Co-Author of "Difficult Aging in Place Conversations: What Industry Experts Have to Say"

 

Pamela C. Santoro, Realtor®, in North Metro Atlanta, GA is a co-author of the newly released book, "Difficult Aging in Place Conversations: What Industry Experts Have to Say.” 

For aging parents and their adult children, the conversations surrounding whether the senior will remain in their homes and communities or move to an institutional setting can be one of the most difficult and stressful life events for the senior and their family.  

With 19 years’ experience in real estate, Santoro specializes in helping the 55+ crowd with their housing needs. In the book, Santoro shares her expertise developed over more than 10 years of advising families who made this potentially life-changing and emotional decision. Frequently, the subject of safety, including home safety, is a concern for seniors and their loved ones. And Santoro is a welcome source of advice and information for them.

 As she details in the book, Difficult Aging in Place Conversations: What Industry Experts Have to Say, whether the senior continues to live in their own house, condo or apartment or opts for a communal senior living complex, there are safety measures to consider and best practices to prevent any mishaps, social isolation, and ways to re-engage with friends, family and community. Should they decide to stay in their home, there is advice on retrofitting a home, condo or apartment to make it safer for the senior. 

 She also points out how to have a conversation with a senior about these issues and advice on what to do if elder abuse is suspected.

 Santoro has lived in the North Atlanta area for 29 years and was involved in organizing the Senior Resource Alliance of North Atlanta professional group She is available to speak to groups in the Metro Atlanta area about the issues and concerns described above.

Contact info:

pam.santoro@bhhsga.com

Cell: 678-656-6627
Ofc: 770-475-0505

 Get more info at:

www.pamsantoro.BHHSgeorgia.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamsantoro/

https://www.facebook.com/PamSantoroRealEstate

Did You Transfer Your Utilities?

 

Transferring utilities seems like an easy thing to do when buying or selling a home. It really can be.  There are companies that will get all your utilities registered for your new home. Most sellers are very cooperative and notify the utility companies that they have sold the property and as of a specific date the new buyer will then be responsible for the utilities. Sellers usually give the new buyers name and request a transfer. The new buyer would then call the utilities and register in their name.

Recently while overseeing an estate the utility companies did not follow this procedure. The owner of the home passed away. The executor canceled all credit cards and attempted to put utilities in the name of the estate.  This procedure worked for everything but the gas service. The gas company shut the gas off then put the service in the estate name.  The executor was out of state, and we had no hot water or heat.  We hired a handyperson to turn on the furnace and the pilot light on the hot water tank.  These were unnecessary expenses, but we got it done.

I just wanted to remind you to transfer utilities when you can. No one wants to pay to turn services back on.

#utilities #estates #homebuying #homeselling #PamSantoroRealtor

Staging Your Home to Sell

Staging a house to sell is like turning it into a model home. The goal is for a future buyer to see themselves in your home.   

Here are some tips to get started preparing your house for sale by decluttering your spaces:

• Put personal items away. Do not leave personal papers out. File your papers away in a filing cabinet or basket. Limit the number of personal photos displayed.  
  
  
• Use a decorative bowl for items on your counter tops to collect keys etc. The remotes for your TVs and electronic equipment can also be stored in a beautiful bowl on a coffee table.
  
  
• Start with one room at a time. In your kitchen, you want to have more counter space so put all appliances away in the pantry except for your coffee or tea set up.
  
  
• Rooms should be walkable. Too much furniture is a problem. Think about a storage unit or repurposing that chair to another room like a sitting room in a bedroom.
  
  
• Closets should be neat. If you have not worn an item in years, donate it to a charity. Packing out of season clothes and putting them in storage will make your closet seem more spacious.

A good stager can walk through a house room by room and set the atmosphere. I have seen stagers move furniture and decorative items throughout the house without purchasing anything. My sellers have always been thrilled by the results.

If you’d like any more help getting your house ready to sell and listed on the multiple listing services, just give me a call at 678-656-6627 to start the process.   

