Sometimes schedules don’t work out and you may find yourself needing to move to your new place while you still own the old one. We’ve got you covered if you find yourself selling a vacant home in East Hanover and Morris County vs. one that is occupied.
Vacancy Can Be Problematic
Instead of beating around the bush, it’s best to get right to the point: selling a vacant home is harder than selling an occupied one.
The reasons for this are numerous, but it’s easiest to summarize these reasons as an occupied home feels much warmer and more inviting to potential buyers coming to look at the property.
Some people will visit your vacant home only to assume there must be something wrong with it if no one is currently living in it in the first place. They automatically assume there’s something that chased the previous occupants away, and many potential buyers are guarded when they first view a vacant property.
CONSIDER STAGING
The first and biggest thing you can do when selling a vacant home is have it staged by your qualified and experienced real estate professional.
Your agent is there to make the real estate transaction a success for you, and they have resources at their disposal to both accelerate that process and get you the most out of any negotiations. Letting your agent handle the staging by either doing it themselves or bringing in their own contact goes a long way to solving the vacant home dilemma during any showings.
Even though no one is living in the house, it’s important to keep the temperature regulated so no potential buyer is walking into a freezing or sweltering home.
KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS
With no one regularly visiting the house, it’s imperative that you take the time to stop by every once in a while to make sure everything is perfectly fine.
It doesn’t hurt to notify your local police that your old, vacant house is up for sale. This will give them a heads-up and they will know to keep their eyes peeled when passing the home.
If you are physically unable to visit your old home occasionally, consider asking a reliable neighbor or family member to do it for you. A neighbor will have a vested interest in making sure that nothing unsavory happens to the home, and is likely willing to help you out if you find yourself in a jam.
MAINTAIN THAT SPARKLE
Chances are you did some deep cleaning while preparing your home for sale, and you don’t want to let that spick and span look to lose its luster.
Do your best to keep the entire house as clean as possible. When potential buyers stop by for showings they will end up tracking in at least some level of dust and dirt, and you want to make sure the following showings aren’t hindered by any of this dust or dirt being left behind.
PREPARE FINANCIALLY
The final point to remember is that while your for-sale home remains vacant on the market, you’re still liable for any previous financial obligations attached to it.
Do your absolute best to plan for any additional mortgage and utility payments by budgeting conservatively. It’s easy for details such as this to slip the minds of busy homeowners while dealing with moving themselves and possibly their family from one location to another. Keep in mind that you need to maintain all utilities on you for sale home, and keep up with the payments.
Help Selling a Vacant Home in East Hanover and Morris County
Selling a vacant home is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard with the professional help you’ll receive when you contact us at (973) 887-2500!
