The short answer
Practical signals beat market timing.
The healthiest signals are practical rather than financial: important rooms go unused, maintenance is compounding, stairs are becoming a calculation, geography is misaligned with who you want to see, or the home has been larger than the household for years. When three or more are true, it’s worth running the Shift-Score.
Signal 1: Important rooms go unused
When rooms that were central to the home’s purpose in your forties are dormant in your sixties, the home is larger than the life.
Signal 2: Maintenance is compounding
Projects that used to be DIY now require hired help. The list isn’t shrinking.
Signal 3: Stairs have become a calculation
You pause at the base of the stairs. You consolidate trips. The second floor is slowly being abandoned.
Signal 4: Geography is misaligned
The people you want to see most are not easily reachable from your current home.
Signal 5: Home has been larger for years
Empty-nest status is a condition, not a signal. The duration of the mismatch is the signal.
Key takeaways
- Signals are practical, not market-based.
- Three-plus together is a real reason to act.
- Stairs are the #1 feature named in post-move interviews.
- Aging in place is valid, but should be a choice, not a default.
Three minutes to clarity.
No cold calls. Always free.