Retirement Planning – Selling/Moving
“it is a double edged sword. If someone had taken the time to review their situation, or the family sought some advice for them, [a financial advisor] could have given them some benefit by increasing their pension and protecting their superannuation for longer.”
Ms Langton says a common issue she comes across is people not updating their financial situation on Centrelink records, so they are actually not receiving a part or full pension like they should be. Ms Langton says, “Ideally, you should be seeking expert guidance
All things selling and moving Having made the decision to leave the family home to enter a retirement village, how and where do you begin with selling what may be your biggest asset?
M
ost people use a real estate agent to sell their property but you may choose to be your own agent and look after the sale yourself or use a seller advocate to help you with the selling process.
Real estate agents Selling through an agent means you can take advantage of their experience and expertise to achieve the best selling price. An agent will
on how to structure your finances so that your super and retirement wealth doesn’t run out.”” Disclaimer: The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Readers should seek their own personal legal and financial advice from a suitably qualified practitioner.
When choosing an agent to represent you, it is important to do your research. The right agent will make sure that selling your home is a smooth process while acting in your best interest. It is worth speaking to a number of agents and inviting a couple to do an appraisal on your home so you can compare. As part of your selection process you may want to consider an agent’s: ◆ Experience ◆ Reputation
manage the sales process for you, from marketing your property, to holding open inspection days and managing enquiries from potential buyers. They often have access to more potential buyers through their own database and can negotiate the sales price on your behalf. An agent will prepare a contract of sale and can guide you through the legal and financial process of selling a house.
◆ Market knowledge ◆ Negotiating skills ◆ References ◆ Commission ◆ Marketing budget Selling your home privately could save you money because you don’t have to pay agent commission and are in control of how much you spend on advertising your property. But it’s important to do your research properly so you have a realistic expectation of what your property is worth, know the rules and regulations of selling a home and be sure you have the time and patience to go through the process.
Seller Advocates Some of the stress from selling your home can be removed by engaging the services of a seller advocate to deal with the real estate agent. By helping you through every step of the selling process, the seller advocate can help you get the best price for your home.
18
Your Retirement Living – 8th edition