Senior Downsizing · Probate & Estate Sales · Out-of-State Heirs | Des Moines, Iowa
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing mistakes Des Moines seniors make thousands of dollars and months of stress every year — and most of them are completely avoidable. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) who helps families navigate these transitions across Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines Downsizing vs rightsizing Des Moines: You’ve probably heard both terms — downsizing and right-sizing. Maybe a friend mentioned they’re “right-sizing” into a ranch-style home in Urbandale. Or your adult child gently suggested it might be time to “downsize” now that the kids are gone. … Read more
Main floor living West Des Moines is one of the smartest moves a senior or downsizer can make in 2026 — whether that means a ranch home, a villa with lawn and snow care handled, or a 55+ community where everything is designed for one-level convenience. / What Is Main Floor Living? Main floor living … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines What Happens to Home Insurance When a Parent Passes Away in Iowa? If you’re managing a parent’s home after they’ve passed away in Iowa, there’s one thing you need to check before anything else: the homeowner’s insurance. Iowa executors have as little as 30 … Read more
By Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® | Smart Move Des Moines If you need to sell a probate home in Des Moines, you’re not alone. You’re dealing with a lot right now, and insurance is probably not what you wanted to think about first. But this is one of the time-sensitive decisions that protects the … Read more
The Iowa probate timeline shapes every decision you’ll face as an out-of-state heir. When a parent dies and leaves you a house in Iowa — and you live in Phoenix, or Chicago, or anywhere that isn’t Des Moines — the first question is almost always the same: “How fast can I sell it?” It’s a … Read more