By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Surrounded by family photos and giraffe figurines in her sunny apartment home at Brooksby Village, Marilyn Paul looks right at home.

For Paul, a two bedroom apartment home with a patio was just what she wanted; so when this one became available last fall, she jumped at the chance to move— even though her house hadn’t yet sold.

Moving trend
Tradition has dictated that those planning to move should sell their previous residences first; but nowadays more people, like Paul, have other plans. Realizing the time for a lifestyle change is right, many are seizing the moment to move, even if their houses aren’t.

Brooksby’s Move-in Coordinator Diane Rose says in the past couple of years she has seen more people go this route. Since the Brooksby community is now full, those who have reserved a spot on its waiting list usually have about two to three months to move in after an apartment home becomes available before it will go to the next person on the list.

“People are just doing whatever they can to get here,” Rose says. Many are getting financial help from family members, as in Paul’s case, to make their initial payment.

“I was able to move because I wasn’t held down and waiting for my house to sell,” Paul says. She wasn’t held down because she had joined the Priority List, which reserves a person’s place in line for an apartment home at Brooksby until he/she is ready to move. So Paul was ready when the apartment she wanted became available, not when her house sold.

Help for sellers
As move-in coordinator, Rose meets with people who have reserved apartment homes and gives them personalized advice about planning for their move. She  recommends local Realtors, movers, and downsizing companies.

Those who can afford to move first may fi nd it advantageous to be out of the house while their Realtor readies the home (also called “staging” the home) and shows it. “Sometimes it’s better to show the home without furniture,” Rose says.