4 Benefits of Selling Your Home When You Retire

If you're retired or planning your retirement, one of the biggest decisions you may face is what to do with your house. Do you sell it and live off the funds while downsizing, or keep it? 

While there are advantages to each option, keep reading to learn some of the benefits of selling your home when you retire.

Start a New Chapter

While there are many financial and practical benefits to putting your house on the market when you retire, there are also personal and emotional reasons to do it. 

Retirement is a big change in a person's life—for many, it's a day they've been looking forward to for years if not decades! So, it's worth considering using this time of career change also to make a home change. 

Instead of living in a home designed for raising a family or being close to work, consider moving into a house that prioritizes your retirement life.

Capitalize on a Seller's Market

A lucrative benefit to selling your home when you retire is that you can capitalize on a great housing market for sellers. Now’s the time to cash in on your investment and reap the rewards, especially if you've had the same house for a long time and put a lot of equity into it. 

It's a seller's market in the US right now, so regardless of where you live and assuming your home is in good condition, you should have no problem finding buyers that will pay market or above-market prices. 

Plus, you're no longer working and earning money, and the large sum of cash from selling your home can go toward a new house or pay for living expenses in your golden years.

Downsize and Eliminate Costs

Another reason that many retirees sell the homes they've had for years or decades is that they want to downsize. This is especially true for empty-nesters. 

Those who raised a family in a home now have an empty nest and a home that requires a lot of upkeep and property taxes. Downsizing allows retirees to eliminate costs like repairs, maintenance, homeowner's insurance, and property taxes. 

Your home may have been perfect for previous stages in your life, but now you're onto a different chapter. For example, mobile home living is perfect for retirement because it's so easy to manage and affordable for retirees!

Find Your Dream Retirement Home

Once you've sold your current home and earned a hefty amount of cash, you can put it toward finally getting your dream retirement home. 

We've all imagined what our golden years would be like, and it's often in a different home than we currently live in. Maybe your dream home is a beach house, a cabin in the wilderness, or something closer to the golf course! 

Whatever your heart desires, the first step in achieving the dream will be to sell your current house and put the funds toward your dream retirement home.

Selling your house is often the first step for retirees, and doing so has many advantages. If you're on the cusp of retirement, consider the benefits of putting your home on the market and what it means for your retirement plans.

5 Ways to Make Downsizing Homes Profitable Instead of Painful

As we age, we realize that the home we’ve been living in for years may no longer suit our needs. Perhaps it’s too big or has become too difficult to maintain. The thought of downsizing may initially seem painful, especially if the memories of our family are attached to it.

However, downsizing can be an opportunity to simplify our lifestyle and even increase our financial security. 

Read on for five ways to make downsizing homes a profitable experience rather than a painful one.

Start Early

If you’re considering downsizing your home, start planning early. Start by decluttering and sorting through the things you no longer need or want. 

Downsizing means letting go of things you’ve held onto for years, so it’s best to start sorting things out at least a few months before you move.

Create a Floor Plan

Once you have found a new place, create a floor plan. This will help you determine what furniture will fit in the new house and what won’t. 

By creating a picture of how your furniture will fit, you’ll save yourself time and money as you won’t be moving items that are not required.

Reevaluate Space Elsewhere

If you’re moving into a new space that has a smaller garage space, consider what tools or vehicles you still need. A new home can bring many expenses, including repairs and maintenance, so selling an older car can easily offset those expenses. 

Not only will you free up garage space, but you might also earn some extra cash. If you’re holding onto a car for an adult child, consider either selling it to them or getting cash for junk cars before you move.

Utilize a Professional Mover

Hiring a professional mover to help move and downsize is an excellent idea. Not only will they take care of packing and moving, but they might also provide storage solutions for items you can’t fit in your new home. 

Hiring a professional will help reduce the stress of moving and ensure that your goods are transported safely and efficiently.

List Your Home with a Professional Realtor

If you want to sell your current home, it is best to list it with a professional Realtor. A realtor will help you to maximize your home's value and market your home to potential buyers. 

They can also give you insights into the real estate market, which can be beneficial when searching for your new home.

Final Thoughts

Remember, downsizing can be a challenging process. However, you can make it a profitable and stress-free move by being prepared, creating a floor plan, decluttering, utilizing a professional mover, and selling an older car. 

By following these tips, you can trade the pains of downsizing for profits and a new, more relaxed lifestyle. So, downsize and discover a more comfortable and simplified living experience.

