Month: January 2022

Deciding Whether to Stay Or Sell

Deciding whether to stay in your current home or look for a new one is tough. So tough in fact, that there is a reality TV show about it!

If you’re struggling to make that decision, here are some tips that can help:

  • Find out the current market value of your home. This will give you a clear idea of how much your property is likely to sell for in today’s market.
  • Find out how much you can afford to invest in a new home. This is calculated, in part, by how much of a mortgage you qualify to receive.
  • Determine whether your current home still suits your needs. Do you need to move up to a larger place? Downsize to a smaller property?
  • Figure out whether this is the right time to move to an area that you’ve always dreamed of living in.
  • Assess whether your community has changed in a way that you don’t like.
  • Decide whether you are still happy where you live. Is it time for a change?

The Importance of Showing your Home Often

Imagine coming across a “Home for Sale” listing on the internet. It’s in a community you’re seriously considering. You and your family are excited. You can hardly wait to view the property and see if it could be your next dream home.

Then, there’s a problem.

When you contact the agent, she says the homeowners are busy people and won’t be able to show the house until next week. Even then, the only time available is at noon on Wednesday, when you’ll be miles away at work. How about viewing the property on Saturday? Forget it. The homeowners are having company over that day.

Chances are, you’ll lose interest long before you ever get a chance to see that property!

This may sound a little extreme, but it does illustrate an important point.

If you don’t make your home readily available for buyers to view, many simply won’t view it, and your property may not sell.

That doesn’t mean you have to be inconvenienced each day by a steady stream of buyers stomping through your property. However, you do need to be flexible.

When buyers become interested in your home – by seeing the listing online, for example, they want to view it as soon as possible. The longer they have to wait, the more likely it is that another property will capture their interest.

They may even make an offer on another home before they get a chance to see yours!

Take a Walk on the Boardwalk (or Sidewalk)

If you’ve played the game Monopoly, you’ve probably picked up the Chance card that reads, “Take a walk on the Boardwalk. If you pass Go…”

That’s good advice when shopping for a new home. When you see a property you like and you’re thinking of making an offer, spend some time walking around the area. This will give you a better sense of what it’s going to be like to live there.

After all, the last thing you want is to buy a dream home only to find out later that there are issues with the community that make living there miserable.

If you have kids, see how far a walk it is to local parks, playgrounds, schools and community centers.

If you commute, you might also check out the route from the home to your place of work. Is there a left turn that is likely to get backed up in the mornings?

Also, check out how well the people take care of their properties. Homeowners tend to keep their homes looking good if they enjoy the community.

As you walk, listen. Are there noises from nearby high schools, industrial areas, or highways that are going to be unpleasant for you? Find out if the community is near an airport flight path, or if there is a railway in the area.

If you get a chance, talk to some of the people on the street. Ask them what they like most about living in the area. You’re likely to get some candid – and useful – answers.

Finally, spend some time visualizing living in the area. Can you see yourself enjoying what the community has to offer?

If so, then buying a home in that area will likely be a good choice for you.