A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT: FROM YALE HOMES TO THE KOERNER CENTER

Some stories come full circle in the most wonderful way.

Over the past couple of years, we had the privilege of representing two retired Yale professors in the sale of their homes, and the two properties could hardly have been more different.

The first was a large Guilford home that served as the backdrop for a couple’s retirement, filled with books, art, and mementos from a lifetime of teaching and travel. Selling a home like that involves more than pricing and marketing. It means helping sellers through the practical and emotional work of deciding what comes next, and then presenting a substantial property to the right buyers at the right time.

The second was a professor’s pied-à-terre in an upscale New Haven condominium complex. Selling a luxury condo is a specialty of its own. Buyers weigh the association, the amenities, the location, and the community’s reputation as carefully as the unit itself, and the marketing has to reflect that.

Different homes, different strategies, and the same goal for each: a smooth transition and a successful result.

So it was a special moment when we learned that both of these former clients are Koerner Fellows at the Henry Koerner Center for Emeritus Faculty, Yale’s home for its retired faculty. It was even more special that we were invited to present a senior lecture series there, by coincidence.

Our sessions were part of The Antioxidants, an interdisciplinary discussion group in which emeritus faculty explore aging from every angle, from literature and history to the practical realities of later life. Our contribution covered Aging Environment and Well Being: Rethinking where we live as we get older; Senior Communities: Understanding options and making informed decisions; and Downsizing and Decluttering Today: Creating Space and Simplicity for Tomorrow.

For us, this full-circle moment brings together the two sides of our work. We are trusted to represent distinctive, high-value properties, from estate homes to luxury condominiums. We are equally committed to educating older adults so their transitions are well planned instead of rushed.

If you or someone you love is beginning to think about the next chapter, we’d be glad to  talk. A conversation now, even years before a move, can make all the difference later.