Is Moving Out Before Selling A Good Idea?
We get this question all the time: Should I vacate my home before selling, or should I stay?
Our answer is always the same: Whatever works best for you.
Julie and her team aim to make your home-selling experience as convenient and pleasant as possible, which is why our clients talk about our approach as “very easy and stress-free,” and describe us as “a very different kind of real estate agent…someone who makes you feel at ease.”
As in any situation, the question of vacating or staying during your home’s sale has its pros and cons.
PROS
- Greater convenience
You won’t be interrupted at inopportune times, and you won’t have to drive to Starbucks, walk around the neighborhood, or head out to the store for hours while buyers are looking at your house.
- More potential for showings
It is simply more time-effective for us to show a home that’s vacant rather than coordinating with homeowners every time. More importantly, a greater number of showings usually results in more offers.
“When the Bay Area real estate market is ultra-competitive, vacant homes tend to sell faster than the ones occupied by their owners. Vacant homes are accessible 24/7, which means homebuyers can see them and put in an offer quickly in hopes of beating out other potential buyers.”
– Chad Eng, from Redfin
- No need to organize and clean
You won’t be under continual pressure to keep your home neat and tidy. We all know how hard this is, especially with children around the house. A messy home can also potentially lower the selling and appraisal value (‘Sellers: How To Achieve Higher Appraisals”) of your home.
CONS
- Staging
An empty home is not that attractive nor inviting. Buyers will have a hard time imagining what it feels like to live there. So you’ll need to stage it.
Staging involves having a professional company bring in and arrange furniture in your home to showcase its potential to buyers. But is it worth the trouble? According to the latest research from the National Association of REALTORS®, the answer is a resounding YES. Forty percent of buyer agents cited that home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home, and 83% said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
Julie and her team stand ready to help, offering home-sellers a network of staging professionals which will ensure that potential buyers fall in love with your home at first sight. (add link to “Sellers: Increase Curb Appeal For Higher Returns”)
- Potential for issues
When a home isn’t occupied, issues may spring up that can be harmful if not caught in time. This could include plumbing problems, gas leaks, and wiring or technical difficulties. In rare cases, vandalism could occur. Fortunately, Julie and her team are able to check on your property routinely to make sure all is well. For extra peace of mind, consider taking out unoccupied home insurance. Click here for more details.
- Added expense
Two mortgages, or the cost of renting plus an extra utility bill while selling your home, add up, especially in areas where houses take longer to sell. In the Bay Area, however, continued favorable market conditions make it more likely for your home to sell faster than in other markets, potentially minimizing any extra bills.
Read further: (add link to “Move-Up Homebuyers: Buy Before Sell? Or Sell Before Buy?”)
Whatever works best for you, whether vacating or staying put, our experienced team will make sure our process fits your needs, timeline, and goals. Putting your interests first is what has kept us in business for close to two decades, and why we are consistently recognized as one of the top real estate agents in the nation.
Can We Help?
To learn more about best practices when selling your home, please contact Julie at 650.799.8888 or [email protected] to schedule a free consultation.
