Tips for Staying Organized While Selling Your Home

Posted: October 17th, 2022

Selling your home is undoubtedly a difficult and time-consuming task. It can be even more stressful if you don’t spend time getting organized before the process begins. As you go through the various stages of selling your home, it’s important to stop and think about each decision you make, as they can have a lasting impact on the sale of your home. These tips will help you stay organized and get the most out of the sale of your home. 

Prioritize House Hunting

House hunting is one of the most exciting parts of moving. There are many steps you can take to make this process easier, especially as you balance selling your home at the same time. One of the first things you should do when searching for a new home is getting pre-approved for a mortgage to determine your budget. By getting pre-approved, you can focus on finding the right home within your budget from the start rather than having to worry about your mortgage payments in the midst of an already difficult search. 

After you’re pre-approved, a good next step is to decide on a location. You’ll want to consider all the factors that come with determining a new location, such as schools, proximity to friends/family, and convenience for work and leisure activities. As you settle on a location, you can begin to discuss what your top priorities and wants are in a new home. Whether it be square footage, a large yard, or home features, it’s important to rank all of these things because finding a house that checks every box can feel impossible. A great real estate agent can help you narrow down your choices and maybe even find a diamond in the rough.

As you look at more potential houses, you’ll begin to get a sense of what types of features and styles feel more like home for you and your family. If you have children, a home with a Jack-and-Jill style bathroom might be the perfect fit. If you’re looking to downsize as you age, a house that’s easy to get around without too many levels might be a priority for you. Whatever type of home you decide on should have functional benefits in addition to fitting the style you like. The look of a home can always be updated over time, but it’s much harder to change major functional aspects, like the layout or square footage. 

Keep Your Finances in Check

There are many expenses associated with selling your home that can often go overlooked. Selling your home requires a lot of preparation, and spending some money to help you tackle some of this can alleviate a lot of the stress. Hiring a professional cleaning service, although costly, will ensure that your house is in the best shape for showings. This will allow potential buyers to see your home in pristine condition to highlight your home’s best qualities. Hiring a team to pack your home and move your belongings into your new home is also a large expense. Although this isn’t necessary, it can really help you stay organized throughout the process. Having someone to help you pack and organize your things both prior to and during your move is sure to make the transition easier for your entire household.  

In terms of staying within your budget when moving into your new home, a key tip to remember is that you don’t have to tackle every project and buy each piece of furniture all at once. Spreading out these larger purchases over time, based on the order of importance, is a great way to ensure that you aren’t spending too much money right away. Big projects and purchases can definitely make your house feel more like a home as you add your own style, but this can easily be achieved over time while being conscious of your spending.

Establish a Moving Timeline

Creating a timeline for your entire move is a great way to stay organized without feeling too overwhelmed. As you begin this process, it’s crucial that you determine a plan that works best for you and your family. Once you establish your moving timeline, you’ll be able to prioritize the different tasks involved in moving. As the moving date approaches, it becomes time to finish packing, hire a moving company if you choose, and think about the furniture you’ll need to purchase for your new house.

Once you have your timeline in place, you can focus on selling your current home. There are many different ways you can help expedite the sale of your home. By preparing ahead of time and getting organized, you’ll be able to spend more time on the search for your next house without having to stress about showings, cleaning, and managing your other responsibilities. 

Pack Up Your Belongings

As you prepare for your move, organizing your belongings as you pack can decrease the stress of unpacking and getting set up in your next home. Using a labeling system as you pack up each room will help movers determine where all your boxes need to be when you arrive at your new home. If you take the time to organize items as you pack, you’ll be able to spend more time with your family getting settled in your new home and less time having to unpack and reorganize. 

Packing up your belongings for a big move is the perfect time to declutter and get rid of anything you no longer need. When going through each room in your home, place things in two separate piles – one to keep and one to sell or donate. Once you do this, pack up the items you wish to keep and dispose of the rest before you move into your new home. This fresh start is the perfect opportunity to go through clothes, kitchen supplies, toys, and anything else that needs some cleaning out. It can also be a great time to teach your kids about donating to others in need! 

Consider Your Children and Pets

Although your children and pets aren’t necessarily involved in the home search itself, you’ll want to choose the right place for your family to grow. Before you move, make sure you have your kids’ and pets’ essentials organized and ready to go to the new house. While your current home is for sale, it’s important to keep the non-essential items packed away, as kids’ and pets’ toys might create clutter in your house and distract potential buyers during a showing.

Getting your children and pets adjusted to the move can be a difficult task. Be sure to keep familiar objects in close proximity during your move. This way, your pets and small children will have something to remind them of their home nearby to help relieve some of the stress of being in an unfamiliar setting. For kids, it’s important to talk about the move openly and address any concerns they might have. Many children struggle with the idea of moving because it can drastically change their routine, especially if they are changing schools. Make sure to be open about whether they will be transferring schools or moving to a new town as it can become scary and overwhelming for them.

As you navigate this new and exciting transition with your family, make sure you stop and enjoy quality time with your kids to help them adjust. Selling your home is a tough process, but staying as organized as possible will ensure that everything goes smoothly.