Finding comfort through downsizing

“This Memorial Day, as we honor fallen soldiers and active servicemen and women for their commitment to our country, I am especially grateful for the veterans whom I am proud to call clients,” said Ben Souchek, a principle of The Sierra Group, LLC. “Having served six years of active duty for the U.S. Navy and 14 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I am acutely aware of the needs of the veteran population, and I am honored to help senior veterans sell their homes and downsize into a more comfortable situation.”

Selling a home “naturally” comes with its own set of challenges – readying it for sale, showing it to potential buyers, contracts and financial paperwork, packing up to move … the list sometimes feels endless.

If your sale is centered on downsizing into a smaller home, the process can be even more daunting because it usually involves a lot of emotion tied around a transition to a new phase of life.

This is where The Sierra Group can help. The company offers the fastest, most convenient way to sell one’s house, “as is,” for a fair price, and on the date of the seller’s choosing.

“Providing honest solutions and solving any problems that arise for this type of sale, is paramount,” Souchek said. “I’ve been in the home-buying business for 19 years, and with so many baby boomers retiring in huge numbers, coupled with more and more seniors and veterans looking to sell their home in order to downsize into smaller homes, apartments, assisted living, or a nursing home, I had to try to do things to set my company apart. I set very high standards of professionalism and honesty for this business, and overall, sellers seem to really appreciate the benefits that we can offer, and for good reason.”

One recent example is client Robert Graham, a U.S. Army and Air Force veteran, having served 10 years in each branch. Drafted in 1953, Graham made a career out of his military experience from the beginning when the Army sent him to Germany for a tour. He met his first wife in 1956, and decided to re-enlist in order to be with her and her young son, whom he adopted.

Years later he transferred to the Air Force, was again stationed in Germany, as well as in Greenland and Scott Air Force Base and Richards-Gebaur in Missouri, lost his wife to an untimely death in the early ’90s, and remarried. Finally, at age 84, a year after losing his second wife, the grief and loneliness became too much. “(My wife) stepped out of my life and left a big hole,” Graham says. Just last January, he made the decision to sell his home and move into an assisted living community.

“In light of his very sensitive situation, The Sierra Group took care to ensure Robert’s transition into his new community was seamless,” Souchek explained. “He was very grateful that he was able to take only the necessities to his new home, without worrying about what he left behind.”

“I’m living comfortably now,” says Graham. “The Sierra Group gave me more than enough to pay for my monthly expenses, and I’m doing fine.”

In addition to allowing sellers to leave behind anything they can’t or do not want to take with them, The Sierra Group can take care of any needed repairs, using private funds to close when it is convenient for the seller, moving flexibility, and no commissions or closing costs.

“Every buyer and seller is different, so we address our concern for the individual by visiting with our clients and finding out more about their goals, and how we can help them with the moving process,” said Souchek. “The transition should be painless, and we’re interested in helping them through as many steps of the process as we can. We are so happy that Robert is doing well and adjusting to his fresh surroundings. We wish him the best of luck in his new home!”

Whether a veteran or not, The Sierra Group can make a very difficult life transition much easier.

“Life circumstances are not always pleasant or easy,” said Souchek, “but we believe no one should have to make the decision to downsize all on their own.”

For additional information about how The Sierra Group can help you with your home selling needs, contact Ben Souchek at bensoucheck@gmail.com. You can also check out the company website, HomeDownsizingSolutions.com, or call 800-309-0753.

This story was originally published May 29, 2016 at 12:15 AM with the headline "Finding comfort through downsizing."