Maybe you have a new job that requires you to be across the country or maybe you just want to get the kids in their new school before the next semester. Sometimes it’s inevitable that you have to move in a hurry, which is hard enough. Hopefully you have a spouse who can stay back and take care of it, but that’s not always the case and can be hard on a relationship. If the house you have to sell is not moving, or not even listed, there are some steps that you’ll need to take to get the best price in the shortest amount of time.
Hire a trustworthy, experience agent. This can’t be stressed enough. With the list of things that could go wrong you’ll want an agent that will be on top of it. You’ll need to rely on this person more than if you were still living in the home. Be sure you get regular updates on how many viewings you’ve had and what the feedback on the house is.
Think about staging. Chances are, you’re going to take your furniture with you. Staged homes sell faster than others, so there are some options for staging your home without your furniture. You can hire a staging company to rent furniture or create an album of 8×10 photos of each room fulling furnished to leave behind. Your agent can even send you the album after your home is sold.
Clean up the house. Be sure to have all the carpets cleaned. If you have any bold colored walls, paint them in neutral colors. Without any furniture the floors and walls will really stand out. Touch up the paint where necessary. Moving furniture out often leaves scuff marks, scratches and blemishes that potential home buyers will notice instantly. Leave any manuals you have, as well as the paperwork and utility bills showing the savings for any Energy Star appliances.
Remember curb appeal. Make arrangements for the lawn to be mowed, leaves raked, and shovel the snow. Spruce up your landscaping before you leave and be sure you have an easy to maintain garden since no one will be around to care for it. If your home is lacking in curb appeal, buyers won’t even look inside and they won’t care about an excuse of the house being vacant.
Keep your property safe. Until the property is sold, you are the owner and responsible for it. If you have a security system use it, but be sure to give your agent the codes for showing. You’ll also need to protect yourself against potential break ins. Add extra outdoor lights and leave behind lights on timers that go on at dusk and off at dawn. Check with your homeowners insurance to be sure you don’t have a clause that will cancel the contract if the property is vacant for a certain amount of time.
If you need to move in a hurry, be sure to check that the agent you hire has experience with vacant homes. For more information on protecting your home and selling in a hurry, call Helen today at 847.967.0022 or email [email protected].