PamSantoro.com

Pam.Santoro@BHHSGA.com

“Remember No One Sells A Home Like A Mom!”

#PamSantoroRealtor

Think Spring - Yard Work

Think Spring! If you are thinking of selling your home, first impressions start at the street of your neighborhood. When a buyer arrives at your home, does it look inviting and special.   

If the outside yard and house appearance doesn’t look inviting, the buyers may choose not to see the inside of your beautiful home. The birds are singing so get outside and do some needed yardwork.   

Now is the time to:

• plant some bulbs or shrubs
  
  
• add more mulch to the flower beds
  
  
• trim the shrubs
  
  
• plant some flowers 
  
  
• power wash the sidewalks, driveway and deck
  
  
• clean your front porch especially the light fixtures and front door
  
  
• wash your windows
  
  
• test your irrigation system to assure it is working properly 

 Everything you are doing will make your house more appealing. Manicured lawns and sparkling front porches will enhance your home’s presence.

If you’d like more tips or help selling your house, just call or text me at 678-656-6627 to get started today! Remember “No One Sells A Home Like A Mom!”

PamSantoro.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties 

Pam.Santoro@BHHSGA.com

#PamSantoroRealtor

5 Tips To Make Sure Your Final Wishes Are Handled As You Want

 I have observed more than one of my clients looking for a will after their loved one passed away. The more information you give your loved ones in advance about your last wishes, the better.  

One client’s wife passed away over two years before I met him. He finally decided that he wanted to move to senior living to enjoy the amenities, dining, and social activities. He was becoming sad looking at all the memories in the house without his dear wife.

Well, the house had been paid off for over ten years and the deed was in both the husband’s and wife’s names. Now he needed to find the wife’s will to be able to remove her name from the deed. We sat in his dining room and looked through documents. Finally, we found her will in a kitchen drawer

The next step was to contact an eldercare attorney to send the will to the probate court. Once all documents were filed at the probate court and returned, we were able to put the house up for sale in the husband’s name only (with the new deed). 

My client moved to senior living with the items he wanted to keep. We had an estate sale, packed things to be given to family members and staged the house. After professional photos were taken, the house went on the market and sold.  

Here are 5 tips to help you and your loved ones:

• Let your family know where your will is. Is it in the bank in a security box, a safe in your at your house, the attorney’s office, etc.
  
  
• Keep a notebook with all your accounts and passwords in it. Do not mark it in any way that indicates all your passwords and accounts in it but DO let your family know where the important notebook is located and what color it is
  
  
• Your family and caregiver should know where your health directive is located.
  
  
• Does your family know if you want to be buried in the family plot, the veteran’s cemetery or cremated?
  
  
• Would you like a religious service? Have you already made any final arrangements?

It's nice to make everyone happy in a real estate transaction and that is my specialty. If you need help just call me at 678-656-6627. Remember “No One Sells A House Like A Mom!”

#PamSantoroRealtor

www.pamsantoro.com

What To Do If Your Loved One Dies Unexpectedly Without A Will

It is hard for loved ones to grieve and handle arrangements for your funeral, distribute or sell all your belongings and property without a will.  A will protects your wishes and your loved ones. Here is the process your loved ones will need to go through if you do not leave a will.

If a will is not found, the family will need an eldercare attorney to file documents at the probate court to get an executor for the property.

The state will then determine how the property and assets are divided.   It sometimes takes two to three months for everything to get through the probate court. When the probate court is busy, it can take six months to have everything completed and assigned. 

Once all documents are returned, the estate can sell the property with the executor signing for the estate. 

We then go through the steps of cleaning things out, permitting family members to remove personal items and photos, and schedule an estate sale if needed. After the estate sale, stage the property and orchestrate professional photos of the estate.  

When all this is done, we get the house listed on the multiple listing service, receive offers, secure a binding offer and move forward to closing.

Once a contract for the sale of the house is secured, there is usually an inspection period for the buyer.   If repairs are negotiated, we have great vendors and contractors to handle that.

