--- title: Helping a Parent Move | David Zadareky, Compass description: Helping a parent sell their home and move. A clear plan for the house, the timing, and the family decisions, in Northern Virginia. --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#main-content) [![David-Zadareky-White-Logo-588x164](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/David-Zadareky-White-Logo-588x164.svg "David-Zadareky-White-Logo-588x164")](https://davidzadareky.com?hsLang=en) [![David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164.svg "David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164")](https://davidzadareky.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.davidzadareky.com) - Who I Help - [Rightsizing](https://www.davidzadareky.com/rightsizing) - [Retirement](https://www.davidzadareky.com/retirement) - [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent) - [Estate Sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/estate-sales) - Services - [Selling and Buying](https://www.davidzadareky.com/services) - [Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit) - [On-MLS vs Off-MLS](https://www.davidzadareky.com/on-mls-vs-off-mls) - [Insights](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights) - [Contact](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact) Search Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu - [Home](https://www.davidzadareky.com) - Who I Help - [Rightsizing](https://www.davidzadareky.com/rightsizing) - [Retirement](https://www.davidzadareky.com/retirement) - [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent) - [Estate Sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/estate-sales) - Services - [Selling and Buying](https://www.davidzadareky.com/services) - [Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit) - [On-MLS vs Off-MLS](https://www.davidzadareky.com/on-mls-vs-off-mls) - [Insights](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights) - [Contact](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact) - Example Link - Example Link - Example Link [Facebook](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#0) [Instagram](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#0) [Linkedin](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#0) [X](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#0) [YouTube](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#0) [Medium](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent#0) **Helping a Parent** # Doing Right by Mom and Dad Most of these moves start with a care need and a move-out date. Extended family may live in different states, and the house holds a lifetime of belongings. I help your family sort out the decisions, the timing, and the sale, so your parent’s transition is seamless and their equity becomes cash for investment or expenses. [Let's Start Yours](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact?hsLang=en) [Request a Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit?hsLang=en) ## Where Is Your Parent Going? The plan for the house depends on where your parent is going next. #### Moving In With Family Your parent joins your household, or you move to a home with room for them. If you need more space, see [Rightsizing](https://www.davidzadareky.com/rightsizing?hsLang=en). #### Independent or Assisted Living A community with care on site. The move-in date usually sets the timeline for everything else. #### Staying Home With Support Changes to the house and help at home. Selling may come later, and planning now keeps your options open. ## What Has to Be Decided These are the questions that stall a parent’s move. We work through them early. ##### Who Signs Your parent, a power of attorney, or a trustee. I coordinate with your attorney so the paperwork is right before the house goes on the market. ##### When It Sells Your parent moves first. Then the question is how soon the house goes on the market, and how the new home or care is paid for until it sells. ##### The Belongings What goes with your parent, what goes to family, and what is sold, donated, or cleared out. ##### Who’s Involved Your parent, siblings, and advisors. We agree on who decides and how everyone stays informed. ## Two Sample Scenarios These are composite examples, not specific clients. They show how the decision comes together. ### A Move to Assisted Living A mother has a move-in date at an assisted living community in six weeks. Her two children live in other states. **What we weighed:** Selling the house as it was, or making a few repairs first. Her [Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit?hsLang=en) showed which repairs were worth the time and money. **The order:** She moved first. Then the family cleared the house with vendors I connected them with, made the repairs that paid off, and listed it empty. **The plan:** The house sold empty and ready, and both children saw each decision before it was made. ### Moving In With Family A father is moving in with his daughter’s family, and their house has no bedroom on the first floor. **What we weighed:** Adding a suite to her home, or buying a larger home with first-floor living. Both houses were part of the plan, his and hers. **The order:** They bought the larger home first, so his suite was ready when he arrived. Then both houses were sold, one after the other. **The plan:** One home for the whole family, with a first-floor suite for him. ## Family Out of Town? I handle the house locally and keep every sibling informed, so decisions come to the family only when they’re yours to make. #### When the house sits empty Clean-out, repairs, and checking on a vacant home are handled by trusted local vendors I connect you with. You make the decisions and hire them directly. I help you manage the process and keep everyone informed, so nothing falls through the cracks while you’re out of town. ## Where to Start Helping a parent follows the same path as every move I work on, and you can stop or pause after any step. [See the Full Path](https://www.davidzadareky.com/services?hsLang=en) ##### 1. Start With What Matters Where your parent is going, what matters to them, and who’s involved in the decision. ##### 2. Explore Your Options Sell, keep, or rent the house, and when. We compare them side by side. ##### 3. Understand the Home’s Value How condition and competing homes shape what buyers will pay. ##### 4. Work the Numbers Preparation costs, selling expenses, and likely proceeds, set against the cost of your parent’s care or next home. ##### 5. Decide What’s Best Choose the path and the preparation worth the time, money, and effort. ## Start With a Conversation Tell me where your parent is going, what matters to them, and who’s involved. The first conversation commits you to nothing. [Email David](mailto:david.zadareky@compass.com?subject=Helping%20a%20Parent) [Call 202-552-1628](tel:+12025521628) **Who I Help** **Who I Help** - [Rightsizing](https://www.davidzadareky.com/rightsizing) - [Retirement](https://www.davidzadareky.com/retirement) - [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent) - [Estate Sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/estate-sales) **Services** **Services** - [Selling and Buying](https://www.davidzadareky.com/services) - [Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit) - [On-MLS vs Off-MLS](https://www.davidzadareky.com/on-mls-vs-off-mls) **More** **More** - [Insights](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights) - [Contact](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact) [![David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164.svg)](https://www.davidzadareky.com?hsLang=en) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.davidzadareky.com/privacy-policy) © 2026 David Zadareky [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/davidzadarekycompass/)[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/davidzadarekycompass/)[Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzadareky)[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@david.zadareky.compass/) ![Compass\_Logo\_H\_B](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Compass_Logo_H_B.png?width=200&height=27&name=Compass_Logo_H_B.png)   David Zadareky | Associate Broker | 202-552-1628 | [david.zadareky@compass.com](mailto:david.zadareky@compass.com) Compass | 3001 Washington Blvd Suite 400 | Arlington VA 22201 | Office Phone: 703-266-7277 Firm License: 0226029518 | Broker License: 0225225537 Compass is a licensed real estate broker, licensed to do business as Compass in Virginia. 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