Meet Julie White
Throughout her career as a real estate agent, Julie White has worked with everyone: 20-somethings buying their first home, growing families needing more space, active Baby Boomers seeking a change, and older senior adults needing daily assistance and care. Over time, Julie has found a genuine love and affinity for working with adults 55 and older. She understands firsthand what it takes to downsize a home and adapt a living space to accommodate an aging parent – personally purchasing a one-level home that could accommodate her father in a multigenerational environment for several years until he passed, Julie explains. “We’re far from unique, though. Almost all of our friends have elderly parents whose housing needs have changed or parents who have passed away, and they’re left with a home full of belongings that all need to be sold.”
Julie’s professional and personal experiences spurred her to create “The Mature Move.” It is a program designed specifically to help adults 55-plus determine their best future housing needs. “There are different stages of housing decisions as people age. Often, individuals wait too long to make those decisions, ensuring they’ll be unprepared when faced with a crisis,” she explains. It’s in these circumstances that I’m there to hold hands and guide everyone calmly through the process, no matter how long it takes.
Downsizing “stuff” is often the most challenging part, and Julie walks her clients through the process one small step at a time. “Before I was a REALTOR©, I was a teacher, so it’s important to me to educate my clients,” she says. “ It’s human nature to be fearful of the unknown, so I create a step-by-step moving plan for clients. I involve family members so everyone knows where we are in the process.”
Going from a larger house to a smaller one requires more time than a typical move. Downsizing is different from decluttering. Julie counsels clients to consider the tremendous benefits of moving into a home that truly meets most of their needs. By finding a housing fit that’s right for them, I know with almost certainty they’ll gain time to do the things that are most important to them.
Not only does Julie walk her clients through the buying and selling process, but she’s also well-equipped to assist with many other needs, from dealing with attorneys and estate sales companies to donation centers. She handles the details of handymen, general contractors, and movers.
Julie has many resources for senior living communities. “From the very first meeting with potential clients, my goal is to build a relationship that’s based on care and trust,” Julie says, “In my book, the best case scenario is the one that evolves from a business relationship to a lifelong friendship.
Julie embraces the preciousness of time, spending as much of it as she can with her son and his family. She stays busy with her three young grandchildren’s activities. Julie and her husband, Steve, have a small getaway cabin on Smith Lake where they enjoy spending time. Members of Shades Mountain Community Church, Julie and Steve, are very active in numerous programs there.