Spring happens to be THE best time to sell your home, with Zillow reporting that, “Nationwide, the best two-week window for home sellers is the first half of May – U.S. homes listed in the May 1-15 period generally sell almost two weeks faster than the average listing in the year, and command a final price $2,400 more, on average, than listing at other times. The first half of May was the best time to list in 14 of the 24 large markets analyzed by Zillow.”
If you are planning to sell your home this spring, the thought of moving may have you feeling a bit overwhelmed. With so much to plan and get done, we can understand why! There’s a reason moving is consistently listed as one of the top, most stressful life events, right up there with divorce and major illness! While we can’t guarantee a stress-free move, we can provide you with some tips to help make your move run smoothly.
Take advantage of opportunities to snatch up some boxes for free!
Believe it or not, you can get boxes for free simply by asking your local grocery store if you can take some home after they receive one of their shipments. They are usually more than happy to pass them along! And, if you need to purchase any boxes or moving suppliers, your local self-storage facility typically has a plethora on hand, all at an affordable price.
This is an opportunity to declutter every aspect of your home. Take it!
Use this time of packing to sort through your belongings and get rid of clutter within your home. If you’re not sure where to start, sort items into keep (items that have been used within the past 3 months, or will be used within the next three), donate (items you don’t need but someone else could use), and discard (junk for the trash) piles one area at a time.
Though it takes a little extra work, packing smart will save you time in the long-run.
Number or color coordinate your boxes and document what’s inside. Doing so will help you quickly place boxes into the appropriate rooms once you arrive at your new home, letting you know which boxes are a priority to unpack. Best of all, if you feel overwhelmed, you can leave boxes that don’t have priority items in a self-storage unit to unpack at your convenience.
Maximize space within your current home for potential buyers walking through.
If you are packing your belongings while buyers are walking through your property, it’s best to keep boxes and belongings off-site in a self-storage space close-by. This will help make your home appear more spacious, which increases the overall demand for your home. With units designed to meet any budget, finding one won’t break the bank and is well worth the cost.
Prepare for your address change so that there are no issues!
Make a list of all utility companies, insurance companies, financial companies, etc. that you will need to contact to update your mailing address once you finally make your move. You can also register your new address with the USPS online, which will forward your mail to your new home.
Remember, moving can be an emotional experience. Throughout this process, make sure you take some time to wind down and relax. If you have children, allowing them to make a memory box filled with photos and items from their old home can help. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., “Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
Happy moving!
