My Spouse Just Died and My Del Mar Home Holds Too Many Memories. Can I Sell Fast?

Del Mar has long been considered a haven for retirees. Beautiful waterfront views, fresh ocean air, and the year-round farmers market make it the perfect location to spend your golden years. However, despite how much you might enjoy a location, everything can change when your partner dies. As beautiful as Del Mar is, many widows and widowers can’t face life in the same home without their significant other. Your other half certainly wouldn’t want you to suffer, and no one is going to judge you for moving out of your family home. In fact, changing locations may be very useful in helping you to move on. But where do you move to? And can you deal with selling your home at a time like this?

Choosing Where To Live—Considering a Retirement Community

Living alone after having a constant companion for so many years can be a big shock to people. Many seniors don’t feel comfortable living on their own following a bereavement and choose to move into a retirement community instead. This can be a good compromise between living alone and having the care you need close by. It’s also a great opportunity to increase your social circle and meet other like-minded people to spend time with.

If you’re considering moving to a retirement community, make sure to shop around and ask these important questions:

• Is there a medical professional onsite?

  Not all retirement communities have a doctor or nurse in attendance constantly.

• How will the price change as my needs change?

  All too often, seniors are shocked by a sudden increase in their rent when their condition changes. Make sure you are clear about how, when, and why the price of your rent might increase in the future.

• What is staff turnover like?

  When moving into a community, you want to be able to develop relationships with those looking after you. This isn’t possible if staff is always coming and going.

• Can I meet some of your current residents?

  No one is going to give you a better idea of what life is like in the community than the people already living there.

Remember, don’t be drawn in by the manicured lawns and flower displays. The look of the community is important, but knowing that you are going to be safe and well looked after is more important still.

When Downsizing is the Best Option

If you cherish your independence, there’s no reason why you can’t continue to live alone, albeit in a different house. By downsizing, not only can you move away from a house that holds too many memories, but you can also make everyday life easier for yourself.

If your current house is too big, you can find a smaller home or a condo that makes it easier to move from one room to the next. Your current house may also be falling into disrepair or require extensive renovation work to make it safe for you to continue living there. While you may feel more comfortable staying in Del Mar, in an area you are familiar with, you may also wish to experience life in another part of San Diego, perhaps one that is closer to your family. There are many specially-designed apartments throughout San Diego County that are reserved exclusively for seniors, which can offer you an independent life in a home that has been built with your specific needs in mind.

Moving In With Relatives

After a death, there can be no better place to live than in a familiar home surrounded by people who love and care for you. It is times like these when having a strong, supportive family is extra important. Choosing to move in with your children following the loss of a partner isn’t just about emotional support, it’s also incredibly practical. If you need care, you have people you know and trust on hand 24 hours a day. It’s also a lot cheaper than moving into a retirement community, even if you do offer to contribute to the household budget. A word of warning, though, don’t choose this option just to save money. Your health is a priority and if you need specialist care, then there’s no excuse not to pay for it if you can afford to do so.

Selling Your Current House

Once you’ve decided where to live, the next step is to sell your current house. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done. Selling a home at any point in life can be a stressful experience. It can be even worse selling the family home after the death of a spouse. With so many memories wrapped up in your house and so much else to deal with, it can be tempting to simply put off selling your old home or accept the first offer that comes in.

Unfortunately, the first offer is unlikely to be the best offer. Moreover, it is common for homes in which people have lived for decades to need serious renovation work before they are suitable for the market, and dealing with contractors is the last thing you want to be doing. It can all get very overwhelming very quickly. Simply put, in situations like these, selling your home in the traditional way often isn’t the best approach.

That’s why many people choose to sell their house direct with us following a death. There’s no dealing with an estate agent, open houses, or private viewings. You just deal with a friendly member of our team who will value your property within 24 hours of you getting in touch. It doesn’t matter what state your house is in, either. Whether it is as good as new or in need of serious renovation, it makes no difference to us. We’ll offer you a fair cash offer and complete the transaction whenever it suits you. That means you have all the time in the world to move properties before handing over the keys to us. With our service, selling your home becomes one less thing to worry about.