By Laurie Whittier
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Selling a house can be intimidating for older Americans who have lived in the same home for decades and are unfamiliar with today’s real estate market. Fortunately, Wind Crest offers free assistance that makes the process a lot easier.

Finding the right people
Now that Erickson Realty & Moving Services is in full swing, future Wind Crest residents are taking full advantage of tools to help their homes sell. Hooking people up with reputable Realtors who have passed a screening process at Wind Crest is one way Personal Moving Consultant Kate Dukes can give people a leg up.

“Homes are selling just fine with the right Realtors on your side,” says Dukes, who serves as a liaison between incoming residents and their Realtors. Even in today’s market, Dukes says preferred Realtors like Roger “Doc” Arthur know how to get their clients’ homes sold faster than the rest.

One of Arthur’s first successes netted a Denver couple $50,000 more than initially anticipated. Their house sold after just one day on the market.

Arthur says he understands what older Americans face when they decide to sell their houses. “Most have lived in their homes for decades and aren’t familiar with today’s real estate market,” he says. “The whole process can be frightening.”

Fortunately, Arthur is certified as a Senior Real Estate Specialist through the National Association of Realtors and knows how to bring older sellers up to speed.

Real estate 101
“Today’s market is nothing like it was even ten years ago,” Arthur says. “I can help explain how it works, what today’s buyers want, and then make sure people’s houses are priced right, staged right, marketed right, and negotiated right.

“One seller was asked to make concessions following an inspection, and I was there to coach them on how to handle that as costeffectively as possible without losing the sale,” he says.

He also knows how to make homes more saleable—an area that calls for a certain amount of sensitivity.