Downsizing your home as you get older doesn’t have to be a scary thing, and South Cariboo real estate agents say with the right planning and preparation, it can be a smooth and easy process.
As seniors age and approach the twilight years, there often comes a time when their old family home or property becomes too much for them to manage on their own. In recent years, South Cariboo’s population has become increasingly older, keeping real estate agents who deal with downsizing, like Adam Dirkson and Jenni Guimond of eXp Realty, busy.
“More than 50 percent of the clients I serve are over 65,” Dirkson said, noting that this includes seniors who have moved from the coasts to retire in the area.
Even those who started their real estate business this year, like RE/MAX 100 Realtor Petra Gentry, are seeing an increase in the number of older clients she works with, many of whom are considering moving to 100 Mile House from lakefront properties or large properties outside of town, Ms. Gentry said.
“We’ve had quite a few clients come in over the last few months and they’re all looking for something very similar – a property in the city, with no stairs and that’s wheelchair accessible,” Gentry said.
Guimond said in his seven years as a real estate agent, he’s noticed one of the biggest challenges for seniors looking for smaller living spaces is the lack of suitable options to move into. In recent years, the rental and housing market in the South Cariboo has become competitive for everyone, and affordable options are rare.
“There’s a shortage of affordable senior housing in this town, so our mission is to help seniors figure out how to downsize, where they can live, and make sure they’re not homeless when they ultimately sell their home,” Dirkson said.
The housing shortage in South Cariboo isn’t just a problem for seniors, Guimond said, as demand is high across all age groups. Dirkson said many of 100 Mile House’s homes are designed for large families, with some costing nearly $400,000.
One group working to bring more senior housing to the area is the aptly named 100 Mile Senior Housing Association, which has been trying for the past three years to secure seed funding to build a low-rent housing facility for seniors on land owned by the Creekside Senior Center, said association president Donna Barnett.
“We need to get all the studies done and raise the capital so we can apply for the low-interest mortgages from the Canada Mortgage Finance Corporation that are available everywhere for these projects,” Barnett said.
Barnett said anyone interested in getting involved is welcome to join the association for $25 each. All dues go towards the association’s operating costs. Once the facility is completed, the association will take over management, she said.
“I think it’s going to be a lot harder in the future if we don’t take care of our seniors. Where are they going to live? All of our long-term care homes are full and have been sitting empty for years, and seniors don’t deserve to be in long-term care homes,” Barnett said. “Seniors need somewhere they can live independently and where they can live comfortably and affordably.”
Guimond said he always makes sure his clients have an interim housing plan before starting the selling process, which might include staying with relatives or friends until they find the right home.
Her best advice for seniors is to contact a trusted real estate agent and start the process early — Guimond has worked with clients for up to four years before selling their homes.
Gentry said if seniors are looking for a rental property between selling their home and moving to a new one, Facebook is a great place to find rental properties.
Both Guimond and Dirkson agree that support from friends and family is important during the downsizing process. Guimond said he advises potential clients looking to sell their home to first declutter and sell items they no longer need. Gentry noted that decluttering makes a home look more appealing to potential buyers.
“It’s best to do this as soon as possible, as you don’t want your home to be full of clutter when you put it on the market. It will make your home look small in photos and your belongings will bump into things when people come over, which can hurt the sale of your home,” Gentry says.
When choosing where to move, Dirkson advises seniors to choose places they can walk to for grocery shopping and other services. He noted that it’s also important to consider not being reliant on a car, since people will eventually lose their driver’s license as they get older.
In South Cariboo, there are several private development plans in the works that could help ease pressures on the housing market. These include building a new mobile home park near the intersection of Cariboo Highway 97 and Canim Hendrix Lake Road that will add about 99 new units. Guimond noted that mobile homes are an affordable option for seniors who want to live alone in a low-maintenance home.
“We’re hoping that the first units will start coming in the next two to three years. He’s planning for 99, so that’s a good number,” Dirkson said.
