Selling your house and relocating is a big deal, and actually doing it can be an even bigger process. Because relocating can require so much of your time and attention, we made this one-stop checklist for selling your house without missteps, so you can consider the best selling option for your situation.
1. Keep in mind details about your new home
Relocating can be a tricky process becasue it is actually two processes: you are selling your house and also establishing a new home in a different area. The home selling process can consume a lot of your time and attention, but remember to also handle the tasks necessary for your relocation, such as buying or renting a property in your new area, ensuring your are prepared to move your things there, and readying yourself to seek out new job opportunities if you don’t already have one.
2. Find a realtor
When selling your house and relocating by using the traditional selling method (listing your property), your best bet for securing a fast offer is to hire a realtor, who can guide you through the selling process. Ideally, your realtor will know your area and how the local market works, what pricing range you can realistically expect for your property, how to market your house to the right buyers, and even how to handle the process remotely if you are planning on relocating before you sell. Finding the right realtor to meet these criteria can involve interviewing multiple options, so make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to prioritize during your selling process so you can find the right fit.
3. Consider repairs and updates
Selling your house and relocating is likely a process that you would like to get through as quickly as possible, but there are a few delays that may allow you get more out of the sale in the long run. For example, investing in repairs and updates brings your house to its fullest market value in order to attract more buyers and get a higher selling price. When thinking about home improvements, consider professional labor that you will need to invest in for any major repairs and updates and what your budget is for those projects. Additionally, consult with your realtor to figure out the most productive investments for your house. Your realtor may even recommend a pre-listing inspection to see if there are any major issues that need to be addressed, like water damage or outdated electrical. Keep in mind that this step can be time-consuming and may stall your relocation plans, but it can also be the best way to get the most out of selling your house if that is something that you want to prioritize.
4. Declutter, pack, and organize
The more decluttered you can get your house, the better. Luckily, this is probably something you are already doing if you are relocating. Pack items that you don’t need for day-to-day life, such as family photos, knick-knacks, personal décor, or out of season clothes (you don’t need winter coats and hats in the middle of June, for example). Put boxes of your things neatly in a garage or basement, or consider renting a storage unit either near your current property or in your new area in order to get them out of the house and free up space. The goal for this step is to make the home appear as HGTV-ready as possible with neutral, welcoming décor and minimal clutter. You can even invest in a professional stager to help with this if necessary.
5. Clean, clean, clean!
This step is very important when selling your house: buyers always want to imagine themselves living in a clean home, and it is best if your property looks like it is easy to keep clean. Prepare to keep your house pristine for listing photos, open houses, and showings. You want to eliminate dust, window smudges, dirty floors, bathroom mold, etc. If necessary, you can hire a local cleaning service to help with this step. Don’t forget that this also includes the yard: rake up leaves, weed flower beds, put down fresh mulch, and mow the lawn in order to boost curb appeal and attract more buyers.
6. Market with a great listing
Selling your house and relocating goes much faster if you can market your property with an appealing listing. Your realtor will be heavily involved with this part of the process: they may hire a professional photographer to capture listing photos of your property, and the realtor will also write a listing description that highlights the biggest selling points of your home, such as an updated kitchen or finished basement. This will also be the time when you work together to determine the fairest listing price. The listing, when complete, then must be posted and marketed appropriately. This will be the job of your realtor, but stay involved with the process so that if there are any delays in receiving an offer, you can troubleshoot if necessary.
7. Prep for open houses and showings
Once the property is listed, there can be a lot of in-and-out as different buyers view the property. Try to keep the property clean and staged appropriately. If you are in the house while any potential buyers are looking at it with their realtor, be welcoming but don’t hover, definitely don’t try to give a house tour yourself, and politely answer any questions the buyers may have after they have finished seeing the property.
8. Consider and negotiate offers
Once offers begin rolling in, which can take anywhere from days to months depending on the market, it’s up to you to consider those offers. Your realtor can recommend offers, but the decision is ultimately yours. Make sure you weigh your property’s value fairly and prioritize offers that have pre-approved financing. If there is a delay in receiving offers, or if offers that you receive are consistently lower than you or your realtor expected, meet with your realtor to evaluate what might be causing that issue.
9. Wait on final closing tasks
Once you accept an offer, there is a lot of waiting time while the buyer handles their side of the transaction. They will have an appraisal and inspection done to ensure that they are paying a fair amount for the property and that there are no major issues, such as mold damage or a crack in the foundation. This “lagging point” while selling your house is a good time for you to tie up any loose ends in your plans for relocating to your new area, if there are any.
10. Renegotiate if necessary
After the buyer’s appraisal and inspection are done, it is possible that they will try to renegotiate. For example, if the appraisal finds that their offer is higher than the market value of the property, then the buyer may attempt a renegotiation of their offer for something closer to the market value determined by the appraiser. Additionally, inspection contingencies can prevent a buyer from securing financing and stall the sale. If the inspection finds any significant problems with the property, then the buyer’s loan may not be approved unless there is a price renegotiation, or unless you agree to make necessary repairs before closing. Any of these issues can slow your plans for relocating, so work with your realtor to get ahead of them by pricing your home appropriately and identifying any issues within the property before listing.
11. Close
Once any negotiation hurdles are cleared, you are ready to close on your house. Find a time and place to close with the buyer that is agreeable for all parties, which usually includes you, the buyer, your realtors and/or your attorneys. Make sure you have your photo ID, checkbook, and paperwork ready, and get ready to close the deal. Once you sign any necessary paperwork, all that is left is to handle closing costs (this includes attorney fees and title costs, which may have already been taken off of the home’s selling price), as well as your realtor’s commission.
12. Consider alternative selling options
If you don’t feel like the traditional selling method will be feasible with your relocating plans, then you can always consider a direct sale as an alternative method for selling your house. It is possible for you to seek out a real estate investor or homebuying company who can buy your house as-is in cash. This method is often appealing to homeowners who want to offload burdensome properties fast, which can be the case for people in the process of relocating. You can avoid the lengthy task of listing your home by instead directly approaching a cash buyer and requesting an offer. If you like the offer, then you can usually close with the buyer within as little as two weeks. This allows you to move forward with selling your house and relocating with minimal hassle and no cost. Keep an eye out for companies that have good reviews, a Google Business profile, and business accreditation in order to ensure a quick and smooth sale with a reliable buyer, and always ensure that there is a real estate attorney present at any closing to avoid scams.
Here’s How We Can Help!
If you are selling your house in Georgia and relocating, you can sell to We Buy Houses In West Georgia today. We make fair cash offers on local houses in the West Georgia area. When we buy your house, you don’t have to worry about the traditional delays of selling. Our buying process is designed to help Georgia homeowners sell burdensome properties fast.
- Don’t worry about making repairs, decluttering, or even cleaning
- Avoid commissioning a Georgia realtor to list your property
- Bypass paying closing costs or any additional fees
- Quickly collect the proceeds from the sale and move on
If you want to learn more about how we can help you sell your house and relocate, we invite you to visit our How It Works page. Here, we offer full transparency about our homebuying process, including details about exactly how we calculate our offers. You can also check out Our Company page to get to know our team, our credentials, and our experience. Fill out the form below to get a no-obligation cash offer started now!