SRES® Blog

To seniors, their homes are significant both financially and emotionally. "… home is more than just a place they live. It represents their journey, their accomplishments, their family, and the life they have created," says the American Advisors Group's (https://www.aag.com/homesurvey/p/1) "Importance of Home Survey." In addition, older Americans feel safe at home and value their independence. Those are good things to keep in mind when working with seniors who may be downsizing or moving to an assisted or independent living environment reluctantly. After all, 92% of seniors said they'd prefer

Universal design features in the bathroom should be on the radar of everyone over age 50, even if they don’t need them today. After all, it’s easier to install such aging-in-place features – like grab bars and a built-in seat – when you’re renovating than to install them later and when you’re possibly doing it during a health crisis. When homeowners ask for advice about bathroom upgrades, point them to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study (https://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/2021--US--Houzz--Bathroom--Trends--Study.pdf) to give them a sense of what’s trending. Homeowners are prioritizing the

The America at Home Study (https://americaathomestudy.com/) and the home that was built based on its findings give you a look at how the pandemic has changed people’s perceptions of home and what they want in their future homes. These include adaptable space, home offices, better technology, and energy efficiency. But beyond homeowners’ wish lists, the research also points to emerging opportunities for you as a REALTOR®. The data suggest that with so many deciding to speed up their pre-pandemic moving plans, there may be a new-home demand of 3.5 million. That’s potential business for you, and

When you’ve been dealing with a hot market and a steady stream of clients, it’s hard to keep your eye on the technologies that will help your business and clients in the future. The “2021 Technology Survey” by the National Association of REALTORS® gives you a glimpse at what technologies will have the most significant impact on REALTORS®’ business during the next two years. Among them are drones (37%), cybersecurity (34%), 5G (31%), and virtual reality (30%), according to the report that surveyed NAR members about their technology usage and views. During the last year, eSignature (78%), local

If you’ve been looking for ways to market your skills to aged 50+ buyers and sellers and find ways to help seniors who need accessible housing, read Ray Abichandani’s commentary in the July-August 2021 edition of REALTOR magazine. He talks about the accessibility challenges homeowners continue to face, despite the fact that the country celebrates the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this year. The need for housing that accommodates physical limitations will only become more acute as the population ages and fewer find senior care facilities appealing. Abichandani points

If clients have been in their homes for decades, they may not know what home features are dealbreakers today. When they last bought or sold, the must-haves may have been extra garage space, that fourth bedroom, in-unit washers, and dryers in condo purchases. Expectations have changed, found NAHB in its study, What Home Buyers Really Want, 2021 Edition (https://bit.ly/3zUoyki). Today’s dealbreakers may surprise some of your sellers. The survey asked what features are essential (unlikely to buy a home without the feature), desirable (seriously influenced to buy the home if included) indifferent

Clients look to you to help them understand all the livability features that will contribute to their well-being in a prospective neighborhood. Thanks to a collaboration between AARP’s Livability Index (https://bit.ly/3wdmRvA) and the National Association of REALTORS® Realtors Property Resource® (https://auth.narrpr.com/auth/sign-in), you now have easy access to a wealth of data to give your baby boomer and senior clients a complete picture of a given neighborhood and address their questions about a particular zip code. AARP’s Livability Index data now is accessible on the RPR® website and

Have you recommended that clients stage their home, but they're still skeptical about its benefits? The "2021 Profile of Home Staging" by the National Association of REALTORS® (https://bit.ly/2Q6qlRf) can help you make a case for its value. One interesting fact worth sharing: buyers have been influenced by how homes on TV shows look. A median of 10 percent of respondents say that buyers thought that homes should look how they're staged on those shows. How well does your client's house align with such buyers' expectations? Forty-seven percent of buyers' agents said that home staging affects

It’s a family affair. That statement has never been more accurate when dealing with the families of seniors in a real estate transaction. If our beloved seniors are involved, everyone wants to ensure they are happy, healthy, and safe. This can prove to be a challenging task for SRES® agents. Everyone wants to feel like they are making the best decision for their loved one which can look different for all interested parties. This is an emotional experience for anyone. Regardless of how many people are included in the real estate process, there are some simple steps to follow. Set the Tone As

According to the Shelton Group, a Knoxville, Tenn., energy, and sustainability marketing firm, three-quarters of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the air they're breathing in their homes. Three-quarters of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the air they're breathing in their homes, according to the Shelton Group, a Knoxville, Tenn., energy, and sustainability marketing firm. With so many still hunkered down at home because of the pandemic, homeowners continue to focus on home health and indoor air quality. You can help your clients assess just how healthy their home