This week I’m excited to feature a real estate expert with an interesting twist. Libby Earthman helps homeowners in various phases of life from first time home buyers to senior downsizers. She takes particular care with clients who have issues with sensory overload.
Kristi: You have developed a specialty in making moving easier for people with sensory issues. What kind of client might benefit from your techniques?
Libby: Our nervous–or sensory system– scans the environment 4 times per second for danger. We intuitively know this–we move our hands off a hot stove before we think “Ouch I should move my hand!”…and we constantly adjust our sensory input in small ways all day long.
The world is much easier to navigate if our sensory systems are not hypersensitive. Think about the last time you turned down the radio while driving in a snowstorm so you could see better.
But, for those whose sensory systems are on all the time, the built environment can be really stressful…you can’t easily “turn down” the impact of soaring ceilings or a lack of openness.
That’s where I come in. I’m highly attuned to an individual’s response to the sensory impact of a home, and I’m a seasoned sensory scout for those who need to understand how to frame their search. I ask all of my clients if they need extra support in this area. Clients who “don’t” need the support tend to find their home more quickly with me because I can read their cues and constantly recalibrate their search based on unspoken reactions to homes. Those who do need the support, such as someone with a neurological difference like PTSD, autism, or sensory processing disorder, find that I can help them frame their search before we look at the first home simply by understanding what makes them feel safe.
I’m highly attuned to an individual’s response to the sensory impact of a home, and I’m a seasoned sensory scout for those who need to understand how to frame their search.
Kristi: What are the three concrete actions you take to help this population execute a successful relocation?
Libby: If you’re constantly overstimulated by the environment around you, you’re already on edge–so a big change can be especially unsettling. I help these clients (or their families) by
- Identifying what they need in their next house (for example, room for a trampoline, a bathroom with a tub, open or closed spaces).
- Categorizing what they cannot tolerate at their next house (loud roads nearby, access to open bodies of water, HOAs that require shorter fences).
- Helping them map out the transition. For example, how to pack and unpack, how to coordinate with their care teams, and how to ensure the sensitive person’s safe spaces are set up in the new home first.
Kristi: What are some A-ha’s that people have when you give them tips for making a move more pleasant for people with sensory issues?
Libby: I notice in their reaction to homes, when they stop and say “Ohhh! I never thought of that!” For example, I helped a couple buy their retirement home recently, and I could tell something was grating him at a few properties, but he didn’t say anything.
When we found a house they loved (that barely matched their stated preferences!) I mentioned that they both seemed more calm and that it was the first home with close-ended spaces they had seen. They both had a big a-ha moment, and from there we recalibrated and streamlined our search.
As the mom of an autistic child, I am very attuned to what the sensory sensitive population needs. I know to ask questions like, “is your loved one attracted to water play or are they a climber?” Every client is different, but working with someone who understands makes the process of buying their next house much more supportive and less stressful.
Bio: With a degree in economics and 20 years in nonprofit leadership, I shifted to real estate. I’d heard from too many friends that regretted buying their home and never trusted their agent. Moreover, as the mom of an autistic child I know how hard it is to translate sensory needs to those who don’t routinely consider them. I firmly believe everyone deserves assertive protection and benefits from a sensory-smart approach when buying and selling real estate.
The link to my guidebook is here:
https://libbyearthman.com/sensorymoves
