If you’re ready to retire, but think the time for joining a retirement community is far in the distant future, you may want to reconsider that notion. Moving into a senior community while you’re able to plan well, attend to all the details, comfortably execute the move, and enjoy the benefits of an independent lifestyle in your new home is ideal. Waiting until it’s too late can cause major stress for you and your family and can significantly narrow your options.
Doing your research ahead of time means not only choosing the right year for this move, but the right season as well. If you’re one of the many seniors who has wisely begun planning a move into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), you’re probably wondering what time of year is the best time to move. Here are some of the reasons why spring is the best time of year to move to a CCRC.
Optimal Time To Sell a Home
Selling your home in early spring has several perks:
- Beating the competition. Selling in the early spring gets you ahead of the peak moving season of summer. Beginning in May, the real estate market gets busier, as do real estate agents—and for sellers more than buyers, finding the right agent is key. By late spring and early summer, you’ll also be competing with the greatest number of other home sellers.
- Getting a better price for your home. At the same time, because there are still plenty of home buyers who are also hoping to beat the summer housing market frenzy, you may be able to sell your home with fewer showings, less hassle, and for a higher price in the spring. Buyers who need to move right away or who don’t want to get into bidding wars may be open to paying a little more in spring rather than being priced out in summer.
- Showing off your property. The outdoor portions of your property will look more attractive to buyers in spring than in late fall or winter as greenery and flowers begin to appear. You can also place vases of fresh-cut flowers from your garden (or the florist) indoors to add seasonal pops of color.
- Taking advantage of tempting temperatures. The mild weather will draw plenty of people outside, since they’ve been cooped up all winter. This will make stopping by for a showing or open house more appealing, and will help your home get maximum foot traffic.
Skip Outdoor Property Maintenance Season
Flowers and plants pushing out of the ground may signal the joyful end of winter, but they also herald something else: long months of intensive lawn care, landscaping, and general outdoor maintenance. Because these services are included in your retirement community fees, moving into a CCRC in the spring will save you the hard labor and risk of injury related to outdoor chores, if you normally do them yourself. If you normally pay a landscaping crew or neighborhood teens to do this work, you can save yourself some serious cash.
Movers Are More Available and Less Expensive
If you’re planning a move, it’s important to do your research to ensure that you are hiring reputable movers at the lowest possible cost. During the “off” season of early spring, there will be more moving companies with availability to choose from. You can also likely get a better deal during the months of March and April, reducing your moving expenses.
Comfortable Temperatures for Packing and Moving
Even if you’re getting professional help with packing and moving, odds are you’ll be getting in some extra steps as you sort and pack some items yourself. Doing all of this in spring means that your moving day is likely to be free of hazardous snow or ice, and you won’t overheat or feel too sticky as you go through the process.
Enjoying Spring In Your New Home
As if all of these advantages weren’t enough, there’s another big one: you’ll get to enjoy all the late spring activities your CCRC has to offer. These can include everything from Mother’s Day celebrations to Memorial Day observances to regular classes and gatherings. Spring is also the perfect time to enjoy refreshing walks on campus or exploring nearby communities. Finally, spring is the ideal time to celebrate new life—including your new life in a community that will give you peace of mind throughout your golden years.
Spring Into Retirement With Chapel Pointe
Chapel Pointe is a faith-based, continuing care retirement community on eight acres that blossom with color each spring in Carlisle, PA. At Chapel Pointe, residents put aside the hassles of home maintenance and landscaping to breathe in the fresh air on local trails, bird-watch from the gazebo, grow produce in their gardens, and enjoy picnics with loved ones.
Since the beginning, our team's mission has been to ensure that every resident is treated with love and the utmost respect. We commit each day to serving and enhancing the quality of life for people aged 62+ in Central Pennsylvania. We’re honored that our greater community sees the servant-heart of our nonprofit organization and consistently selects Chapel Pointe as “The Best of Cumberland County.”
If you’re thinking about making a move to a CCRC at any time in the future, we’re here to help. Get downsizing tips from current residents in our article, “Overcoming the Downsizing Hurdle” or contact us to take a personalized tour of the CCRC homes that will meet your needs and help to put a little extra spring in your step this season.