Subscribe to meMany home sellers go ahead and move into their new home before they have a contract on their old one. This is okay to do (and in many instances may be preferable). But, if you do move out before you have found a buyer the critical issue is this: “don’t let your old home look left behind.”
Marketing a home that is vacant may require a different approach as far as the condition is concerned compared to marketing a home that is currently “lived in”. When you have furnishings in your home, you can in many instances control how the buyer views your home. What I mean by this is, you can control what they focus on as they walk through your home. And, at the same time, you can de-emphasize negative aspects of your home by the way it is furnished and decorated.
But, when you move the furnishings out, many homes may look “left behind”. You probably have viewed homes that look this way. In many instances vacant homes look like the homeowners just left in a hurry – lots of dust balls and dead bugs in the corners, marks in the walls, stains in the carpets, small items left laying around the home, small projects started by the homeowner that are left incomplete, torn or damaged wallpaper, the yard looks like it needs to be mowed and edged – you get the picture.
If you move out prior to selling your home, your goal related to the condition of your home is to make sure it does not look left behind. The key here is to take a good look at your home after the move-out and make a list of things to do that will make your home look fresh and “almost new”. Your list will probably include items that are related to making your home look maintained and also items that are related to making your home look more appealing. You want buyer prospects who come through your home to get a positive feeling about your home. Some items may be more involved like replacing carpet. Other items may be as simple as cleaning the kitchen and baths.
The cost of addressing these maintenance and improvement items at the initial move out is generally far less than the cost of maintaining your home for an extended period of time. Don’t let your home look “left behind” and you’ll get a successful sale even if you vacate your home prior to signing a purchase contract.
(Aaron Cole, the author of this information, is the creator of HomeSOLDin60TM, the simple six-step process that guarantees a home seller the best chance of getting the best price for his or her home in the shortest time.)