By Meghan Belnap
Packing up, getting your existing home ready for sale, finding a new house and dealing with life in general are bound to bring added stress as you prepare for a big move. One way that you can minimize tasks and keep from going bonkers is to stay ahead of the process. Preparing to sell before your listing date can make the first part of your move go faster. Here are some things you can do right now to make your life easier when you get to your new home:
Prep, Clean, Declutter and Refresh
Pack for your move as you declutter your home to get both jobs done quickly. Put seasonal items that your family will not need for the next three to six months in boxes and label accordingly. Now is also when you want to get rid of books, clothes and furniture you'll never use again.
When you list your home, an open house is right around the corner. Your home needs to be fresh and extremely clean and neat to get immediate offers. Most individuals want the place to look like they could move in right away. Scrub, paint, steam clean and focus on making small repairs like fixing sidewalk cracks, patching holes in the walls and cleaning greasy oven vents.
Hire a Financial Specialist
Once you sell your home, you'll need a mortgage to buy your new place. Did you know that if you hire a loan company before the sale, they can help you with both houses? A mortgage broker can assist you with navigating the closing process on your current residence so that you can get the ball rolling on your new home sooner. They can save you time and money because you're using one company for both selling and buying.
Get the Opinion of a Professional Staging Expert
One of the most important rules of home staging is to keep the clutter out of your house. By minimizing the stuff you have inside your home before you stage, you reduce the time you have to pay the staging expert. Should you choose to do the work alone, it might be a good idea to fork over the hourly price for the staging professional to get a few ideas and tips specific to your home. You'll be able to use this information to guide you in the right direction.
As a general rule, you'll want to make the most room in your closets and on your counters. Additionally, cupboards should be cleared out, as well. You can rent or borrow furniture to use for staging if your items are in storage.
Don't Skimp on the Photography
Having the right batch of photographs is vital to a quick sell. When you list your home, the pictures should contain clear shots of the top features of your property. For instance, crown molding in the bedrooms, extra storage in the pantry and closet organizers in the master bedroom are excellent examples of things you could focus on. Also, it's always a great idea to post these photos on social media—friends and family will likely share and comment on them.
When you move, the items you packed in storage are going to be easy to unpack if you use clear tags and label each box appropriately. Planning ahead will help you find the things you need the most when you get to your new home. Take your time unpacking and enjoy the experience instead of feeling flustered at the end of a long transition.
Nancy M. Alexander - Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate NancyAlexander.com
