How Will You Know When You're Ready to Seriously Consider Making A Move?

 Driving home from work, you notice that your next door neighbors did it last night.  You're sure it wasn't there when you left for work early this morning, but now it...the For Sale sign...is boldly strutting it's stuff on their front lawn daring you to pull over & surreptitiously swipe a flyer from the over-stuffed information box.  They've  put their home on the market!  You find the urge irresistible...Your must know what price they are asking for their home!

You may have been mulling over the idea of putting your house on the market for some time. Or, perhaps, it's a sudden turn of events like a job transition or change in life circumstances which propels this topic front & center.  Maybe, it's the unrelenting curiosity of wondering just how much money can currently be drawn off the piggy bank of home equity by a sale this spring.  All these reasons still beg an answer to the question...Am I ready to seriously consider making a Move?

Here are Some Simple Questions to ask Yourself to Determine if Now is the Time & if You are in a Position to Make A Move.

1.  Can I Afford to Move?

• This question has increasingly become the cornerstone of the decision for many home owners.  Property values in many locations have dropped within the last couple of years eroding the home equity in many homes.  An accurate appraisal of the value of your home is a necessity. You may want to consider ordering a professional appraisal and obtaining a Comparative Market Analysis from a real estate broker to assist you in determine the market price of your home & the costs associated with selling.

2.  Do I Have the Motivation to Move?

• Wanting a nicer, more expensive house is a desire...a wish.  Being unable to navigate a 2 story residence where all the bedrooms are in the upper level is more of a need...unless you are OK with sleeping in make-shift bedroom quarters in the living room.  Write down your motivations to move.  Then really look at them.  Are they wants, wishes or needs.  Then re-consider Question #1.

3.  Do I Have the Time to Move?

• This may seem at first glance to be a ridiculous question.  But this is a very serious question as getting a house ready for sale and going through the process of showings & Open Houses and then finally moving and packing is very time consuming.  A decision like this is best made with the input of all family members.  Children or spouses who fail to buy into the effort to keep a home in showing condition can seriously compromise the successful sale of a home.

4.  Do I have the Money to Move?

• Moving is costly.  Assuming that you will have a profit on the sale of your home, count the costs before you place your home on the market.  Will you need money towards a down-payment for your next home?  Are there bills that should be paid off so that you do not experience undue financial stress if your house payment increases?  Will you want to purchase new furnishings or appliances? 

Considering these simple questions prior to placing your home on the market will bring focus and a higher likelihood of success. These questions are not all inclusive of all the criteria which should be considered when making a determination of if the time is right for you to move.  They are more like the boundaries of a fence which provide a framework of issues to resolve or work on.   If you would like a detailed analysis of the value of your home in the current market and additional tips to ensure your home is properly prepared for sale, please contact Audu Real Estate or call 616-791-0511

Staging Your Home for Memorable Showings!

E-Neighborhood Reports Offer Valuable, Well Researched Data For Homeowners

Worrying, Wanting & Waiting...Overcoming Emotional Hurdles During a Home Sale.

How to Loose 2 Million Dollars in On-Line Home Equity!

Spring Time Open House Search for West Michigan.

This series was inspired by an blog post by the realestatetomato.