By Shaun Shaya — Helping Home Buyers, Sellers & Downsizers in Oakland County

Certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®)

Your Realtor for Birmingham & Bloomfield Hills

When families begin navigating the process of helping aging parents sell a longtime home, the emotional weight can be overwhelming. As a Certified SRES® Realtor, I’ve seen firsthand how selling a parent’s home isn’t just a real estate transaction — it’s a major family transition filled with memories, emotions, uncertainty, and often, conflict.

This blog pulls insights from the SRES® March/April 2025 Professional Report and offers guidance for families preparing for one of life’s most meaningful moves. And most importantly, I want you to know: you don’t need to go through this alone.
I’m here to help seniors, adult children, and families throughout Oakland County, Birmingham, and Bloomfield Hills navigate every step with clarity and compassion.

Why Families Struggle When Selling a Parent’s Home

The SRES® report highlights what many families already feel: selling a parent’s home can reveal different priorities, emotions, and expectations.

Some family members see the home as:

• A cherished place filled with childhood memories

• A financial asset that needs to be sold

• A burden that requires repairs or updates

• A symbol of independence for the parent leaving it

These different perspectives can naturally create stress, disagreements, and emotional strain. As a Realtor specializing in senior transitions, I help families communicate clearly, set realistic expectations, and create a plan that respects every voice — especially the senior’s.

Key Insights From the SRES® Report That Every Family Should Know

1. Seniors Are Moving More Than Ever

According to national data, more than 338,000 Americans moved for retirement in 2023, a 44% increase from the previous year. 

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Many of these moves are driven by the desire to be closer to family, access care, or downsize to a home that better fits their lifestyle.

2. Adult Children Often Expect to Help

Two-thirds of adult children expect to be involved in helping parents relocate. 

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But most families are unprepared for how long, emotional, and complicated the process can be.

3. Communication Is Everything

The SRES® report stresses the need for:

• Clear decision-making

• Open conversations

• Written agreements

• Patience — lots of it

This is where having an experienced SRES® Realtor becomes invaluable. Families need a neutral professional who can guide the process and reduce conflict.

How I Support Senior Clients & Their Families

Selling a home later in life comes with unique challenges — emotional, physical, and logistical. As an SRES® designee, I help families:

✔ Set a realistic plan (without overwhelming the parent)

Seniors often need time to process the idea of moving. I help families pace the process while still keeping momentum.

✔ Keep parents involved — respectfully

Seniors need to feel in control. Even if adult children are the decision-makers, the parent’s voice matters deeply. I help families honor that.

✔ Navigate family disagreements calmly

From pricing to repairs to timelines, I mediate conversations so families can make decisions without unnecessary tension.

✔ Prepare the home for sale the right way

The SRES® report lists common mistakes: clutter, overpricing, hiding issues, skipping repairs, and letting emotions take over. I help prevent every one of them.

✔ Connect families with trusted local resources

Painters, downsizing experts, movers, organizers, contractors, estate planners — I have a network ready to assist.

An SRES® Realtor’s Role: More Than Just Selling the House

One of the most powerful insights from SRES® expert Joy Loverde is that real estate agents working with seniors become:

• Part agent

• Part social worker

• Part caregiver

• Part family mediator

Families often underestimate how many moving parts are involved:
Paperwork, medical appointments, new doctors, senior living decisions, repairs, packing, emotional stress, and the constant back-and-forth of “Is this really happening?”

My job is to step in and say:

“I’ve got this. We’ll get through it together.”

Because your family deserves support, clarity, and a smooth transition — not chaos.

Why Families in Oakland County Choose Me

I proudly serve:

• Birmingham

• Bloomfield Hills

• Bloomfield Township

• Royal Oak

• Troy

• West Bloomfield

• And surrounding Oakland County communities

As a Certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist, I combine deep local market expertise with genuine compassion for the unique needs of seniors and their families.

Families choose me because I offer:

• A clear step-by-step process

• Patience, understanding, and respect for the parent’s emotions

• Strong negotiation and pricing expertise

• Experience handling complex family dynamics

• A commitment to protecting the senior’s best interests

If You’re Preparing to Help a Parent Downsize or Move — I’m Here for You

Whether you are just beginning the conversation or already feeling overwhelmed, I can guide you through the entire journey with care and expertise.

Let’s make this transition peaceful, organized, and successful.

📞 Contact Shaun Shaya
Realtor® | Certified SRES®
Helping Home Buyers, Sellers & Downsizers in Oakland County
Specializing in Birmingham & Bloomfield Hills