We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenifer Ross. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenifer below.
Alright, Jenifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
Many moons ago when I was 25 I picked up a copy of Ken Dykwald’s book Age Wave – which explored the profound effects of our aging population, and the changing demographics that go with it, and how this “wave” was going to affect every aspect of society – – -and this book changed my whole life/work trajectory.
I had just completed my master’s in Architectural Preservation and earned a second master’s Certificate in Gerontology and I was inspired and determined to create a new kind of living of older adults – – – one that was not called an “Old Age Home”. I came up with the acronym NOAH, Not Old Age Home, and began my journey of trying to create senior living communities using existing industrial buildings (like mills and factories) retrofitted into beautiful, community-oriented, artful spaces to age that were not institutional.
Achieving this goal at this time at that young age proved challenging. I continued to research and think about this model – determined to challenge the status quo and norms around seniors and housing. I learned more about Universal Design and Aging in Place… as well as co-living and co-housing.
Flash forward to 2020. We are at the threshold of a turning point in the US and the world. A year into a Pandemic (A what?! Still seems surreal). I have been let go from my job in NFP fundraising and while wiping down groceries and masking up I decided to return to my roots – to my original mission – of working to change the way we approach aging by updating the environment in which we age.
Here’s where the name comes in (suspense building). Right around this time, Ken Dykwald puts out a new book. It’s called “What Retirees Want”. Of course, I bought it and promptly sat down with a highlighter and pen to read it.
Side Note: I have always not loved the terms “senior” or “older adult”
In this new book Dykwald refers to these retirees as Third Agers. I LOVED THIS. Kind of like the term “third act” as we often hear, but not so tied to a play.
It was then that I decided to call my new business Third Age Home, with a larger play down the road for Third Age Living which will be the umbrella over Third Age Home as well as Third Age Travel, Third Age Learning, Third Age Love, Third Age Wellness… You get it)
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a person who has always had a great respect and love of all things “older”, be it architecture or humans, there has always been an underlying continuous thread in all of my work, businesses, and volunteer work connecting me back to this core interest.
When I became a Realtor almost three years ago, I knew I wanted to somehow combine my interests and passions around real estate, downsizing, and aging in place.
Third Age Home assists empty nesters, and others interested in downsizing, in three main areas:
1. Pair Down, Declutter, Stage, and Sell Their Current Home
2. Define the next move, and then: Buy or rent a new home or apartment (or Senior Living Community) that will be age-friendly and supportive during their Third Age
3. If needed, work with them to make modifications to the new residence to make it safer and more accessible
I am a full-service Third Age Transition expert! These kinds of moves can be overwhelming for the parents and adult children, and having someone there along the way advising, supporting and advocating for them can make the process so much less stressful.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Mostly I use meaningful content in the way of social media, my newsletter, YouTube channel and speaking engagements to promote my unique approach to helping people navigate the whole downsizing/relocating transition… and lots of face-to-face networking.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Trust. I do just to do… not to get back. But, it always comes back to you when you are present, transparent, and authentic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thirdagehome.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenifer_ross_real_estate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeniferrossrealestate
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenross/
- Twitter: @watercoolerhub
- Youtube: @liveinwestchester
Image Credits
They are all my images