adult children or family members who might live in various parts of the country; navigating assorted family dynamics; and seeking out a title company representative who is amenable to closing on the home at the client’s address and taking as much time as is needed to walk through the documents.
"Sullivan has identified a void in the market," Buckelew emphasized. "In her commitment to serve seniors at an extremely high level, she stands as an asset throughout the Arlington, Mansfield, Ft. Worth and Grand Prairie communities."
For more information on the Sullivan & Sullivan Team, go to http://www.sullivandfwhomes.com/.
Lisa Wahlgren, Seniors Real Estate Institute, http://www.seniorsrealestateinstitute.com, +1 (512) 589-5855, [email protected]
Share this article