I will provide an appraisal packet and meet the appraiser at the house for the appraisal. The lender and buyer want the appraisal done to determine the value of the property. The lender then processes that loan for the closing.  

There are a lot of steps to closing but I am on your side taking care of them.  If you need any real estate help whether buying or selling, just call me at 678-656-6627.  Remember, “No One Sells a Home Like a Mom!”

#PamSantoroRealtor

www.pamsantoro.com

Are You Or Your Loved Ones Considering Moving To Senior Living?

 

As we all live longer, we need to think about our next life adventure.  I have helped many clients downsize or right-size.  It gets to a point where everyone would like to enjoy themselves rather than maintain their homes, cleaning gutters, doing yard work, and cooking.  

All of us would rather make the decision for ourselves, but if you are helping a loved one always remember what they would like from social, to atmosphere to health needs. 

Here are some tips from Rick Roberts, Certified Senior Care Placement Specialist at Voices, Choices & Solutions:

 “Things to consider for Assisted Living: Make sure you are considering the needs of your loved one and not your own. That applies to the facility's decor, social activities, and care needs. 

In memory care, what is the approach to challenging situations? What security measures are in place to keep residents from eloping? 

We provide all our clients a list of specific questions to ask the Assisted/Memory Care facility - things that may not think about and our recommendations always include what activities the individual is interested in.”

Rick can be contacted at 678-641-4062 or info@voiceschoicessolutions.com.

This is a big decision and working with local professionals plus being kind and caring will empower you on this journey.  

Most of my clients need to use the sale of their current home to provide the funds for assisted living.   As always, I am here for you with all your real estate needs. Feel free to contact me at 678-656-6627 or pam.santoro@bhhsgeorgia.com / http://pamsantoro.com/

#AssistedLiving #VoicesChoicesSolutions #Rightsizing #Downsizing #PamSantoroRealtor #realestate

 

Are You Thinking About "Downsizing" or "Rightsizing"?

Are you thinking about “downsizing” or “rightsizing”?

 

Here are some great tips to help you decide what to keep and what to say goodbye to and how to do this:

 

-        Have I used this in the last year? If not, say goodbye.

-        Have I worn this in the past year? If not, say goodbye.

-        Does this still work? If not, say goodbye.

-        Can I shred any of these old documents? Remember to keep tax records for 7 years. Keep title insurance and house papers plus records of improvements on your house.

 

-        Start in a room with no memories in it: bathrooms, linen closets, or kitchens.

 

-        Take old prescriptions to the pharmacy to dispose of them.

-        Get rid of old makeup and toiletries.

-        Donate old towels to pet shelters or your local veterinarian.

 

-        Go through your books to see if you want to keep collections or donate them.

 

Once you start the process it will make you feel good to see your accomplishments. When I prepare a house to sell/market, I help stage it and actually can make it senior safe in the process by removing excess furniture, rugs or other tripping hazards. Remember as you pack what you’d like to keep, place the boxes in a corner of the garage or basement. Future buyers understand packing to move.

 

There are wonderful professionals who can help you sort and pack. I asked local expert Kaye Ginsberg, Founder of Peace of Mind Transitions for some recommendations:

 

“Take it small to start with – don’t try to downsize the entire basement in one day. 

 

Pick a drawer or a shelf and set a time limit for yourself.  It’s best to start with small successes and tackle the project a piece at a time. 

 

We also recommend having a “downsizing partner”. This can be a professional or a friend or family member.  The key is to pick someone who will be honest with you, but kind, when you get have discussions on whether to keep an item or not.”  

 

You can contact Kaye Ginsberg at kaye@peaceofmindtransistions.com, 404-862-4271, www.peaceofmindtransistions.com.

 

Remember if you need any real estate help or introductions to local professionals, I am here for you at pam.santoro@bhhsgeorgia.com
678-656-6627
www.PamSantoro.com

 

#downsizing #rightsizing #PamSantoroRealtor #PeaceOfMindTransistions