By Laurie Whittier
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Deep down, Don and Betty Benny were ready to live the carefree life at Wind Crest. They had already joined the priority list, a group of people in line for an apartment home at the community. But with an overstuffed house and a long list of home repairs, they didn’t know where to begin. So they procrastinated.

"With so many things to get rid of and so much to do, we kind of closed our minds to it," says Mr. Benny.

That changed when Wind Crest’s Personal Moving Consultant Kate Dukes called.

One simple question
Dukes asked if she could drop by their Centennial home and bring them up to speed on the free assistance she could provide as part of the Erickson Realty & Moving Services program.

"While she was here, she asked us why we were waiting another year to start the process of moving, and we didn’t really have an adequate answer," says Mr. Benny. It was then that he and his wife realized perhaps they were ready. They just needed some help.

With years of real estate experience under her belt, Dukes understood how overwhelmed they were. "I said, ‘What if I could put a comprehensive plan together for you and get your property in shape within 30 days? Would that be acceptable?’" she recalls. "And they said, ‘Sure, if you think we can do it.’"

Dukes wasted no time getting started. From connecting the Bennys with a home stager to scheduling carpet cleaning, she was there each step of the way. She even helped label every piece of furniture with colored stickers indicating which would go to Wind Crest and which would need new homes.

"That was a big step for us because we could see progress," Mr. Benny says.

Endless support
With approval from the Bennys, Dukes sent over a home stager who identified what could be done to attract better offers—and more of them.