Senior Downsizing, Estate & Probate, Senior Living & Family Resources for Greenville & Upstate South Carolina
When a senior or aging parent needs to make a move, the real estate transaction is only one part of the journey.
I’m Stephanie Burrows, SRES®, with more than 20 years of real estate experience and a passion for helping seniors and their families navigate important life transitions. I specialize in senior downsizing, rightsizing, estate and probate real estate, senior living transitions, aging in place, and the sale of longtime family homes throughout Greenville and Upstate South Carolina.
Through the Upstate Senior Transition Resource Hub, I bring together practical guides, local resources, and conversations with trusted professionals to help families make informed decisions with greater clarity, dignity, and peace of mind.
Whether you’re planning ahead, helping a parent make a transition, or suddenly finding yourself responsible for a family property, you’re in the right place.
Where Should I Start?
Every family's situation is different. Start with the resource that best describes what you're facing.
My Parent Needs to Downsize
Senior Downsizing & Rightsizing
Learn about decluttering, preparing a longtime home, choosing what comes next, and navigating the emotional side of a major transition.
Explore Senior Downsizing Resources →
We're Preparing to Sell Mom or Dad's House
Selling Your Aging Parents' Home
A step-by-step resource for adult children helping a parent prepare for a home sale, including planning, preparation, valuation, and coordinating the process.
Start the Home Sale Guide →
A Loved One Has Passed Away
Estate & Probate Real Estate
Explore resources related to inherited homes, probate property, family decision-making, property preparation, and the real estate process.
Explore Estate & Probate Resources →
We're Considering Senior Living
Senior Living & Housing Options
Explore information and conversations with local professionals about senior living, downsizing, timing, and preparing for a move.
Explore Senior Living Resources →
We're Wondering Whether Mom Can Stay at Home
Aging in Place
Explore resources related to home safety, accessibility, community services, caregiving, and planning for the future.
Explore Aging-in-Place Resources →
I Live Out of State
Helping a Parent From a Distance
Resources for adult children coordinating a parent's transition from another city or state.
Explore Long-Distance Family Resources →
Expert Conversations & Local Resources
A senior transition often involves much more than real estate.
That's why I've created this Resource Hub to connect families with useful information and conversations with local professionals who understand the many pieces of a senior transition.
Explore conversations covering senior living, elder law, estate planning, aging services, caregiving, safety, and other resources that can help families navigate the next chapter.
Navigating Senior Transitions in the Upstate: Expert Conversations & Masterclass Series
Senior transitions rarely involve just one decision. Downsizing, selling a longtime family home, moving to senior living, managing an estate, planning for future care, and protecting family equity can involve many people and many moving parts.
That is why I created the Upstate Senior Transition Masterclass Series.
Through these conversations, I connect families with trusted professionals throughout Greenville and Upstate South Carolina who can help answer the questions that often arise during a senior transition.
Our conversations cover:
Senior downsizing and rightsizing
Selling a parent’s or loved one’s longtime home
Estate and probate considerations
Elder law and estate planning
Senior living and housing options
Aging in place and maintaining independence
Caregiver and family resources
Protecting home equity
Preparing for a future transition before a crisis occurs
These interviews are designed to give seniors, adult children, caregivers, executors, and families practical information from local professionals—all in one place.
A Local Network for Senior Transitions
No family should have to figure out a major life transition alone.
My role as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) is to help families understand the real estate side of the transition while connecting them with appropriate local resources when other expertise is needed.
Explore the conversations below and use the information that is most helpful for your family's situation.
Aging in Place & Senior Independence
Helping an older adult remain safely and comfortably at home can involve much more than the house itself. These resources explore technology safety, community services, nutrition, home support, and other factors families may want to consider when planning for aging in place.
Senior Resource Spotlight: Mobility Plus Anderson with Scott Wortham
When helping Upstate families downsize, rightsize, or plan for long-term independence at home, home accessibility and fall prevention are almost always top priorities.
Making a few strategic modifications can mean the difference between staying comfortable in the home you love or facing a sudden health crisis.
In this episode of our Senior Resource Spotlight, I sit down with W. Scott Wortham, owner of Mobility Plus in Anderson, SC. Scott shares actionable advice on identifying hidden household hazards, choosing equipment that fits your layout and budget—from stair lifts to ramps—and navigating short-term rentals versus purchasing for long-term care. Watch the full interview below to learn how simple home adjustments can protect your loved ones' safety and peace of mind!
Senior Tech Safety & Scam Prevention: Helping Older Adults Age in Place Safely
Technology can play an important role in helping older adults remain independent at home. But online scams, unwanted calls, and technology problems can create significant stress for seniors and their families.
