Silver and Gold Magazine Winter 2016 | Page 11

WHEN LESS MEANS MORE

– By Irina Arkhpova
Sipping a latte at the local Starbucks with my friend Mary , we reminisced about the fears she and her husband Steve had about moving from their family home of 40 + years to a smaller Condo in a new neighbourhood .
Mary ’ s fears were real . She and Steve knew that because of their age , it was becoming difficult to care for the home that they loved . Snow removal , yard work , and the cost of maintenance were becoming unmanageable , particularly with Steve ’ s recent health issues .
Aside from these practical fears , Mary ’ s biggest fear was one of loss . Would the memories that she cherished fade upon selling their beloved home ? Moving seemed like the next stage in life , and she feared giving up the life that was familiar . Steve wondered if his neighborhood buddies would come to visit him or would he be forgotten and left out of the morning “ coffee club ” that the men often enjoyed , much less the annual street party .
Working closely with a realtor specializing in senior ’ s moves , they downsized to a 2-bedroom condo in the same town , close to a park and community centre . It has an entertainment room to host friends and family gatherings , a gym and swimming pool , tennis courts – Steve is an avid tennis player , and underground parking .
She added with a smile : Having a realtor who takes the time to understand our needs and emotions , and who can guide us through the whole process , gives us complete peace of mind . Our realtor has a Seniors Real Estate Specialist ® Designation . Would you like her name ?
Finishing up my latte , I asked Mary : “ How do you like your new place ?” Mary smiled : “ I ’ m glad we did it . We really like our new place . Our lives have become much easier for both of us and we have time for fun again . We made new friends and still see our old ones . My cherished memories of our home are still with me , I guess that will never change . Besides , there was a good chunk of money left on the sale . Guess where we are going for our 45th honeymoon ?!”•
Irina Arkhpova is an Oakville resident , Seniors Real Estate Specialist & Certified Negotiation Expert . She cares for aging , education , and violence prevention . 905-599-8887
Whether you are Retiring or Downsizing ...

Every transition is an opportunity , regardless of your stage in life .

With the right preparation , a new home can provide the fresh start and continual enjoyment you ’ ve been working toward .
By partnering with a Seniors Real Estate Specialist ® ( SRES ® ) like me , you ’ ll gain the help and expertise of a REALTOR ® specializing in meeting the needs of home buyers and sellers 50 plus .
This will also give you access to my service network : CPAs , Financial Planners , Reverse Mortgage Counsellors , Elder Law Attorneys , Tax Specialists , Home Adaptation Designers , Home Health-Care Agencies , Community Service Contacts , Senior Moving Specialists and others ...
“ I understand the emotional and physical challenges of downsizing from the family home .”
251 North Service Road Oakville , ON L6M 3E7
I ’ m your SRES ® .

Irina Arkhipova , SRES ® , CNE ®

Tel : 905-599-8887 www . FiftyPlusRealty . ca FiftyPlusRealty @ gmail . com