Downsizing Your Home to Sell – Where to Get Started

Deciding to move home can be overwhelming. There are so many things to consider and
organise – but here’s a little secret, you don’t actually have to do everything at once. If you take
your time to plan it all out step-by-step, you can simply tick off each thing as you go, without
feeling panicked that you may have missed something.

So here’s a quick guide on where to start with your house selling journey.

1. Sort through your personal belongings and begin to pack

Start to pack? But the house isn’t even sold yet! Well, there’s two reasons why boxing up some
of your smaller items is a good idea. Firstly, it helps to ‘clear the clutter’ for when people do start
coming to view your home. They want to be able to imagine themselves living there, and it helps
if it is more of a blank canvas. And secondly, it gives you a head start for when the house does
sell.

2. Fix anything that is broken and look out for the little things

When it comes to getting a good price for your home, details matter – sometimes more so than
the bigger stuff. That’s because a lot can be said about a house that is kept ship-shape. Unless
it’s obviously a real doer-upper, people don’t want to have a long list of jobs to do when they buy
a new property. And it can be distracting to look around a home that’s for sale and see broken
door handles, chipped tiles and peeling paint.

So it’s best to do your house and yourself a favour by taking care of all those little things before
going to market.

3. Have a think about ‘where to next’

Letting go of a home you have lived in for a long time can be quite hard. Especially when it
comes to packing up personal belongings and being unsure of where your next journey will take
you. So if you have the time, why not plan what you’re looking for in your move and in your
future home. Is it to be closer to family? Or to have assistance close by so you can continue to
live independently, or to downsize to buy a campervan? This way you can start to imagine
yourself enjoying everything the new place will offer you and by the time your house sells, you’ll
feel a lot more ready to go.

4. Speak to a shortlist of local agents

Choosing an agent that you can trust and who listens to you is very important and that’s why
you should speak to a few so you can really get a feel for who may be the right one for you. It’s
also good to be prepared with a few questions, such as:

● How many properties have they sold in the area over the last year?
● What makes them different from the other agencies?
● What kind of marketing is included if you sign with them?
● What is their commission rate?
● What do they think is the best way to sell your home – auction, asking price, by
negotiation?

5. Understand the different ways to sell and know your rights

While your agent will have their own suggestions on what way they think you should sell your
home, you should also have an understanding of the different options because ultimately – the
choice is yours. And each one will bring about a different result and require a certain amount of
input from you.

It is also important to consider what kind of clauses or conditions you want to have noted in the
sale and purchase agreement – such as a long or short settlement period, or if there are any
chattels you want to take with you.

6. It’s time to put the sign up!

Well, here we are! If you’ve made your way through the steps above, then it is very likely you’re
ready to put your property on the market. Yes, the process of selling a house can be stressful,
but if you get prepared before the advertising begins, it means you can feel more in control of
what is happening, and that your best interests will be taken care of.

Don’t ever feel rushed or pressured into anything, and if needed, you can always have a support
person with you when it comes to making any big decisions.

Now it’s time to let your home take over and get itself sold!

If you need help with your retirement planning or would like to visit Highgrove, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!