Many times relocation can’t be avoided. When you get a new job or a promotion that requires you to move in just a couple of weeks, what will you do to sell your home that fast?
In today’s economy, it’s almost guaranteed that you will have to face the challenge of putting your house on the market and moving on out. Sometimes, the spouse with a new job can go ahead and move while the other spouse stays to take care of the home selling matters. But, many times that’s just not possible, so what do you do?
There are several things that you can do to make sure your house is secure, retains its curb appeal and sells quickly. You will want to first find a good real estate agent. The further away you are, the more you will have to depend on your agent. Much more than if you still lived in the home. Contact your Realtor ever few days to keep updated on how many people are viewing your home, and what feedback your Realtor is getting.
Keep furniture in the home if you can. A home with some furniture is more attractive than an empty one. If you need all your furniture, you can always find a staging company that rents furniture to fill your empty rooms. If that’s not in your budget, you can always take pictures of your home with your furniture in it, have them printed in 8×11 inches, and make a photo album so potential buyers will be able to see what the home looks like with furniture in it.
On the outside, make sure you have someone tending your lawn. Curb appeal is very important, so hire someone to keep your lawn mowed, the leaves raked, trim the hedges, or shovel the snow if needed. Before you leave, spruce it up a little. Add some new ground covering to your shrubs, and maybe brighten it up a little with colorful annuals.
When you’re leaving be sure to touch up any paint that may need it. Sometimes, when you move your furniture will scuff the walls or scratch them. This can easily be touched up and will help the home sell faster. Another thing to remember about paint is not everyone likes bold colors, so if you have bold colors on your walls, you may want to consider painting them a neutral color.
Having someone to come in and professionally clean your carpets will go a long way. Especially if your home will be vacant. When a home is vacant, all the potential buyer will have to look at are the walls and floors. So, make sure they are super clean.
If you’re leaving appliances, make sure you leave the paperwork and any warranty information. Of they are Energy Star appliances, leave copies of your energy bills to show how much you’ve save using them.
Vacant home are the perfect target for break-ins. Investing in exterior sensor lights that turn on automatically when dark will help a lot. Also, cancel your newspaper subscriptions. If you use a security alarm, keep it turned on and give the code to your agent. And last but not least, check your homeowners insurance. Some companies have a cap on how long your coverage will be in effect while your home is vacant.
These tips should help you get your home sold when you need to do it quickly.
Great tips as always, it will be difficult in these times but not impossible.