Many people like to think of the new year as a time to make a fresh start, and one of the boldest things you can do is sell your home. While we tend to have a lot going on during the holidays, once the festivities come to an end, you may have a chance to get a good price on your current home and find the dream house or apartment that you always wanted.
However, moving can add unnecessary anxiety to an already stressful holiday season. So, in order to save your sanity, you need to be smart about how you sell your home and get your belongings from point A to point B. If you are thinking of relocating after the holidays, then consider this helpful guide.
Considerations for Selling Your House After the Holidays
Yes, the holidays can be a stressful time but, as the new year comes around, it might be the perfect time to sell your house.
Since most people are preoccupied with family gatherings and the joy of the season, they typically aren’t thinking about selling their house right now, even if they plan to in the future. However, people who need to purchase a new home will be looking all year round. By putting your property on the market now, you will have less competition from other sellers — so you could find a buyer faster in January than you could in July. Plus, when there is less competition and fewer houses to buy, you could get some competing offers which could result in a higher selling price.
Of course, there are some downsides. For instance, patience will be essential since there may be fewer buyers, overall, so your house might be on the market for longer. There is also the fact that many bankers and mortgage lenders may be on holiday, so the sales process may take more time. However, there are likely to be at least a few hungry lenders that will still be open for business.
Think About Where You Want To Live
In the case that you have not yet found a new home to move into once you sell, this is a good time to do your research. Whether you are moving into an apartment or a house, consider the city where you may want to live and take a trip out there. The holiday season is a good time to visit because most people will be home, so you can see what the area is like when there is plenty of movement and hustle and bustle. It is a good way to get a realistic picture of what it might be like to live there.
Consider hiring a real estate agent that can show you properties in the area so you can get an idea of the type of houses that you like and, if you fall in love with one, then make an offer.
Setting Yourself up for Success
If you weigh the pros and cons and decide to sell, then you will want to start making the proper preparations around the holidays so you can bring in potential buyers right away in the new year. Even the slowest months will bring competition in the housing market, so you need to ensure that you have all of your boxes checked before you list the home.
Start by scheduling a home inspection during the early days of December. That way, if the inspection brings any issues to light that you will need to fix before listing your home, you can take care of them before the next year hits. Although it might be a little chilly this time of year, it is also important that you improve your curb appeal. Add a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home, trim any unruly bushes, and make any necessary repairs to the roof and siding.
Once you list your home, it is a wise idea to get all of the proper paperwork in order for the sale of your home. You’ll need to find your original sales contract, appraisal, mortgage statements, homeowner’s insurance records, and any potential home repair and maintenance records.
Since you never know when a potential buyer may show interest in your property, it is a good idea to digitize all of these documents and put them on a USB drive so you can access them at a moment’s notice. You can do that by scanning the physical paperwork into your computer and then sorting it into applicable folders, so you aren’t fumbling for the necessary files when you need them most.
Smart Packing Is Key
The least exciting part of selling your home is the extensive packing required to empty your house and get your belongings to your new place.
In order to make this major move easy, take it room by room. Go into each space and consider each item. Decide what you want to bring and what you can donate or sell to someone else that might need it more. One way to get the motivation to only keep a fraction of what you own is to take the time to calculate the costs associated with moving out of state, especially the cost of a moving truck. The smaller the truck, the lower the price. Plus, you will need to hire movers and, if you have more to transport, then it will cost more.
Chances are good that there are many items in each room that you no longer use or need. This is especially true in the closet. Look at your clothes and consider donating any outfits that you have not worn in the last year. If you went through every season and you didn’t wear something, the chances are good that you won’t wear it again, so leave it behind.
You should also consider a lot of the furniture in your home. Most pieces are bulky, difficult to transport, and take up a lot of space in the moving truck, which means that you can’t bring as much of your stuff along. Think about if this current furniture will match the decor in your new home or if you want to go with a completely different style. Sell or donate what you no longer need.
As you can see, there are some perks to selling your home and moving after the holidays. Consider the tips and advice you’ve learned here, and you could start the new year in a brand new home.
