Brett Ehrlich understands the challenges often faced by seniors – and their families – when they realize the quality of a senior’s life might improve if they move to a new home. A new home may reduce the risk of falls or injury, or it may provide a greater level of support and engagement than their current home.
But the idea of moving can be emotional for all involved. A senior’s home can be tightly interwoven with their self-identity. Their home is where they built their life and raised their kids, so the idea of living elsewhere is fraught with concerns and anxiety. And if a senior has lived in their home for many years or decades, thinking about what to do with all their furniture, contents, memorabilia, etc. is daunting and overwhelming.
Brett understands these dynamics. He helped his mother and mother-in-law – both of whom had chronic health conditions – transition from their long-held homes to assisted living communities. Through those experiences, Brett came to appreciate the value of helping families navigate the complicated process of moving an aging loved-one.
Brett’s experience and knowledge of the entire process can help reduce frustration and anxiety for you and your family. Contact Brett to begin the conversation.
How We Help With Senior Transitions
- Understand Your Needs & Family Dynamics
- Plan for Your Next Home – Your Needs, Wants & Priorities
- Downsize vs Senior Living – Discuss Pros & Cons and Estimated Costs involved.
- Discuss Range of Value of Your Existing Home
- Referrals Available for Senior Living Consultants, Financial Advisors, Estate Attorneys & Licensed Fiduciaries if Needed
- Refine Your Needs & Priorities – Near Term & Long Term
- Home, Condo and Townhome Market Trends in Regions of Interest
- Downsizing Property Search Criteria & Strategy
- Overview of SF Bay Area Senior Living Communities and Costs
- Senior Living Consultant Referrals to assist with Community Assessment, Touring & Placement for Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care or Skilled Nursing
- Hands-On Involvement or Management of the Entire Process at a Speed You are Comfortable With
- Schedule and Be the Point of Contact at the Home for Inspections and Contractor Appointments
- Discuss Whether to Make Repairs or Improvements
- Manage any Agreed-Upon Repairs or Improvements to the Home with Trusted Contractors
- Decide How to Sort Through and Handle your Belongings
- Make Decisions on How to Handle Items You Are Not Moving to New Home: Gifts to Family and Friends, Estate Sale, Consignment, Charitable Donations, Sell at Auction, Place in Storage, etc.
- Assist in Referrals, Support and Logistics for Estate Sales, Auctions, Donations & Storage
- Clean & Stage Your Home as Needed
- Price Your Home
- Market Your Home to Maximize Interest, Offers and Your Financial Return
- Evaluate & Manage Offers
- Negotiate offers to Give you the Best Financial Return
- Manage Escrow Activities and Address Contingencies
- Manage the Closing
- Moving Checklist
- Hands-On Moving Support and Trusted Vendors
- Space Planning for Your New Home
- Making Improvements to New Home Prior to Moving-In
Our goal is to take the stress and anxiety out of the experience for you. We help lead you and your family through this whole process in a hands-on-way to simplify the experience and help reduce challenging family dynamics that can arise with complicated transitions such as these.
Selling Property in a Trust
It is common for seniors to live in a home that has been titled in the name of a family trust. If you are a Trustee for a family trust and are exploring the sale of a home, the overall process is typically very similar to the way property owned outside of a trust is handled. But there are some nuances and special procedures that must be followed. We can explain these differences and manage the process for you to ensure the sales process is fully in compliance with local and state laws and statutes.
In addition, if you have advisors supporting your management of the trust – whether it be licensed fiduciaries, estate attorneys, trust officers or financial advisors – we can partner directly with them to ensure that the process is stress-free for you.
Selling Property in Probate
Probate is a legal process that occurs when a person passes away, and their estate—including any real estate holdings—must be administered and transferred according to their will or state law. In California, probate ensures that all assets are distributed properly while protecting the rights of heirs and creditors. The process is overseen by the court, and if a property is part of the estate, it cannot be sold until the court grants approval.
Selling real estate in probate is more complex than a standard home sale given the strict legal and procedural requirements. Documents such as a death certificate, the will of the deceased, and Letters of Testamentary must be obtained, and an estate inventory and professional appraisal of the property may be required. Also, the probate court must approve the sale, and in some cases, buyers must follow a court-imposed bidding procedure.
Missing a step in the process can cause costly delays and risks, making it essential to have the right guidance from a knowledgeable probate real estate specialist.
We help executors, administrators, and fiduciaries navigate the probate real estate sales process smoothly and efficiently. From handling estate liquidation and preparing the home for sale, to property valuation and marketing strategy, we manage every step to maximize the estate’s value while minimizing effort from the Administrator or Executor. We also work closely with attorneys, accountants, and court representatives to ensure all deadlines are met, documents are properly filed, and sales comply with California probate law.