In this episode of the Upstate Senior Transition Masterclass Series, Stephanie Burrows, SRES®, sits down with Bill Vicary, founder of Just Call Bill, to discuss practical technology safety, common scams affecting older adults, and simple technology solutions that can support independence and peace of mind.
Key Topics Covered
How to recognize common phone, text, and online scams
Why seniors should be cautious about unexpected links and requests for remote computer access
Technology tools that can support aging in place
Ways families can reduce technology-related stress between aging parents and adult children
Practical steps families can take to help older adults remain safe and independent at home
Why This Matters During a Senior Transition
Technology safety is only one piece of helping an older adult remain independent. Understanding available resources, making appropriate home decisions, and planning ahead can help families avoid making major decisions during a crisis.
Watch the full interview to learn more about senior technology safety and resources for aging in place.
Greenville Meals on Wheels: A Local Resource for Seniors Aging in Place
For many older adults, access to nutritious meals is an important part of remaining safely and independently at home.
In this episode of the Upstate Senior Transition Masterclass Series, Stephanie Burrows, SRES®, sits down with Nichola Bricco from Greenville Meals on Wheels to discuss local meal assistance and resources available to older adults and their families.
What We Discuss
How Greenville Meals on Wheels supports homebound residents
Understanding eligibility and what “homebound” means
How doctors, adult children, and social workers can make referrals
The role volunteers play in supporting older adults in our community
How local support services can help seniors remain independent at home
Why This Matters for Families
When families are evaluating whether an older adult can continue living safely at home, it is important to look at the entire picture—not just the house.
Community services, transportation, meals, home support, healthcare, home modifications, and family assistance can all play a role in an aging-in-place plan.
Watch the full interview to learn more about Greenville-area senior resources.
When remaining at home is no longer the best fit, families may begin exploring senior living and other housing options. These conversations offer local perspectives on senior living, care considerations, downsizing, timing, and preparing for a move.
Senior Living & Real Estate Transitions in Greenville SC: Interview with Sara McAda
Deciding whether an older adult should remain at home, downsize, or move into a senior living community can be one of the most difficult decisions a family faces.
In this episode of the Upstate Senior Transition Masterclass Series, Stephanie Burrows, SRES®, sits down with Sara McAda, owner of Next Chapter Navigation, to discuss the care, housing, emotional, and real estate considerations that families often face during a senior transition.
What We Discuss
How families can begin evaluating senior living and care options
The differences between various types of senior living environments
How to recognize when a home may no longer be meeting an older adult's needs
The emotional challenges of leaving a longtime family home
How downsizing and the home sale can fit into a larger senior-care transition
How a Seniors Real Estate Specialist can help protect home equity and simplify the real estate process
Are you helping a parent or loved one navigate a senior transition in Greenville or Upstate South Carolina? I'm happy to help you understand the real estate side of the process and connect you with appropriate local resources.
Senior Living in Greenville SC: Haywood Estates by Barclay House.
Thinking about senior living options in the Upstate of South Carolina? Here is one local senior living option families may want to explore.
When a parent or loved one begins outgrowing their home, the logistics of downsizing and transitioning into an independent or assisted living community can feel completely overwhelming for a family. In this episode of the Upstate Senior Transition Masterclass, Stephanie Burrows (SRES Realtor® in Greenville, SC) sits down with Chris Dickinson, Sales Director for Haywood Estates by Barclay House, to strip away the confusion and map out a step-by-step path forward. Whether you are an adult child researching local care options from afar or an Upstate family trying to figure out the next right step, Chris and Stephanie break down the real-world timeline of making a senior move with dignity, clarity, and total peace of mind.
KEY TOPICS COVERED IN THIS DISCUSSION: • The Warning Signs: Knowing when it's "the right time" to transition an aging parent • Independent Living vs. Assisted Care: Key differences families need to know in the Upstate • Clearing the Clutter: How to smoothly handle the physical downsizing process • Overcoming the emotional roadblocks and family stress during a late-in-life move.
ABOUT OUR GUEST: Haywood Estates by Barclay House (located near the Patewood Medical Campus at 1180 Haywood Road, Greenville, SC 29615) is one of the premier independent senior living options in the area, offering a maintenance-free, community-driven lifestyle. Learn more about their services at: https://www.qslmseniorliving.com/senior-living/sc/greenville/haywood-rd/
CONNECT WITH CHRIS DICKINSON: • Call/Text: (864) 414-5517.
Senior Services, Estate & Probate Resources
Some senior transitions involve caregivers, attorneys, estate professionals, and other trusted partners. These resources can help families understand the broader network involved in planning for or responding to a major life transition.
