Smart Tips For The San Diego, CA ALL Home Sellers
- Sellers Who Are Downsizing -
Please Visit Part 1: Smart Tips For The San Diego, CA Home Seller
Please Visit Part 2: Smart Tips For The San Diego, CA Home Seller
Why Downsizing? Many people downsize when they retire, they plan to travel more, they may be relocating or just trying to lower expenses to work within their retirement budget. There are many other reasons though; "empty nesters" have too 
much house now that the kids are grown and gone for example. A spouse may have passed away or been moved to a care home. Some folks are just tired of caring for a house and wish to move to a condo so the HOA can handle more of the maintenance and repairs (pending HOA CC&Rs).
This is good advice whether you are downsizing or not…
Declutter your home, garage and closets. You'll be reducing square footage and it's time to prepare for less storage and smaller rooms. Not all your belongings and furniture is going to make the move. Time to donate, giveaway, garage sale or toss those items you can live without.
Your REALTOR® can even help you with an Estate Sale or Organizer Service to assist in this project. This will take some time, some plan ahead, a good 4-6 weeks before you plan to list.
Updates & Repairs: Your REALTOR® will help you will evaluating what would make sense to update, repair or simply leave as-is and adjust the price for. This will include help with pre-MLS inspections to remove any surprises.
Staging Your Home is a great idea if you are in a high-end market or competitive market; staging defines rooms for the buyers to understand the square footage's use of space better. A Stager, like my friend Bouteina Hassani or Mor'Rocking Interiors will help you work with your own furniture or have rented furniture brought in that compliments your home. Again, we want the buyers to feel the spaciousness and flow of your floor-plan.
More Tips Before You Buy a Smaller Home: Your REALTOR® will guide you on this, but don't pass up a great deal on a fixer upper. Getting a bargain on a home you can make your own is one way to go. Your REALTOR® will be able to refer you contractors and tradesmen. I have an entire Business Referral Directory for this purpose.
ALL CASH OR MAYBE NOT? Talk to your lawyer, CPA or Financial Advisor first, but reconsider paying all cash for your next home. I'm suggesting we consider a small mortgage and more liquidity for the unexpected extras you may need for your new home; repairs, updates, furnishings, etc.
Planning Today for The Future Sale of Your Home:
Consider upgrades today's buyer will still want in a few years like updated windows, paint and flooring (neutral colors recommended).
Evaluate your time remaining in the home before you tackle larger projects like kitchens and bathroom remodels; ask your REALTOR® for this advice.
GO GREEN! Saving energy (and water) is a huge plus in today's homes: inspect and consider (where needed) updating your water heater, furnace, A/C Unit, Appliances, Bathroom & Kitchen faucets & fixtures.
Maintain Your Home: Tackle regular maintenance needs in a timely fashion and it may be a good idea to have a house inspector evaluate your home to get a “Honey Do List” going of repairs and maintenance you can budget for and schedule out so it's not all being addressed right before you sell.
Photos provided by Buffini & Company
Except Image 1 courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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