I’m preparing for a worst case scenario (parents refuse to downsize, refuse to move to LTC, keep kicking the can down the road because everything is fine…). If they disregard my advice to downsize now that they’re cognizant all I can do is let them fail and use an emergency like a fall or an accident to talk to the ER doctor, convince him they’re not safe at home and move them to LTC or AL, somewhere they’re supervised at.
At least 2 fully furnished houses would have to go, these are large, old, but renovated houses: one is 2,700 square feet and the other 1,600, both measurements without counting the front garden and backyard. Completely furnished with stuff from several generations, most of it regular stuff not worth much.
I have zero experience dealing with estate sales and to me it looks daunting: How do I make sure potential buyers don’t low-ball me? Should I ask several local realtors first? How do I choose one to trust? Do I need a realtor? I live on another state and would want to expedite this but I just don’t know if waiting for a better offer would make sense.
How much time did you need to close the sale?
Not about the house but about the parents.
Mine also stayed independent far longer than we thought prudent. We kids lived far away. But it seemed like they had it together when we talked on the phone. We ensured they had meal boxes delivered and a person to come help clean up & check on them 1-2x/week.
Only after they both rapidly deteriorated and were moved to care facility did I get to really check things out. OMFG. The paper towels in the freezer. The stacks of unpaid bills. Mom’s wedding ring which we accidentally found in an old shoe. And so on.
Same with my grandparents, droplets of bloody noses (or something) filthy bathrooms, decluttered but not clean, tons of expired food. Closer examination showed it was worse than we thought.