So, you’ve decided to move and are finally putting your home on the market. That’s huge! But this can often be a pretty awkward transition time for sellers, with a lot of uncertainty and feeling like a guest in your own home. Put that stress to the side and read on for the best tips for living in a home that’s listed for sale!
GET RID OF WHAT YOU DON’T NEED: While your house is listed for sale, you want to optimize its space, and that means getting rid of the unwanted things you don’t need. Go through your closet, attic, or any place in your house you may have let things pile up, and organize them. Once you’ve done this, find your nearest donation site and give your unused belongings away. Not only are you helping someone else in need, but you are decluttering your home and increasing the chances of it selling. It also makes it easier to keep up with being “showing ready” at a moment’s notice.
SECURE YOUR VALUABLES: A home listed for sale could have dozens of strangers coming in and out on a daily basis. With that being said, make sure your valuables are tucked away in a safe and secure location. Not just your money, jewelry, and prized possessions, but also consider any medications and personal documents. You will feel a lot better about leaving your house knowing your important belongings are secure.
YOUR PETS: Not all prospective buyers are pet people, so you need to make sure any evidence of pets is cleaned up and out of sight. Get rid of any waste that might be in the yard and crack open a window to let in some fresh air in. Remember, pet odors can become familiar to us and may be much more noticeable to prospective buyers touring your home.
KNOW THE SCHEDULE FOR SHOWINGS: A tech-savvy agent should keep you well aware of all showing requests to let you be ready to show and also give an idea of what times you cannot be in your home, so you can plan something productive to do in the meantime. Having an activity will make the time go faster and ease the stress of having to vacate your house.
ADVICE: Moving into a new home is a stressful time, but not enough attention is paid to the stress of living in a home that’s listed for sale. Living in a house on the market can be inconvenient and anxiety-inducing. Use these tips and the services of a professional Realtor® to provide some structure at this difficult point in your home-selling process!
