SEATTLE: Working in real estate can be a challenge, but when you’re working with multigenerational buyers–a household of more than two generations–things can get even more complicated as you work to meet the diverse needs of parents, grandparents and children.
More and more multigenerational households are emerging, so knowing how to work with this unique family dynamic is important.
3. Seek versatility and privacy. Rather than asking buyers for the preferred number of bedrooms and bathrooms, agents need to also ask how rooms will be used. When three or more generations are sharing a space, that space needs to be versatile, as it will likely shift over the next five to ten years as a family members age and needs evolve. A home meant to meet the needs of a six-year-old child and a 65-year-old grandparent will likely be outdated when the child is 16 and the grandparent is 75. So, seek homes with spaces that can rotate; perhaps grandma will need to move into the first floor bedroom.