Senior Resources & Aging Services in Upstate South Carolina: Interview with Tim Womack
Making long-term plans for yourself or figuring out how to best support aging parents can feel like an overwhelming puzzle. Between housing transitions, care networks, and local programs, it’s hard to know where to turn for trusted, objective advice.
In this episode of our local community spotlight series, we sit down with Tim Womack, the Aging Services Director for the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG). Tim’s office serves as the ultimate regional resource hub for seniors and their families right here in the Greater Greenville area.
The Single Entry Point: How ACOG acts as a streamlined directory to connect you to local senior housing, care assistance, and wellness programs without the runaround.
Supporting the Caregivers: Vital resources available for the "sandwich generation" who are balancing work, life, and caring for aging family members.
Proactive Planning: Why understanding the Upstate's localized senior infrastructure before a crisis hits is the greatest gift you can give your family.
Connect with Local Upstate Resources:
If you or a loved one need direct assistance, information on local senior programs, or housing resources, contact the Appalachian Council of Governments today:
Estate & Probate After the Loss of a Loved One: Interview with Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes
When losing a loved one, the immediate focus should be on family, remembrance, and healing. Yet, the logistical reality of managing an estate and a property transition can quickly feel overwhelming for executors and out-of-state heirs.
To provide our community with total clarity and support, Stephanie Burrows, Senior Real Estate Specialist, sits down with Dan Kirkpatrick & Wendy Thames, the compassionate team at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes serving the Upstate.
In this exclusive interview, we unpack the critical first steps families need to take following a loss, how to seamlessly coordinate between funeral care and estate asset protection, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that cause unnecessary stress during probate.
You can reach Dan and Wendy through their website where they offer 4 locations: Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes.
Elder Law & Real Estate in Greenville SC: Planning for a Senior Transition
Trying to handle a family move before your legal paperwork is aligned can cause costly delays. In this masterclass Stephanie Burrows sits down with elder law expert Chace Campbell, Founder of the Chace Law Firm to help you protect your assets before a housing crisis occurs.
A senior real estate transition can become much more complicated when legal documents, powers of attorney, estate plans, or ownership of the property have not been addressed in advance.
In this episode of the Upstate Senior Transition Masterclass Series, Stephanie Burrows, SRES®, sits down with the team at Chace Law Firm in Greenville, SC, to discuss the legal and real estate considerations families should understand before a senior transition or estate property sale
Topics Covered
Powers of Attorney and other important legal documents
Wills, trusts, and healthcare directives
Probate and potential title delays
Planning ahead before a medical or housing crisis
Estate planning and long-term-care considerations
Why families should coordinate legal and real estate decisions during an estate transition
Why This Matters
Real estate decisions involving an aging parent or an estate often require coordination between family members, attorneys, financial professionals, and real estate professionals.
Planning ahead can give families more options and help reduce unnecessary delays and stress.
Senior Moves: 3 Packing Mistakes That Stressed-Out Families Make
Protecting Essential Documents During a Downsize
In my 20 years of helping families navigate senior transitions, I have seen one heartbreaking mistake happen over and over again: accidentally packing the things you need most. When stress levels are high and the cardboard boxes start flying, it is incredibly easy for essential items to get mixed up with everyday housewares. Before you tape up a single box for your parents' move, make sure you pull these three critical categories completely out of the equation
1.) The Master Identity Folder: Never pack birth certificates, social security cards, marriage licenses, or military discharge papers (DD-214). Keep these in a dedicated, brightly colored folder that stays in your personal vehicle—not the moving truck.
2.) Immediate Financial & Tax Records: Checking account information, active tax returns, and statements needed for closing or estate settlement must remain accessible. If they get buried in a random box marked "Office," it can stall your real estate transaction for weeks.
3.) Active Legal Documents: Powers of Attorney, wills, healthcare proxies, and trust paperwork should never be taped up in a moving box. Your legal team and your Realtor need access to these to protect your family's interests in real-time.
Moving a lifetime of memories is emotional and exhausting. Setting up a "Do Not Pack" zone on day one keeps your peace of mind intact and your legal timeline on trac
Featured Family Resource: Protecting Your Estate Equity
What happens to home equity during probate?Many executors and adult children don't realize that an inaccurate property valuation can cost an estate thousands in unnecessary tax liabilities, inheritance disputes, or legal delays. My background in home valuation means we look at estate property with an elite, analytical lens to ensure families protect their hard-earned equity. When handling an estate transition, always ensure your Realtor knows how to provide a precise, defensible date-of-death valuation to protect your parent's legacy and secure the financial future your family needs.
