How to Prepare Your Home to Sell (and How to Prepare to Move Your Life)
All good things must come to end and that includes your time in any particular home. The average American spends between eight and thirteen years in their home before moving out.
If you feel the time to move is coming on, that means a wealth of highs (and few lows) are awaiting you. There's the excitement of moving somewhere fresh and new, but also the pains of going through the home sale process.
If you're unsure of how to prepare your home to sell, there's a lot you might need to get familiar with.
Making a good impression on potential buyers can take more work than many homeowners realize. Figuring out how best to pack up your own life can take some forethought as well.
What selling and moving preparations do you need to get familiar with? Read on and we'll walk you through everything that you need to know.
How to Prepare Your Home to Sell
Once you decide to put your home on the market, it's logical that you want a sale to happen as quickly as possible. However, a sale isn't just going to come about magically all on its own. You need to put in a little work to make it happen.
Declutter and Depersonalize
One of the most important steps you can take in presenting your home to new buyers is to depersonalize it. This is an important psychological move. You don't want a potential buyer to feel as if they are stepping into your home -- you want them to feel as if they're stepping into their future home.
It's important to create an environment that's as easy to envision and imagine oneself in as possible. That means packing up everything that makes your home yours: family photos, sports memorabilia, movie posters, and so forth.
Anything that screams of your own personal taste and sensibility needs to be put away so that the new buyer can project their own images on your walls.
Clean and Repair
Once your home has been decluttered and seems presentable, it's time to ensure the home will stand up to inspection.
First, make sure you do a thorough deep clean. Don't miss any sections of the home, including closets that curious buyers might poke their heads into. If you must, hide extra clutter or mess in dressers or furniture you know buyers won't look in.
You'll also want to make sure you repair any issues with the home. These issues can hold up the speed of a sale. Fixing them as early as possible can help to avoid a slow-down later on.
How to Prepare to Move to a New Home
Once you have your home ready for the market, you can turn your attention to the pressing issue of your own move. How are you going to be able to pack up the entirety of your life and move it to a new location?
There are a few simple moving tips you can employ to help you handle what might feel like a gargantuan task.
Get as Organized as Possible
If you're not a type-A person, it's time to become one. The number one tool you have to battle the potential frenzy of moving out is to get as organized as possible.
There's a good amount of scheduling and organizing that needs to be done as you move from place to place. Failure to keep things in order could lead to costly mistakes and unneeded stress.
If you want to really stay on top of your move, you can create an inventory of everything you're planning on moving. While this can sound a little overwhelming to create, you'll find that you will be glad that you did once things get going.
You will need this inventory list when securing insurance for all your belongings and when working with a professional moving company.
Creating a timeline and schedule for your move can also help keep things running smoothly. It will also help you to keep a sense of control over the proceedings, which can help to keep your head on straight.
Yes, there is science to support the idea that this kind of preparation can help you keep your cool during a difficult time.
Make various deadlines that you want to try and meet. When do you want to have your inventory made, when will you have various rooms packed up, etc.
Make the Big Decisions
There are some major elements of moving that might feel as if they're hanging over your head until you get them out of the way. Not waiting and just attacking these issues head-on can make all the difference in your state of mind.
First, you'll want to decide if you're hiring movers or planning to handle the process all on your own. If you think you'll need some extra help, consider if you'll need help packing or just loading out and moving.
Most professional moving companies will offer various services, so it's best to know what you want ahead of time.
If you're moving quite a long distance, it's worth considering how you're going to get your vehicles there. Will you drive, or do you need to have your car shipped? This is a big task that you'll need to put some legwork into.
Do you need moving insurance? Some moving companies provide you with a base level of insurance. You’ll also be able to purchase additional insurance from them. Make sure to ask your potential movers about their insurance policy so you’re not left scrambling the day of your move.
Tips for Moving to a New Home
If you're curious about how to prepare your home to sell quickly, it's important to keep the above strategies in mind. Proper presentation and organization can be key to the next few months of your life. If you can keep these elements in mind, you'll be well on your way to a successful sale and a stress-free move.
Have more questions about your move? Reach out to us anytime with your questions for immediate assistance.