'Why We Chose a Vibrant Retirement at Lantern Hill'

When Carol and Larry Cunningham put their house on the market to move to Lantern Hill, an Erickson Senior Living community in New Providence, N.J., it sold in just a few days. 

They were excited to start the next chapter in their lives, defined by a vibrant, engaging lifestyle and a robust offering of amenities, clubs, and resources. Although a move was still ahead of them, they were confident the process would go smoothly--with the help of Lantern Hill's moving services. 

Recently, Carol spoke with the Tribune to share their experience and help others make their retirement dreams a reality.

Tribune: What drew you to Lantern Hill?

Carol: We lived one mile away from Lantern Hill, so it was already on our radar. Plus, one of our sons and two grandkids live close by. We looked at another retirement community in the area, but you had to go outside to get to the on-site restaurants. At Lantern Hill, all buildings are connected via enclosed walkways. We also liked how it was newer with nicer amenities. 

Once we decided on Lantern Hill, we met with our financial planner, and he agreed that we chose a place that would allow us to live comfortably.

Tribune: How did you prepare for your move?

Carol: Carlos Aguilera, a senior sales associate at Lantern Hill, informed us that a portion of our moving expenses would be reimbursed if we used one of their preferred real estate agents. We trusted Carlos and his recommendation, so we knew they would do a good job. 

Our real estate agent was incredibly organized, a go-getter, and a straight shooter, which we liked. We assumed we'd have to remove wallpaper and paint every room, but she advised us that the homebuyer would do that, which saved us money. 

So, we did practically nothing--except some decluttering--to make the house look nice for photos. When it came time to sell, her strategy was to invite a bidding war because the market here was bonkers. Our house sold in a few days at 10% above asking price!

Tribune: Did you use any other realty and moving services?

Carol: Yes. Hiring a senior move manager was the best decision we ever made. The one Lantern Hill recommended facilitated every aspect of the move for us. I can't say enough about her. She thought of everything! 

She helped us decide what to take with us and what to get rid of or donate. Carlos gave her the floor plan for our new apartment home, so when she came to our house and measured all of our furniture, we knew what would fit. 

Then, she arranged all of our furniture on a diagram so we could visualize what our future living space would look like. 

Tribune: How did your move go?

Carol: It was so easy! Our senior move manager found movers for us and scheduled the date and time. She was here on move-in day to make sure everything went smoothly, and she even helped the movers with unpacking. She came back later to help me hang pictures. 

I have a four-foot wall clock that my sister made, which is very important to me. The movers built a custom crate to move it safely. Also, I am a quilter. My sewing equipment is pretty heavy, so she chose a moving company that specializes in heavy items. 

Tribune: What do you like the most about living at Lantern Hill?

Carol: The worry-free lifestyle. It snowed one day, and I thought, "I don't have to go out there and shovel." Lantern Hill has made our lives so much easier! Now, I can focus on my quilting, and we have more free time to babysit our grandsons.

We also appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing health care services are available on campus if we need them. 

Originally, we were considering a move to a 55-plus community, but our sons reminded us that we would probably have to move again--unless we moved to a continuing care retirement community. Larry and I--and our sons--are so pleased with Lantern Hill! 

To learn more about the benefits of moving to a maintenance-free community, request more information today.