5 Tips for Selling a Home From Out of State

Trying to sell a house is challenging enough, and if you’re selling a home from out of state, it can be positively intimidating.

Property and maintenance costs can add up quickly on an empty home, and you don’t want to have to buy special vacant-home insurance.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

Whether you’ve had to relocate because of a new job, are selling a second home, or are trying to settle the estate of a former relative, a few simple steps can help you to sell quickly and avoid carrying charges for property that you’re not living in.

Remember, when you’re selling a home from out of state, your goal is to get the best price for your property in a reasonable period.

If you take the time to address these crucial areas before you carry on with your life in another state, you’re likely to secure a sale quickly—so you’re not carrying multiple mortgages or paying for upkeep on an empty home.

1. Choose a Realtor Carefully

Much of the success of the sale of your home is going to hinge on using a realtor, who will be responsible for showing and marketing the home, checking on it in your absence, possibly hiring contractors to handle upgrades and repairs, and ensuring there is a smooth sales transaction.

With so much riding on your selected real estate agent, interview a few recommended agents and determine which one you can rely on the most. You’ll want to find someone to partner with who is readily available, even if you’re calling from another time zone, and responsive to potential buyers.

2. Pick the Right Price

Because you’re trying to sell the home quickly, it’s important to price the home accurately rather than test the market with a high figure and take price cuts later.

Your for-sale listing will have the most impact as soon as it is published. That’s when you’re most likely to get fair market value for the home—before people start questioning why your house has sat on the market for so long.

Rely on your agent to look at the home and advise you on how best to price it after looking at comparable home sales. Ask him or her to predict how long the home will remain on the market at that price compared to other price points.

Also be sure to determine in advance the highest and lowest price you’d want to accept for the home. When multiple people have an interest in a property—for example, when siblings are selling a deceased parent’s property—you don’t want to get into last-minute squabbles about what the property is worth and possibly let a sale fall through.

3. De-Clutter

Buyers want a home that looks move-in ready. That means you’ll need to make sure the place is clean and free of clutter.

If you need to clear out a deceased relative’s belongings, first remove important documents and heirlooms—and then consider using an auction company and professional cleaner to get the most value from the former belongings and to dispose of what is left over.

Be sure to make any necessary home repairs and don’t ignore cosmetic upgrades. Although you don’t need to renovate the entire home, it’ll help to fix major problems, have the home professionally cleaned and repainted, and show off the hardwood floors.

With that in mind, before you skip town, you might want to hire an on-call handyman to address last-minute repairs who can accept online payments.

4. Set the Stage

Because you’re probably taking most of your belongings with you when you move out of state—or are trying to get rid of a relative’s belongings if you’re clearing out a home—it’s probably in your best interest to hire a professional stager who can help your home look its best.

Homes that are staged and are appropriately priced consistently sell faster than non-staged properties.

5. Take Professional Photos

Once you have everything in its place and are ready to show off your home, do so with professional photos.

A professional photographer will know how to best capture your home’s best features. Especially now that many potential home buyers start shopping online, professional photos can enhance your listing.

You’d be surprised how many potential home buyers are turned off by something as trivial as having the toilet seat up in the photo of the bathroom.

6 Renovations You Should Never Do Yourself

When it comes to home improvements, it’s difficult to know when to do it yourself and when to hire a professional. We have the low down on when to draw the line – it usually involves things like plumbing, electricity, expensive materials and renovations that are downright dangerous. So before you try to get handy with a hammer, consult this list to see what you should never attempt yourself.
 
Electrical
When it comes to making electrical adjustments, there are too many technicalities to do it on your own. Electrical standards have to be met so that wires aren’t over-heated, circuit breakers aren’t overworked, and someone needs to make sure that everything is wired correctly throughout the house. You need advanced electrical knowledge to do this job so it’s best to hire a certified electrician.
 
Breaking Down Walls
If you want to break down walls to open up your space, don’t do it yourself. Walls support the structure of the house, so weight-bearing and support walls have to be dealt with accordingly. A professional will have an in-depth understanding of the structure of the house, and they’ll be able to identify a cosmetic wall versus a support wall to get the job done right.
 
Building or Renovating the Bathroom
Bathroom renovations that don’t involve moving the plumbing pipes can be done on your own, but you should hire a plumber for anything more complicated. If the job isn’t done correctly, it will cause a lot more headaches than it’s worth. Poorly done pipe installations could lead to leaks that drip through the drywall and could cause water damage throughout the house.
 
Finishing the Basement
When it comes to renovating the basement, there’s a lot of room for error. Before you put up new walls and flooring, you need a professional to make sure the insulation is correct and that there are no cracks or leaks in the foundation or on the floor. You’ll also need someone to take care of the electrical.
 
Window Renovations
There is no shortage of professional window companies who can replace windows at a low price. For the low cost of this renovation, hire a professional – if it’s not done properly, it could lead to air leakages that let hot and cold air escape, ultimately raking up your hydro bill.
 
Working with Granite or Marble
Whether you’re installing new countertops or tiles, when working with such expensive materials like granite or marble it’s best to hire a professional to do the measurements and installation. If you make a mistake, the cost is too high to make it worth doing it yourself.

Chimney Tips to Keep You Warm And Safe

Chimney maintenance and proper cleaning are key steps to keeping your family safe and warm as the temperatures drop. Neglected chimneys accumulate creosote, a combustible byproduct of charred wood, along their walls. Add to that a high internal flue temperature and you've got a potentially dangerous chimney fire on your hands.

The best way to avoid a house fire caused by the fireplace or chimney is to hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect for cracks and loose bricks. He'll also clean your chimney. Chimney inspections are typically broken down into three categories.

Level 1 is a standard, annual inspection for chimneys that have no major changes to investigate. The chimney inspector will examine the interior and exterior, as well as the chimney connection. The general soundness of the chimney will be examined, and any obstructions will be noted.

Level 2 is an inspection that follows a change in fuel type or changes to the shape or materials in the flue.

Level 3 is rare. These inspections are conducted when a hazard is suspected. Typically, part of the building or chimney is removed to examine the chimney thoroughly.

Once your chimney gets the all-clear, you should follow some basic safety tactics when it comes to your chimney and the vicinity of the fireplace or wood stove:

• Keep the area in front of the fireplace clear of paper and debris. It can be tempting during the holidays to place decorations close to the fireplace, but keep them at a safe distance.

• If your fireplace doesn't have a glass door, use a wire mesh screen.

• Use seasoned hardwoods that have been split for six months to a year. "Green" wood creates more creosote. Don't burn your Christmas tree (pine creates more creosote) or be tempted to throw wrapping paper, boxes, or trash into the fireplace.

• Keep the area near the chimney clear. If you have trees that hang over the house near the chimney, make sure branches and leaves are at least 15 feet away.

• Cap your chimney. A top that has wire mesh along the sides will keep out rain and snow, birds, and other critters that might be running around on the roof.

• Think small. If you try to burn too much wood, the chimney can crack and you run the risk of creosote build-up. Burn wood on a grate placed near the back of the fireplace.

Like fire, carbon monoxide can be a deadly threat. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible toxic gas that kills about 400 people per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and sickens many more.

While carbon monoxide poisoning can result from poorly functioning home appliances and heating systems, it can also come from poorly maintained chimneys. The chimney and chimney connector serve as a furnace's exhaust system. If debris is blocking the chimney, carbon monoxide can accumulate inside the house.

Perhaps the most important rule of all when it comes to chimney maintenance is to install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors inside and outside of bedrooms. Replace the batteries each season and test the detectors regularly. If the detector is more than 10 years old, replace it.