5 Tips for Marketing Your Home to Get the Fastest Deal

Selling a home can be a daunting task, and often, one of the biggest challenges homeowners face is finding the right buyer at the best price. 

If your home has been on the market for a while, it can be frustrating and stressful, especially if you are in a hurry to sell and move on with your life. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of finding the right buyer quickly. 

This article will discuss five tips to help you market your home and sell it fast.

Enhance Your Curb Appeal

The first thing that potential buyers see when they drive up to your home is its exterior. Therefore, it is essential to ensure your home's curb appeal is impressive and inviting. 

Some ways to enhance your home's curb appeal include freshening up your landscaping, painting your front door, cleaning the windows, and replacing the old doormat with a new one. These small changes can make a big difference in attracting buyers to your home.

Stage Your Home

Once you have improved your home's curb appeal, the next step is to stage the interior. Staging your home means arranging your furniture and decor to highlight your home's best features and emphasize its potential. 

This can include decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding some decorative items. Staging your home allows buyers to visualize themselves living in the space and helps them appreciate the value of your home.

Use High-Quality Photographs

In today’s world, buyers heavily rely on online listings to look for homes. That’s why taking high-quality photographs showing your home in the best possible light is crucial. 

Make sure your photos are well-lit and transparent and that they showcase your home's best features.

Price It Right

One of the most critical factors in selling your home quickly is pricing it right. While you may want to sell your home for as much as possible, overpricing can turn buyers off. Instead, research the local real estate market and choose a reasonable price that reflects the value of your home.

Work with a Real Estate Agent

Lastly, working with a reputable real estate agent can significantly increase your chances of selling your home quickly. A good agent will work closely with you to understand your needs and help you market your home effectively. 

Realtors often have access to significant resources as well, such as high-end real estate development advertising that they can leverage for your sake. 

They will have the industry knowledge and expertise to price your home correctly, sell it to potential buyers, and negotiate a fair deal on your behalf.

Final Thoughts

Selling your home quickly requires effort and a strategic approach. Following these tips can increase your chances of getting your home marketed correctly and ensuring you receive an excellent offer. 

Enhance your curb appeal, stage your home, take high-quality photographs, price it right, and work with a trusted real estate agent to help you sell your home quickly. 

Be patient and keep an open mind; you will find the right buyer for your home with the right strategy.

How to Decide When It’s Time to Sell Your Home

Selling your home is not an easy decision. You will require to consider several factors and also be ready to leave the place you have known to be your home for years. 

Here are things that can help you decide whether it is time to sell your home.

Your Home Has a Positive Equity

Equity refers to your home’s value minus home loans. Having positive equity is one factor that can help you decide if it is time to sell up. 

Consider whether, after selling your home and clearing the mortgage balance, the remaining amount will cater for a new home’s deposit, the cost of moving, and sale settling.

You Feel Emotionally Prepared

Am I ready to move and sell my house? If you have been actively searching for modern real estate lists and wishing to live in one of them, you are ready to vacate. 

Selling your home may be overwhelming since you need to prepare it for sale. You should also be ready to digest any negative feedback the potential buyers, realtors, or home stagers give.

Your Family Has Outgrown Your Home

If you bought your home when you were still single and now have a family, you might require a bigger house. If you find that your kids require their bedrooms or your parents have moved into your home and need their own space, it might be time to sell your home.

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You Are Financially Prepared to Move

Apart from equity, it is important to have some savings in your account. Do not depend solely on your equity because the costs tend to stack up pretty fast. 

When deciding to sell your house, you should consider the moving cost, cost of repairing your home before advertising it for sale, and the amount of the new mortgage. Ensure that you do not have any debt and have enough cash to sustain you for a few months.

You Want to Downsize

When kids mature, they move out of their parent’s home, which makes the home so huge for their parents. If this is your case, you may decide to sell your home since managing the upkeep

does not make sense. You can choose a cozier but smaller home that doesn’t make you feel empty.

Finally, if your finances are in order and the current market suits you, it might be time to sell your home. Selling your home might be beneficial to you, so consider the above things when making this huge decision.

6 Improvements You Must Do Before Selling Your House

 With the current housing market booming, now is the time to sell. Whether you are moving to a new home or apartment, getting the best price for your home is important. 

