Most of us eventually find a time when we need or want a smaller home. Whether its because your children have all moved out or just want a little less house to maintain, downsizing is another stepping stone in life.
5 most important things to know when you’re ready to downsize:
- Now that you’ve made the decision to sell, its time to choose the right realtor for you. Take the time to meet with a at least two agents. Have questions ready to ask them and don’t be afraid to ask them for references. Your home is one of your biggest investments, make sure you are comfortable with the agent, and can see yourself communicating and relying on them for guidance in the coming months.
- Now that you have a Realtor, you need a plan. Your Realtor will play an important role in helping you develop a plan. Your Realtor will give you an evaluation on your home, and what you can expect to walk away with. From here you can decide what the budget for your next home and where it will be, if there is going to be a ‘next home’ – maybe you will be moving into a retirement home or with a family member.
- We’ve got a game plan in place so now we must decide do we buy first or do we sell, what makes sense to your specific plan. This is the age-old question of real estate and often where most of our clients need the most help. Is it a buyers’ market or sellers’ market?
- Ok let’s sell your home, just throw the sign in and price it high and cross our fingers…. Right? Of course not! We need to prep your home for sale. I am affiliated with reputable contacts in all industries to help de-clutter, donate, pack, paint, yard services and stagers. After all, we only get one first impression and the first week is the most important.
- At this stage your home is de-cluttered, decorated and looks good enough to host a wedding. The photographer is on their way over and I have begun to prepare the advertising pieces, so that when the photos are sent to me. All I have to do is plug them in and we are ready to go.
There is more to downsizing than just selling a house, this often s an emotional transition that takes time, a plan and a support team. I am here to help you and your family with this process. Reach out to me for more information about downsizing and to arrange a consultation. I look forward t helping you through this journey.
