In today’s market it is not unusual for sellers who are relocating, especially for a new job, to reach a point where they NEED to move to the new location but still have not sold their current home.

How can you best handle this situation, and protect your investment?

1. Discuss the situation with your REALTOR and reach an agreement regarding him/her checking the house regularly, especially after bad weather (say, at lest once per week or more). They ought to do this without you asking but better to be sure.
2. Entrust a good friend or neighbor with a key to also check in, in case your REALTOR gets busy and is not available, or forgets to check in. Have them check the bathrooms in case they have been used by folks touring the home, and watch for leaky pipes and sinks. They can also check the heat and AC in case buyers or agents turn them on and forget to turn them off.
3. Turn off the water to the washer if there is one in the house.
4. Keep the utilities – yes, it will cost a little, but it is not impressive to show a home without a any lights, especially on a cloudy day or in the evenings. And if it’s the cold season you do not want the temperature in your home to go too low – pipes could freeze, and it’s an annoyance for buyers who are touring your home.