Helping parents sell their family home requires balancing emotional and financial considerations. From finding a senior-focused real estate agent to managing decluttering and staging, adult children can guide parents through this significant transition while maximizing their retirement outcomes.
When parents decide to sell their home for retirement, they're parting with a treasure chest of memories. They may have raised children in this home, celebrated countless holidays, and created decades of meaningful moments within those walls. For adult children, understanding this emotional journey is their first responsibility.
"I've seen many families go through this transition, and acknowledging these emotions makes all the difference," says Mitzy Dadoun, a long-time realtor in Ontario known for her expertise in senior realty. "Most parents feel a profound sense of loss, even when they're genuinely excited about their next chapter."
In her podcast, she tackles the role of the children in the home-selling process, sharing practical tips on how to navigate both the emotional and logistical challenges of downsizing or transitioning to new living arrangements.
This article expands on those tips.
A home is likely the largest asset of one's parents, and maximizing its value is crucial for their retirement security.
One of the most critical decisions adult children will assist with is determining the right listing price. Many seniors have outdated perceptions of home values, especially if they haven't sold property in decades.
It is important to work with a qualified real estate agent to conduct a thorough Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This essential tool compares the parents’ home with similar properties that have recently sold, are currently listed, or failed to sell in the past 90 days.
For most retiring parents, home equity represents a significant portion of their retirement savings. Since many seniors live on fixed incomes, the proceeds from the home sale often need to fund their next living arrangement and supplement retirement income.
It is important for adult children to have an honest, thoughtful conversation with their parents about how this money fits into their broader financial plan. Involving a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning can help ensure the sale will adequately support the next phase of life, whether that means moving to a smaller home, a retirement community, or another arrangement.
With a strategic pricing approach in place, the next challenge is preparing the home itself. This stage typically requires significant hands-on help from adult children, as the physical demands can be too much for many seniors.
Decluttering is undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects of preparing a senior’s home for sale. After living in one place for over 30 years, many have accumulated possessions that fill every available space, from packed closets to stuffed attics and basements.
“Start this process early, ideally several months before listing the home,” says Mitzy Dadoun. “Break it down into manageable sections, focusing on one room or even one drawer at a time. Help your parents sort items into clear categories.”
Most senior homeowners have inevitably put off some maintenance over the years. Walk through the home with a critical eye and create a prioritized list of repairs, focusing on those that will give the best return:
For larger issues revealed during a pre-listing inspection, carefully weigh the cost of repairs against potential price reductions. Sometimes it's better to adjust the price than to invest in major structural work.
Today's buyers have vastly different expectations than when your parents purchased their home. Professional staging addresses this gap, making the home appealing to current market preferences while still honoring its character.
A professional stager will recommend strategic updates that maximize appeal without unnecessary expense. They'll focus on furniture arrangement to improve flow, removal of personal items to help buyers envision themselves in the space, and targeted accessories that highlight the home's best features.
The real estate process has transformed dramatically since many seniors last bought a home. Today's market moves at a different pace, with digital listings, virtual tours, and buyers who arrive with very different expectations. Helping aging parents understand these changes is a crucial part of the adult child's support role.
One of the most important decisions adult children will make is choosing the right real estate agent. Not all agents have experience with the unique challenges seniors face when selling a long-time home. It is worth considering a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), who has received specialized training in helping older adults through major life transitions.
A qualified SRES will take extra time to explain processes clearly, avoid rushing decisions, and demonstrate patience and empathy throughout the selling journey. Their expertise is invaluable in addressing both the emotional and practical aspects of this transition.
The showing process can be particularly stressful for senior sellers. Having strangers walk through their personal space, the constant need to keep the home in perfect condition, and the disruption to daily routines can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
If aging parents have mobility issues or health concerns, it is important for adult children to be especially mindful of the physical demands involved in preparing for showings. Hiring cleaning help during the listing period can reduce this burden, or arranging for the parents to stay with family or friends during especially busy showing periods may help ease the stress.
When offers arrive, adult children should help their parents evaluate them holistically, not just by the offered price. Sometimes the best offer isn’t the highest one, but rather the one that provides the smoothest path forward with the least stress.
By balancing practical support with emotional sensitivity, adult children can help transform what might otherwise be a stressful situation into a positive step toward their parents’ next chapter.
For those struggling with the demands of the process, senior realty experts like Mitzy Dadoun can provide the specialized guidance that makes selling a senior’s home a smoother and more rewarding experience for both the owner and their children.
