When moving abroad, many people choose to sell or rent their property in order to secure some income. If this is something you choose to do, then there are some things you must prepare for when it comes to the selling process. When you are selling your home, it is important to start the process early on. Sometimes, the process can take much longer than you previously anticipated and if the market is bad, then it could take even longer.
From paperwork mistakes to contracts falling through, there are many pitfalls you can encounter along the way, all of which will have an impact on your new journey overseas. There are some challenges you must prepare yourselves for, but when it comes to preparing your home for the sale, there are some things you can do to ensure all runs smoothly.
Fix Any Major Issues
This may seem obvious, but there are a surprising number of houses which go to market with major problems that need fixing, which are then obviously handed over to the new owners to sort out. This is costly for the new owners and generally isn’t a very nice thing to do, so before you move, have a contractor visit to identify any issues. If there are any major issues identified, then be sure to get them fixed in advance of your move. Things such as leaking roofs, damps, wood rot and faulty wires are all huge issues, so keep an eye out for those.
Update Your Decor Choices
Whilst a decorative wall may be appealing to you, it can instantly put off potential new buyers. When you’re selling your home, the staging of it will make all the difference when it comes to showing it to potential buyers. Your estate agent will be able to help you out with furniture placements, but it is down to you to freshen it up before viewings. Get rid of clutter, remove any packing boxes and, if you can, redecorate the home with fresh neutral colours. This will make a huge difference to the viewings.
Incentives Will Help The Deal
When you are moving overseas, you’re likely to want to get stuff sorted as soon as possible. You probably have your immigration lawyer on speed dial, your new work address memorised and your bank accounts sorted, but if your house isn’t shifting, it can soon become frustrating as time slowly runs out. Thankfully, there are some incentives you can offer to help move things along. If you’re moving abroad, then you’re likely not moving all of your furniture over with you, so mention this to viewers. Throwing in your oak dining table or garden furniture may just sweeten the deal for the buyer to put an offer in.
Consider Reducing The Price
Unfortunately, if the market isn’t in a good place then no matter how hard you try, you may be unable to get any interest in your home, which is the last thing you need before you move abroad. It may be best to consider lowering your asking price to get more buyers through the door, but take a look at what other homes in the area are asking and selling for to get a better idea of what price you should set.