The easiest way to increase the value of your house is fixing the small issues that you have become used to over the years. With the small problems out of the way, sprucing the place up can increase its value to potential customers with a minimal outlay of time and money.

Upgrade Doors and Windows

Sticky windows or doors that jam from the house settling are minor issues to you. You have had years to get used to your home’s quirks, but for potential buyers these nuisances can lead to worry about how well the house has been maintained. 

As the seller, it is a clever idea to put your buyer’s minds at ease. One of the easiest ways to do that is to make sure that the doors and windows open easily and completely.

Get Rid of the Carpet

Carpet that is more than a few years old is already dated. Add to that the years of ground in dirt, it is easier to replace carpet than try to get it completely clean. 

Pulling the carpet yourself and replacing it with hardwood floorboards or a modern flooring can increase the amount you get for your house. The potential buyers don’t have to factor in the cost of carpet removal and replacement, leaving more money to spend on the house. 

If the cost of replacement is too high, of course, or the floors leave a bit to be desired make sure you get a thorough cleaning of all carpets in your house.

Update the Bathroom and Kitchen

Bathrooms and kitchens can be easily overlooked by sellers since they are used to seeing them daily. A new set of eyes, however, can see a completely different room than what you are used to. 

Lighting, appliances and fixtures can all be changed out relatively inexpensively and will improve the value of your home.

Clean the House Up

Although it should go without saying, potential buyers are going to poke through everything if they can. 

With good reason, of course, they are dropping a great deal of money on a house that they intend to live in for years. Neither the buyer or the seller want to find surprises during these inspections. 

Clean everything from carpets to drapes and furniture (even if the furniture is going to be removed) to closets and the insides of cabinets. Dirt and grime will devalue your home quicker than shabby carpet.

Spruce Up the Yard

A little landscaping goes a long way and shows that you cared for your home. Mow the grass, trim the hedges and update lighting along drives and walkways. Remove any junk from the yard and garage before potential buyers come to visit the house. 

Learn More - Dirtiest Places in Your Home and How to Kill Germs -

Look at the hedges and plants and replace the mulch or ground cover. Trim drooping limbs on trees and ensure that nothing blocks the view of your house or the view from the house.

Slap a Fresh Coat of Paint on Everything

A fresh coat of paint makes everything look better. Interior design has trends and paint that was trendy a few years ago may not be now. This is also an appropriate time to paint the interior with neutral colors. 

According to experts behind ASAP painters Sydney, “avoid white interior paint, but neutral colors can be a tremendous selling point as they add character to a room.”

You don’t want to ignore the outside of the house, either. Since the first look potential buyers have is the exterior, making sure it looks good is an easy and inexpensive way to add value and appeal to your home.

When it comes to selling your home, you should put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and take an honest look at the house you are selling. 

Anything that bothers you about it will most likely bother the buyer, fix those small issues and selling your home will not only be easier, but more lucrative as well.

Author bio: Steven Clarke is a business consultant and a DIY enthusiast. In his spare time he likes to write about his ideas and share them with the world. Steven is a regular contributor to several websites.

A Guide to Downsizing Your Home in Retirement

Whether you’re moving from a palace to a bungalow, or a luxury apartment in with your significant other, sometimes the task of moving items from home to another can be daunting. The key in all of this is knowing how to downsize and, how not to lose your mind whilst you’re doing it.

Of course there are other reasons for wishing to downsize, primarily life choices that one makes. These can either be financial (it can be cheaper to run a smaller home), or the family has left the roost and you are now in a house too big for what you originally had it for.

Whatever the reason, there are tricks to downsizing your home which can come in handy for the day you need to make the decision to sell your home; here are just some of our top tips. 

The Good Old Garage Sale

Well, it’s old in some parts in the world, but the garage sale is a guaranteed way to get rid of items that you really no longer need. How do you organise yourself for a garage sale? 

Well, the big mental hook here is, create piles and split into things you no longer use, no longer need and don’t have a requirement for; yes, we see the irony that they are the same thing but sometimes by labeling it a bit differently, it will allow you to make the decision.

Ultimately does the 3am tv shop purchase serve a purpose in your house? You should ask, when was the last time I used it and then then think, will I ever use it? If the answers are, “about four months ago” and “no”, then they shouldn’t be in your house. 

Sell, sell, sell. Get some money in your back pocket and create a list of everything you sell, just in case you accidentally sell something you actually needed. 

