The Sandwich Generation

With each year seeming to bring a new revolution to the home purchasing market, it’s no surprise that a new cluster of home purchasers has formed along the way. They’re not your average millennials seeking urban high rises and it’s certainly not your baby boomer eager to make their post-retirement move. It's nearly half of the nation’s population, in the 40’s and 50’s age range, being forced to juggle supporting their parents and children. They’ve coined themselves as “The Sandwich Generation.”

Many Gen Xer’s making up this “Sandwich Generation” are looking to relocate and purchase a new home for their sizeable family, but often times find themselves at a cross roads. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the right decision when you reach a fork in the road.

Start saving early

Don’t get in the position of asking yourself, “can we sacrifice our retirement savings to support our parents and our children?” Talk about your finances and come up with both spending and saving strategies to help get your finances on track. Buying a home is a massive investment, so it’s important to be on the same page when it comes to creating a financial strategy. Be open to gaining financial support along the way to allocate funds towards those needed areas like, insurance, potential renovations and moving expenditures.

Don’t undertake the process alone

Balancing the care of your children and parents adds enough to your plate, on top of your job and the thought of retirement potentially looming. With the home purchasing market fluctuating, don’t allow yourself to get intertwined in the confusion. Start the search today for a real estate partner that can understand all the wants and needs you and your family desires when it comes to a new living space. Working with a partner throughout the process will not only alleviate some of the stress that comes with relocating, but can allow you more time to create that financial strategy and even investigate new caretaking opportunities for your parents.

Choose the right van line

When the SOLD sign is up and your new home is purchased, it’s time to start thinking about all the moving parts associated with relocating. Choosing the right van line early on can save you time, money and hassle when the moving day comes. When you consider the choices available for home moving services, it's a good idea to begin by understanding what the right moving van line can bring to the table. For starters, you get an experienced team of movers who have the right mindset and attitude to tackle your unique moving needs. You’ll also be able to oversee the process directly, meaning high work efficiency comes at no cost. The right van line can even bring everything you will need when it comes time to pack up and move out. This includes safe, clean, well-maintained moving vans; dollies; lifts; cartons, padding, and wrapping; in fact, anything necessary to ensure safe packing, loading and transport.