Why Move Out of Your Home While It’s On the Market

Traditionally, homeowners tend to follow a familiar formula when selling a house. First, list the property, then live there while the home is on the market until you find a buyer. It may be the tried and true, but it can also be stressful, especially with an already-busy family and work life.

What if there were a better way? As Etobicoke real estate agents, we can confidently say, “there is!” Whenever possible, we recommend that you move out of your home during the listing process. Why? It turns out that there are many benefits to carving out your own path.

How much will your home earn in today’s market? Find out by booking your free home evaluation.

Your Home Is Always Show Ready

Between commitments to your work, family, and friends, your schedule is hectic enough. Now, imagine living in a house that you are trying to sell. It has to be not just clean, but absolutely immaculate all the time, since you never know when a buyer will want to take a look.

Imagine adding an extensive clean-up and tidy routine to those chaotic Monday mornings! Day after day, repeat, until you finally accept an offer. In addition to all of this, you’re living in a staged house.

That means everything is laid out in a way that buyers can imagine themselves there. All of this bodes well for your chances of selling and maximizing your price, but that doesn’t mean the arrangement suits your tastes or lifestyle at all.

If you’ve already moved out, every one of these problems disappears. The house is always ready, with no last-minute scrambles required. You never have to say “no” to a potential buyer, which also helps maximize your exposure.

Before selling a house, it really helps to get some background information on the local market. The posts below can bring you up to speed:

Compromise Can Hurt Your Sale

Sometimes, you simply will not be able to keep up with all of the demands on your time, and something will slip through the cracks. This may mean letting go of the mad dash to keep your house pristine. Soon, you might start letting people come through, clean or not.

This path may be less stressful, but it may also hurt your results. Some potential buyers will be able to see past this less-than-stellar presentation; others will not. If they can’t imagine living in your space, they will move on to the next listing, and you’ll lose them entirely. Even if they love your home, an untidy presentation can lead to lower offer prices and more negotiation.

When selling a house, we always want everything to be as perfect as possible. Meticulous presentation gives you the highest chances of selling quickly and at top dollar. Often, it’s worth staying somewhere else for the short term.

Less Disruption for Your Life

Ask any successful real estate agent where a homeowner should be when a buyer comes for a showing, and the answer will always be the same: “anywhere but home!” That’s good for the agent and their buyer, who feels more at ease to look around and ask questions. But what about you? After a long, hard day, all you want to do is come home and relax.

Living elsewhere while your house is listed ensures you can do just that. Come home, spend some time with your family, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime while your real estate agent does the heavy lifting for your sale.

Get a Head Start on Your Move

It’s hard to say what the most challenging part of moving is, while your house is listed or in the aftermath of your accepted offer. Your days will be filled with sorting and packing while facing a fast-approaching deadline.

If you decide to stay elsewhere, you’ll have a head start on all of it. You’re going to have to pack it all up eventually. Why not take care of it while you have time and are not in a rush?

Do You Always Have to Vacate Early?

As with any rule, there are exceptions to living elsewhere. In a busy market where you can reasonably expect a fast sale, it may not be worthwhile to move out ahead of time. At the very least, it becomes more optional.

It may not be a big deal to vacate your premises for a few showings. When your home is on the market for several weeks or months, it’s a different story. Your real estate agent will be able to advise you on what to expect. That said, approximately 90% of our clients decide to live elsewhere throughout the listing process.

What should you do when you need to sell your home and you are counting on stellar results? Start by reading the posts below:

Where Can You Stay?

Depending on your situation, you may have a few options. First question: How overdue are you for a vacation? Now is the perfect time! Imagine lounging at a resort or living it up at a cottage instead of dealing with the everyday stress associated with selling your home. If you love the great outdoors, you could enjoy the ultimate camping extravaganza!

If you can’t afford the time away from your responsibilities, you might choose to stay with friends or family members. An added benefit is that you can now recruit them to help with your packing and organizing. The promise of pizza and a movie night in your new home can be a powerful motivator! If all else fails, an Airbnb or extended stay at a hotel is also a possibility.

Whatever you decide, it’s essential to work with a real estate team you trust to handle everything on your behalf. They will maintain your home in show-worthy condition and keep an eye on things – all great reasons to partner with a Realtor® who lives right in your neighbourhood!

Are you in the planning stages to sell your home? Our Etobicoke real estate agents are here for anything you need. Reach out today at 647-282-7653 or email contact@sileckythompson.com with any questions or to get started.