When you sell your home before buying a new one, the most common worry is the period of time when you don’t own a home. However, with a little time, creativity and planning, you can find the ideal living arrangements for your situation while gaining flexibility and freedom to find your ideal home.
Peace of mind
Many people report that moving to a short-term residence reduces the worry and stress of rushing into a buying decision. A rental allows you to take your time, do your research and find the perfect home. You control the transition time. Not only do short-term options give you the flexibility to look for the home you want, they also give you time to find a property at a price you can afford.
Finding a home between homes
There are many interim living arrangements and options to consider if your current home sells before you purchase a new property. Depending on the length of your stay and the size of your family, living with friends or relatives until you find your new home can be a smart solution as long as you are considerate of the length of time you stay. Finishing out the school year with friends or having an extended summer visit with grandparents can be a comfortable, low-stress way for families to handle the transition time. This option has also proven popular for parents who find it beneficial to have focused home shopping time without the family in tow.
Creative transitional housing options
If family or friends aren’t an option, short-term rentals are plentiful. Finding a place that’s suitable for you and your family (including pets), requires some research. Some hotels even specialize in extended-stay lodging. These facilities may only require two days advance notice when you make your reservation, adding even more flexibility to your situation. Bed and breakfast inns and guest houses are also options to consider.
You can locate regular rentals, sublets and vacation rentals on websites such as Craigslist, AirBnB and VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner). You can also utilize the power of social media by asking trusted friends for recommendations or by reaching out through neighborhood online groups such as NextDoor.
The moving game
A furnished apartment allows you to cut down on the amount of packing and unpacking you need to do. When you move out, send your furniture and belongings into temporary storage and take just what you need to the apartment. After you close on the new house, you can simply move your furniture straight from storage into your new home.
Before you move into temporary housing, get quotes from several moving and storage companies. Moving can be a large expense and you may be able to save some money if you can find a mover that also offers storage services. Don’t forget to ask for recommendations from friends and check out online reviews — there are plenty of stories (good and bad) that can help inform your decision.
Portable storage containers make packing a simple process. With delivery from door-to-door and no time limit for packing, you can load up your storage container on your own timeline. Once the container is full, the company can either move it to your new home or to a secure storage center that keeps your container protected from the weather.
Try color-coding your move – it’s a proven strategy for organizing your belongings before you get to your new space. It also makes the packing and unpacking process easier.
A good team
It’s important to work closely with your REALTOR® throughout the buying and selling process. Together, you can work to assess your home’s current market value by taking into account its condition, including the prices of recently sold homes nearby. A good real estate agent can make your listing stand out and increase the likelihood that your home will be on the market for the shortest duration possible.
Can’t wait to get moving? Get a free, no-obligation analysis of your home’s value from one of our local market experts. With a solid team of professionals, there’s no reason that you can’t successfully manage through the transition of selling a home that has served you well, and buy yourself some flexibility and freedom to find one that will serve you better.
