Estate and mortgageWhat To Do If You Have To Move In A Hurry - And Still Have A House To Sell
Sometimes there"s no avoiding it. A new job offer or promotion demands you be in a new city in two weeks. Or maybe your new house is ready and you want your kids to be able to start the school year in their new school. Whatever the case, sometimes you have to move before your house is sold.
If you"ve already sold your house, the process will be much easier -- you"ll just have the closing and paperwork to tend to once you move.
But if your house is on the market, or perhaps isn"t even listed yet, then trying to sell it while you"re in a new town -- or even in the same town in a new house -- can be more of a challenge. If it"s a new-job situation, sometimes it makes sense for the spouse with the new position to go on ahead while the other stays behind to tend to house-selling matters.
If that"s not possible, there are a number of things you should do to ensure your house remains secure, retains its curb appeal and sells as quickly as
possible, including:
Stay in close contact with your real estate agent. If you"re selling long distance you"ll have to rely on your agent or Realtor more than if you still lived in the house. Stay updated on how many people are viewing the house and see what feedback your agent is getting.
If possible, try to leave some of your furnishings in the house. A furnished house is much more attractive than an empty one. You could even contact a special staging company in which you could rent furniture to fill out the rooms.
If your house will be vacant, consider leaving some photos behind of the furnished rooms so those looking at your house have an idea of how much better it looks when furnished. Large prints -- like 8x11 inches -- assembled in an album would be better than a hodgepodge of snapshots.
Make sure the curb appeal lasts. That means you"ll need to hire someone to mow your lawn, rake the leaves, or shovel the snow.
Spruce up your landscaping before you leave. Plant some new shrubs, lay down some fresh ground cover, or brighten it up with some colorful annuals.
If you are leaving the house empty, go through the house and touch up the paint where necessary. Moving furniture out often leaves scuff marks and
scratches -- blemishes that potential home buyers will notice instantly.
Freshen up with neutral-colored paint. If the house is empty, the walls are going to stand out. If you have bold-colored walls, you may want to consider painting them a neutral color.
Get your carpets professionally cleaned. This is especially important if the house will be vacant. After all, with nothing in the house, all would-be buyers have to look at are the floors and walls.
If you have any Energy Star appliances, leave the paperwork and copies of your energy bills that show the money you"ve saved.
Don"t set your deserted house up for potential break-ins. You may want to invest in exterior sensor lights that automatically turn on when it gets dark and turn off at sunrise. Make sure you cancel your newspaper subscription.
If you have a security alarm, use it -- just be sure you leave your entrance code with your real estate agent.
Be sure you review the provisions of your homeowners insurance. Many companies have a cap on how long coverage will last while your house is vacant.