Create an Inventory

An inventory is going to be one of the biggest documents you will keep in your downsizing plans as it is so important. As just discussed, it can be helpful if you’ve sold something that you shouldn’t have but it’s so much more useful than that.

A well organised inventory will be an easy to read and well collated list that can help identify quickly a strategy of getting things right when it comes to downsizing your property. 

One of the best things you can do with an inventory is to ask yourself “if there was a house fire, what could I not live without”. Jot those answers and anything that is missing, you create a separate list so that you can decide if you need to sell or pass on to family that may need it.

If you are moving in with someone else or really downsizing your property, having an inventory is even more important as you will need to see where you could have two or three of the same items and that is not handy for anyone. (Perfect examples, toasters, kettles or microwaves. 

Not forgetting things like sofa’s and beds). You will need to be ruthless when it comes to deciding what to get rid of and if everything is there in a an itemised list then it can be made a lot easier. 

Storage Space

We’ve all had issues with storage at one point or another, it’s true, even the best in the business have found it hard to stick things into storage when required. But there are two ways to look at storage that can be a real life hack when required.

The first is storage for when you are moving your items out of your home and you are still deciding what to do or you didn’t have the opportunity to sell first time round. Here, you want to have an accurate account of where all the storage solutions are in the nearest area to you. 

You don’t want to be travelling for miles to have have a simple facility near you which can accommodate your needs. After that you also want to have a list of pricing. For long term hires you may want to invest in a bigger space and store more at that point as the price per unit may not vary that much due to longevity.

The second storage issue is when you are storing your goods. Things like, ottomans that open up and have space inside, wall-mounted shelving, under-bed storage boxes, they're all your best friend if you're moving to a smaller space.

There are many things that can happen when you are downsizing your home, but the essential thing is, take your time and ensure that you are organized when it comes to shrinking your living space.

What to Do and Not Do When Selling Your Home

In the past couple years, real estate values have been the subject of many debates and news stories. With a down market, many home sellers are finding it hard to get the price they want and many are finding it hard to get a return on their investment. This doesn't mean it is not possible to get your asking price and make a little profit. There are right and wrong ways to sell a home, you just need to understand both sides.

Selling Solo or Through an Agent?

"I can sell my home myself" is often the first words of a bad deal. Many homeowners decide to go at it alone, trying to save money on the sale. For many this is the single mistake that keeps their home on the market and often results in a loss in profits. The average agent's cut is 2.5-3%. This can actually be negotiated down due to the competition real estate agents have from discount brokers and flat-rate services. Additionally, the benefits of an agent's years of expertise may yield a higher selling price, cancelling out the commission altogether.
Pre-Inspect and Repair

Before you sell a car, you would get the broken headlight fixed, or deduct the amount of the repair from the asking price. A home is no different. If a buyer sees a minor or major repair that is needed, they will negotiate you down from your asking price to cover the cost of the repair. Have your house inspected and make any repairs that will drive the price down. You want to sell your buyers on the features, stability, and possibilities of your house becoming their dream home, this is hard to do if you have leaking faucets and bad wiring.

Pricing and Value

If you have been following the real estate market or even talking with your neighbors, you know the market is down and prices have fallen. When you decide to sell your home, you have to keep the price within the current market and price it similar to other homes for sale in your neighborhood, even if you feel your home is worth more. Pricing too high will slow your sale and often result in a desperate sale later. Remove your emotional attachment and price your home at what the market deems is the true value.

Clean, Stage, and Prepare to Leave

One of the biggest mistakes made by first time home sellers is the lack of preparation. When you are selling your home, you are selling the structure, not the clutter. Remove as much as you can so your prospective buyers can get a good look at the floors, walls, and surfaces of the home. Your best tool for selling your home is your buyer's imagination of what the home can become when they move in, not what it looks like as you live in it.

Take Compelling Photos

Whether you are selling solo or using an agent, a picture is still worth a thousand words. You can easily find listings with blurry, low quality pictures of the property, and you will more than likely see those years from now as the house stays on the market. Be sure to take high quality photos of the outside, landscape, inside, and the unique features of the home to catch the buyer's attention and make them want to tour the home.

Selling your home is a big decision filled with planning, preparation and care. Take your time to sell the beauty of your home, research the local market value, and give your buyer the experience they expect when they visit their prospective new home. You will find the smallest details can result in the largest sales.

Sheila Madison is a property blogger who advises both home owners and real estate agents on the proper way to prep a home for quick sale.