As a real estate agent who has worked closely with seniors for several decades, I know that you have unique needs – especially when it comes to downsizing or selling a house. In this home seller’s guide, I’ll give you home selling tips and cover everything you need to know about how to get your house ready to sell, and downsizing as a senior. Consider it your all-in-one checklist for selling a house. Let’s get started.
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Make a Plan
Selling your home is no small process. Creating a well-thought-out plan of things to do before selling your house can help you start your journey on the right foot and avoid various setbacks or challenges down the road.
Set a Timeline
Start by deciding when you’d like to move. This could be a specific month, season, or even a wider date range, depending on how far in advance you’re planning. Having a deadline in place (no matter how informal) can help you get in the right headspace and avoid procrastination.
Decide Where You Want to Live Next
One often overlooked aspect of selling your home as a senior is deciding where you’d like to live next. Whether you’re planning to buy or rent your next place, it’s a good idea to make a list of what you’re looking to get out of your new home. This will make the house hunting process a whole lot easier when the time comes.
Searching for advice related to downsizing? Read these related blog posts next.
- How to Downsize Your Oakville Home
- Is Downsizing Expensive?
- Should I Retire in Burlington or Oakville?
Getting Your House Ready to Sell
As a senior, there will be a handful of things to do before selling your house. These steps on your checklist for selling a house will not only make your move easier, but they will also help you get the best result possible once your house hits the market.
Find a Great Real Estate Agent
Choosing the right Realtor is super important, especially as a senior. They’re in charge of getting your home market-ready, finding the right buyer, and helping you navigate the selling process with as little stress as possible.
In the Greater Toronto Area, key characteristics like experience, knowledge, and customer service can differ significantly among the many available agents. You’ll want to do your research and choose the right person that understands your needs and goals!
Cleaning & Decluttering
The next step in getting your house ready to sell and market-ready is to clean and declutter from top to bottom. To create a more spacious and neutral environment, pack away excess furniture and personal belongings. Depersonalize the space by removing any personal items and family photos. Your goal is to create a “blank canvas” where potential buyers can imagine themselves settling down and building a home for themselves.
Understandably, cleaning and decluttering are steps where many downsizers run into challenges. If you’ve lived in your home for a long time or have a lot of belongings, the prospect of sorting through everything all at once can seem daunting. Plus, you may also have items with significant sentimental value, which can make it difficult to part ways with them.
This is where having the right real estate agent by your side can help. Using their professional expertise, your agent can recommend helpful strategies and solutions to get through the decluttering process with as little stress as possible.
Price Properly
Choosing the right asking price is very important. If you price too high, you could push potential buyers away. On the other hand, if you price your home on the lower end, you could leave money on the table.
If you’ve lived in your home for many years (maybe even decades), uncovering its market value can be somewhat complicated. That’s why you’ll want to work with an experienced and knowledgable Realtor who has refined pricing strategies to ensure your listing is positioned for success.
Thinking about downsizing in Oakville, Ontario? You may find these blogs helpful!
- Is Oakville a Good Place to Live?
- Should You Move to Oakville if You Work in Toronto?
- Steps To Buying A Home in Oakville, Burlington, or Mississauga
Launching Your Listing
Just getting your house ready to sell can be a big job, and when it’s time for it to finally hit the market, there will still be more work to do. These next tips for selling your home will help to maximize your home’s exposure to potential buyers while maintaining all the work you put in during the preparation stage.
Keep Your House Showing Ready
Once it’s officially up for sale, you’ll need to keep your home clean and showing-ready at all times. Occasionally, buyers will ask to schedule viewings on short notice, and you may not have time to rush home and tidy. Carve out a daily cleaning routine to ensure your house stays in tip-top shape.
Be Flexible
Having to vacate your home for showings isn’t always convenient. However, it’s a necessary part of selling your house. With that in mind, being flexible with when you allow buyers to tour your home can help you find the right buyer faster. Be open to short-notice appointments when possible.
Prepare For Offers
As buyers take an interest in your home, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the negotiation process. Consider your bottom line price and any other non-negotiables you may have. Your real estate agent will help you decide which offers are worth rejecting and which should be negotiated.
Get Ready for Moving Day
Your house has officially sold. Congratulations! You’re one step closer to your next chapter. Let’s look at what the next steps to selling house are, after you’ve signed the agreement of sale.
Checking Off Conditions
First things first, you’ll need to fulfill any conditions outlined in the buyer’s offer. This could include a home inspection, appraisal, or something similar.
Start Packing!
Once you’ve signed the agreement of sale, it’s time to start packing! Try tackling one room or area of the house at a time, starting with the items you won’t need access to every day. It’s truly never too early to start packing.
On that note, if you’re planning on hiring professional movers, be sure to make your reservation well in advance! Otherwise, you could get stuck without help on moving day.
Update & Inform
If you already know the address of your next home, you can get a head start on updating your personal information with service providers. This includes the post office, your bank, your doctor, and any other relevant services.
Remember to cancel or transfer utilities for your current home before you move to avoid paying for the next owner’s usage. It’s also a good idea to arrange for utilities and services to be set up in your new home in advance to prevent any service interruptions.
Selling your home as a senior or looking to downsize? I can help! I’m here to provide compassionate expert support. To get in touch call 905-346-8188 or email me at stacey@staceyrobinson.com.
At Your Service
I’m here to guide your real estate venture with an education to empower you. Let’s chat about what your needs, and I’ll tell you how I can help you meet them.
