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The move to the new home is complete. Now, all that is left is to sell the old one. Selling a vacant house is slightly different from selling one you live in.
Sure, the plusses (you don't have to keep the home clean all the time, and strangers don't traipse through) outweigh the minuses. Today, we'll concentrate on the latter with six quick tips to protect yourself, the home, and potential buyers who tour it.
1. Consider soft-staging the home
If you recently house hunted, you know how challenging it is to look beyond a homeowner's taste in décor and furnishings to imagine your stuff in the home.
It's even more challenging in a vacant home. This is most likely because homebuyers buy houses they are emotionally attracted to.
The bottom line for the home seller is that vacant homes take 80% longer to sell than homes with furnishings and décor.
If you need to sell quickly, consider ‘soft-staging’ (partially staging) the home.
2. Leave the utilities on
When moving out of a home, the instinct is to cancel or transfer the utility services. Don’t give in to the urge.
Water, power, and gas services are needed during the home's showings and during the escrow period. The home inspector, for instance, will require the utilities to do their job.
Cancel the services once the home closes escrow.
3. Call your insurance agent
Contact your insurance agent to find out if you need a vacant home policy or if your current policy will cover your home while it's on the market.
Most homeowner insurance policies stop covering claims on homes that have been vacant for more than 30 days.
4. Keep up the curb appeal
If you’re selling during summer or spring, and you won’t be close enough to care for the yard, you may consider hiring a landscaper.
According to the pros at homeadvisor.com, if you need your lawn mowed weekly or bi-weekly, you'll need to plan on paying $30 to $80 per visit.
Those on tight budgets should focus on the front yard (curb appeal!).
5. Keep it clean
With nobody living in the home, the dust will gather. Folks touring the home will drag in residues from the outdoors and forget to flush the toilet.
Hire a cleaning crew to pop in once every couple of weeks to dust, sweep, and flush the toilets.
Have them run all of the faucets in the home. If they "aren't used for an extended period," the O-rings may dry out. This makes them far more likely to crack or leak once water rushes through them again.
Running water at all sinks will also keep the traps full of water. Your potential buyers will be subjected to a pretty smelly situation if they run dry.
6. Keep it secure
Most of us have heard the stories about squatters taking over vacant properties. Believe it or not, squatters have rights in most states, and these rights typically allow them to remain in the home during a lengthy and expensive (for the homeowner) eviction process.
This is why keeping your vacant home as secure as possible is essential. Consider forgoing the For Sale sign as it advertises that someone may not live in the house.
Security specialists offer several tips:
- When you move out, let the neighbors know and ask if they will keep an eye on the home.
- Invest in security features, such as an outdoor camera that texts you when it's alert. Consider installing a smart lock on the front and back doors and motion-activated floodlights in the front and backyards.
- If you can afford it, an alarm system for the windows will help keep the home secure.
Whether buying, selling, or seeking valuable insights into the market, I'm here to be your trusted guide in the dynamic world of real estate. Feel free to contact me for a confidential discussion, where we can explore your goals, address any questions, and navigate the exciting path of real estate together. Your real estate journey is unique, and I am committed to providing personalized assistance tailored to your needs. Don't hesitate to connect; your next real estate adventure awaits!
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