If you are thinking about selling your current home and buying a new one chances are you have already started looking online... maybe started going to open houses. This part of the process often starts long before you are ready to actually make the move... sometimes even years before!
So when should you start 'really' looking and setting up appointments to see properties? I was out showing homes to several different people this past week who plan to sell their current homes in the spring, then buy a new one.
Starting to look early can be beneficial from multiple perspectives...
It can make it emotionally easier to sell if you have a sense of where you are going, especially if you have lived in your current home for a long time.
- Will you realistically be able to find a home you like in the price range and neighborhood where you would like to buy?
- Are there multiple choices that will work, or are you looking for something more specific so it will be harder to find a property?
- Do homes that fit your needs rarely come available in the community where you want to buy?
If it appears it will be difficult to find your next home in a short timeframe, you might consider buying before you sell if that is financially possible for you.
Downsizing Baby Boomers often buy their next home before they sell their current one. Not only does it feel good not worrying about being 'homeless', getting excited about your next home also makes it easier to plan what things to keep and what to give away or toss as you prepare your home for sale. It also gives you time to make updates to your new home before you move in.
Looking at homes to buy while you are preparing to sell helps you see your home through buyer's eyes.
Remember those things you were going to update first thing when you bought your home? If you are like many homeowners, you may have never gotten around to doing many of them. Life has a way of changing our priorities and we get used to things as they are.
If you have lived in your home a long time it may be even more difficult to see your home through buyer's eyes. You may be surprised at 3 Top Home Buyer Turn-Offs... beyond dirt and clutter. Visiting properties to buy can help you take a fresh look at your own home, and help you recognize things that should be done to make your home more attractive to buyers.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Twin Cities Seller's Realtor
