A sudden work transfer. A quick move to be closer to family. No matter what the cause, when you have to move quickly and don’t have time to list your house, or it hasn’t sold before you have to move, it can be a quite challenging to manage a home sale remotely. Whether you’re in the next state, or on the other side of the world, in order to pull off a remote home sale, you’ll need to get help from an experienced local agent as well as plan ahead. Here are our 3 tips for selling a home far away.
Get a knowledgeable agent on board early
The most successful remote sellers lock down a local, reputable agent before they make their out-of-state/country move. Good agents act as a local resources for the sellers. They are able to be the home seller’s eyes and ears, and are easily able to manage calls, questions, and open houses without having to consider time zone differences.
The Cesi Pagano Team is highly versed in remote sales, as well as remote purchases. So you can rest assured that we will be able to smoothly handle the sale of your home while you are far away.
Make sure you’ve lived in the home for at least two of the past five years
If you can swing it, try and stay in your home for at least two years before you make your long distance move. The federal government allows homeowners to sell their home without paying taxes on the first $250,000 if you are single, or $500,000 if you are married. The only catch with this tax break is that the home must have been your primary residence for at least two of the past five years. So in order to benefit from this amazing tax break, the sale has to close within the appropriate window. Know this and plan ahead. Otherwise the home will be taxed as an investment property.
Don’t leave behind an empty home
If you’re able to do so, it’s best to leave behind a small selection of your home furnishings so the home doesn’t seem vacant. Buyers tend to jump to conclusions when the home is on occupied. They assume that something is wrong with the house or that the seller is desperate for a quick sale. This has the unfortunate result of your listing receiving lower offers, or even no offers at all.
If you don’t have the option of leaving behind some of your belongings, The Cesi Pagano Team has got you covered! We work with wonderful and experienced home stagers that provide stunning furnishings and decor that will have your vacant home looking like it should be featured on HGTV in no time!
Cesi Pagano
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