07/26/2013
For Immediate Release July 15, 2013
Windermere Real Estate Launches Customized Program Focused On Supporting Growing Senior Population
Seattle – Two years ago, the oldest members of the Baby Boomer generation turned 65, and over the next 18 years, 79 million more will do the same. These seniors are projected to move out of an estimated 11.3 million housing units through 2020 creating what is known in the real estate industry as the “silver tsunami”. These generational trends have inspired the creation of Windermere Senior Transitions; a new program made up of Windermere agents who are specially trained to understand the unique needs of clients aged 65 and older.
“The Windermere Senior Transitions program was born entirely from a group of our agents who identified the need to support the growing population of seniors,” said OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate. “These agents are incredibly passionate about their senior clients and are committed to providing the patience, professionalism, and respect they so aptly deserve”.
The Windermere Senior Transitions program focuses exclusively on helping seniors through the transition of downsizing from their existing residence into a smaller home, condominium, or an assisted living facility or retirement community. This process can be very complicated and emotional for many seniors and requires the support of someone who is trained to navigate this transition. These home owners often have needs that extend far beyond a traditional real estate transaction and may require assistance with finding resources for everything from healthcare and legal services to financial planning, estate sales, and downsizing services.
“The Windermere Real Estate Senior Transition group provides a critical need for seniors facing the overwhelming task of downsizing and making a move that marks a milestone for them. These dedicated agents have received additional certification to work with the senior population and have reached out to form relationships with various agencies involved in all aspects of downsizing and moving. All of these factors have created a less stressful and smoother move to retirement communities, such as the Chateau Retirement Communities,” said Mary Benz, Sales and Marketing Director of Chateau Retirement.
There are several criteria agents must meet in order to become a certified Windermere Senior Transitions Specialist, including completion of an internal training course entitled “Intro to Senior Transitions”. They must also earn the national Senior Real Estate Specialist designation (SRES) which certifies that agents have demonstrated the necessary knowledge and expertise to counsel seniors through major financial and lifestyle transitions in relocating, refinancing, or selling the family home. In addition to this, agents must close a minimum of three “senior” transactions on an annual basis, as well as sign the Windermere Senior Transitions “Standards of Practice” contract which requires agents to abide by a strict code of ethics specific to senior-aged clientele.
Further education and training is provided to Windermere Senior Transitions Specialists through monthly networking events at assisted living facilities and retirement communities throughout the Puget Sound region. These events enable agents to share ideas and listen to guest speakers discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with clients aged 65 and older. Examples of educational topics include “elder mediation” which helps agents navigate conflicting family members’ wishes when selling a senior’s home. Another taught agents how changes in sensory function can impact attitude and behavior, so that they have an even greater understanding of the aging process.
Windermere’s Senior Transitions program has been entirely customized to meet the needs of its intended clientele which includes marketing materials with large font sizes that are easier to read, as well as postcard-sized business cards that are more user friendly for seniors who have tactile and fine motor skill challenges.
For more information, please visit the Windermere Senior Transitions website: http://windermeretransitions.com.
About Windermere Real Estate:
Windermere Real Estate is ranked the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S. with over 300 offices and 7,000 agents serving communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Mexico. In 2012, Windermere closed over 65,000 transactions for more than $20 billion in sales volume. The Windermere family has a proud heritage of serving our neighbors via the Windermere Foundation which funds services for low-income and homeless families. Since 1989, the Windermere Foundation has contributed more than $25 million towards improving lives in the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.windermere.com.
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Windermere Real Estate agents are dedicated to supporting our clients through the home buying and selling process.
