Last week Homes by Dickerson REALTOR/Broker extraordinaire, Peter Winkler, gave us the inside scoop on helping your kids (and grandkids!) relocate to your area. He returns this week with four key tips on another demographic he works with all the time: your parents.

While Peter jokes that your newborn baby and their cute grandkids are enough to make your parents move to the area , he shares extra wisdom to assist your parents through the transition.

Highlight the Great Retirement Lifestyle.

Showcasing the variety of community resources is one way to assure your parents that moving is a good choice. The Triangle area has a colorful culture, top-notch medical care and a lengthy list of organizations and recreational activities.

“I really don’t believe there is anywhere better than the Triangle,” Peter says. “It’s a great climate and a great location. Tons of people are coming from all parts of the country to live here.”

The prime location and all it has to offer can be a selling point. Your parents don’t just want a house; they want a community to put down roots.

Share Newsletters and Community Events.

Why tell your parents about the array of community events when you can just show them? Email them the HOA’s monthly newsletters to emphasize events geared towards adults in a similar life. Share information about the clubs and amenities, whether it’s pictures of the pickleball court or details about the bourbon-tasting club. Your parents will be able to lead their own life with the benefit of endless face time with their kids and grandkids.

Introduce Them to Customized Housing Options.

At Briar Chapel, the Encore by David Weekley Homes section sells a classic section of houses for ages 55+. Your parents can enjoy beautifully designed single-story homes with open, accessible floor plans. Many of the floor plans feature master bedrooms on the first floor (or “master downs”) for convenience. Residents within this community enjoy perks like yard maintenance, a full calendar of activities from the Encore neighborhood lifestyle director and a state-of-the-art private fitness center and pool.

For those exploring options outside of Encore, builders like Homes By Dickerson also offer single-story and 1.5-story master downs custom homes. Your parents can buy a house that is tailored specifically for them while still being just a short walk from your home.

Let Them Know They Aren’t Alone in the Process.

Reassure your parents there are plenty of other people who have also relocated. As Peter says, he sees parents moving regularly to be closer to their families and grandchildren.

Many parents want a community that provides the interaction and proximity to their kids and grandchildren, while continuing to enjoy a rich, independent life. A community like Briar Chapel offers the best of both worlds. The bonds formed and memories made will be irreplaceable when you have your family there with you.

Looking for more? You can read Peter Winkler’s pro tips to moving your kids to the area!

Children inevitably spread their wings and leave the nest as they get older. Whether they move for school, jobs or new opportunities, sometimes families end up spread out across the country.

At Briar Chapel, we’ve seen several families reunite within our community: grandparents on one block with the children and grandkids nestled in a spacious home just a few streets around the corner.

Relocating your kids and their families to the area can be exciting, but it isn’t always an easy decision. Peter Winkler, a broker/REALTOR for one of our builders, Homes by Dickerson, gave us a few tips to successfully help your kids (and grandkids!) relocate to a new area near you!

Experience the Community.

Next time your family and the grandbabies come to visit, take them to one of the events that the community you’re considering offers. This is one of the best ways for your kids and grandkids to get a feel firsthand if the community is a fit. At Briar Chapel, it can be as simple as a walk to one of our many parks to see a concert, a holiday-themed pool party at the Briar Clubhouse or lunch at the Veranda. Every grassy picnic and barbecue they attend at Briar Chapel will soon have them envisioning their own lives in the community.

Make Introduction, Make Friends.

Many young families are hesitant to move into their parents’ neighborhood, because they view these areas as retirement communities. Briar Chapel, in contrast, caters to a diverse range of families of all ages. Introduce them to the broad variety of their interest groups, whether it’s a golfing club or Fit4Mom, a Chapel Hill prenatal and postnatal fitness group that provides a network of moms to support every stage of motherhood. While your kids want to be close to you, they will also want support from friends their own age. Everyone yearns to know they aren’t alone in making the decision to move miles from their stomping ground, and Briar Chapel is home to families who have gone through the exact same process.

Share Research: Local Schools, Home Plans and Job Opportunities.

Before your kids come visit for the next holiday, do some of the legwork for them. What are the best elementary schools and daycares in the area? What about the type of homes available in Briar Chapel? If you prepare some of the initial research on local jobs and schools, the decision becomes even easier for your kids! For example, Briar Chapel hosts two schools on-site. Chatham County is home to Schools of Distinction, top SAT scores, “Teacher of the Year” awards and leading rankings from the US News & World Reportand The Washington Post.

Support Their Decision.

As Peter says, one of the most important tips is making sure that your kids feel like it is ultimately their decision to move here. Be strategic in introducing them to the community, but allow them to explore and weigh the options on their own. The good news is that once you’ve shown them the rich plethora of opportunities Briar Chapel has to offer, the community speaks for itself.!

Stay tuned for the second part of our blog post next week, as Peter Winkler gives us more advice on how to help your parents move closer to you.