OK. I just fell out of my chair and lost all my coffee, I am 54, I teach the technology class in our office, just bought 3 acres, and spend my weekends pounding fence poles - hate to think that by the end of this year, when I turn 55, I am going to need a retirement condo? Looks like I have to buy my horse, finish my arena, practice cutting the cows and sell it all by Dec 23.

Trust me, my mom is 76, has her own website, ipad, sends me text messages daily, but would be a good candidate for your condos - send her a text message of your listing - and get rid of that 55 years old, change it to 65, or 70, and older - you are making us youngsters mad - lol, have a great day

I would suggest that you target those activities and amenities that appeal to seniors.  Activities, doctors, restaurants shopping, etc.

I don't think you can market the same to all seniors. There is a vast difference between a 55 year old and an 80 year old. Speaking as a 55+ individual, some of us are technologically up to date, and many aren't.

For older seniors, I think it's about personal contact:  postcards, door knocking, and senior events.

For the youngest of the seniors I don't really think you need a different approach than anyone else.

Find the local 55+ communities and promote those and talk about the features they have.  I suspect that taking a general house and advertising as good for a senior or 55 plus is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.  But when you advertise the general housing you can focus on features that would appeal to the 55 plus crowd.  Single Level, no steps to entry, wide hall ways, handicap amenities. and so forth.

Make sure you are also a Senior

One consideration, for those in the North, is to capitalize on seasonal benefits/changes.  Many here, as they get older, don't want to deal w/ shoveling snow.  So talk about the benefits of places that take care of that for you and make things convenient (wo/ scaring them down to Florida LOL).  In spring/summer, talk about the wonderful area and activiites and sense of community.

Would like to be able to find all the seniors who are looking to sell rather than those looking to buy.

Not much experience there.

Never done. Checking other answers.

Not specifically, Richard.

Good morning, Richard Robibero, ABR, SRS my team are now sold out of three active adult communities in our town.... I did the marketing....and with this age group, you need to market online AND offline....not everyone is technology savvy..... you can buy a database of names for 55+ folks who own their homes....use newspaper ads and online marketing.... 

A number of my clients are over 55. In part, it's because I am, and so I understand what they want and do not want (I never show them 3 story houses!)

If an agent is that age or older, they can draw from their own experience. If they are younger, they should have a conversation with their parents and grandparents and actually LISTEN to their concerns.

Richard, I would market to those looking to move to a condo to relieve them of tasks associated with home ownership.  Such as snow removal, pool cleaning, yard task,  and general maintenance that comes with home ownership.

 You have got me thinking about writing a post about getting the pool ready for this coming summer.  Wouldn't it be nice to just grab your mask and snorkel and head over to the community pool without the hassle of year round pool maintenance.  Folks of any age could relate to the time involved for pool maintenance. Make it generic.

Richard, I think you use regular online and print media channels to market to seniors but you mention different features -- single-level living, lots of storage, underground/enclosed parking garage, proximity to shopping, transit hubs, and medical centers, activities and so forth that would appeal to any buyers of any age who want more urban living. Flyers at the senior center should work too, but again, focus on the features of the property not the age of the buyer. You could also find out locally who the agents are that are SRES certified and email information to them.

I think instead of focusing on age, focus on stressing those features and benefits that seniors might enjoy. 

Making assumptions about what people want/need based on age is apt to make you more enemies than friends. I'm well past 55 and think I'll buy a new horse this year. My 70 year old neighbor loves to go 4-wheeling in the mountains. My 86 year old neighbor tends a small herd of cattle and comes to visit on his 4-wheeler. The 75+ widow next door tends a somewhat larger herd of cows - taking her tractor out each morning to deliver their hay in winter. She also rides her horse down to visit a neighbor a few miles away.

None of us is thinking of downsizing. 

I think there is a designation you can get that covers a lot of questions about how to market and service the senior community. Perhaps your Association can direct you to the right place.

Richard Robibero, ABR, SRS  Good blog, I think you have a lot of good answers here, I think the best ones are the ones that talk about being where your target client is, thinking back to my mother, she drives down to the senior center and plays cards 3 times a week, maybe sponsor a meal one day? Comfort food for seniors, chicken and dumplings...... something you just dont find anymore that would bring back good memories. You know what they say about smell, it can bring back childhood memories. Good luck Richard

Have coffee at McDonald's every morning- I know that there is an gentleman's group that meets at our local McD's for coffee around 7:00 each day.

You might be surprised, Richard, how many seniors are technologically savy.  My parents live in a 55+ community in FL during the winter months and ALL of their friends (70s/80s) are online everyday.  And a large proportion seem to follow their local real estate activity too... at very least at their neighborhood or building level.  Hitting the neighborhood/building HOA, or community center if allowed, is an excellent move, as they tend to love getting involved in choosing their neighbors.  My parents' neighborhood even has a closed circuit TV channel for current news and events on which I've seen property listing ads.  

Also, having just moved from Miami to Sarasota where the population skews much older, I have noticed that good old newspaper advertising is still very much alive and well here.

At age 55, many seniors have at least another 10 years on the job. At age 65 many seniors have their homes paid off and are unlikely to be moving. Seniors want to be close to services, medical, retail shopping, libraries, etc. Some consider a move to be close to relocated children, so a good relocation network can be important. Over 65 prefer a single story condo or house.