#MarketReadyHome
Over the last several months, our family has prayerfully considered moving. Honestly, I have been ready so many times, but God has persistently told us to wait.
Now, we are finally getting our home ready to place on the market in the Spring, and as I paint and scrub, my heart has been renewed as well.
For a long time, I just wanted to get out. The walls were closing in on me and the noise of four kids (ages 11 and under) day in and day out was driving me batty. I was very focused on our list of WANTS:
- I want an office so I don’t have to sit on the couch to work.
- Each of the children want a space to call their own.
- And my hubby… he wants a place where he can set up his production equipment and leave it.
My focus was clearly on me.
One day, as I was scrubbing a door, I began thinking about the next owners of our home and decided to pray for them. I have no idea who they will be, but I want them to find our home… their new home… to be a blessing.
I also thought of our neighbors. Truly, we have the best neighbors and their children come and go through my front door. I need to be praying even more for the new owners because I want to very best for my dear friends who live around me.
Suddenly, my desire was less of “how soon can we list the house on the market?” and was more “what else do we need to do to ensure that our home will be perfect for its new owners?” I not only want to leave our home is great condition for the people who buy it, but I want to only attract those who will be great friends to my neighbors.
So often, I have heard people say that you should just do some cosmetic work so the house will sell, and leave your problems behind. Seems so immoral. Instead, I made a list of all the things that made me hesitate ten years ago when we purchased this 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bathroom house. Then, I turned a critical eye to each corner and added more repairs to my list.
Slowly, we have been able to work on projects as the cash has come available and if everything works as planned, our home will be market ready in March or April.
Regardless of when our home is finally listed “for sale,” I will be confident that the home is ready. I am sure that in God’s timing, He will bless the intentions of our hearts by bringing the right person to our home and by guiding us to a perfect, new home for us.
Placing your home for sale?
Use this free checklist to make sure everything is ready to place your home on the market. Just place your email address in the form to have the download link sent to you.
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Samantha says
Oh how this hit me hard! Like you, we’ve prayed about moving before but God point blank told us no. This time we prayed and we both feel at peace about it. We are also trying to get our home ready to sell. This will be our first time doing this sort of thing and I always resort back to “But we’ve made memories in this house.” I’ve never once thought about praying for our neighbors or for the people who will move in. Thank you for reminding me of who is in control and who ultimately has this final decision! Hope everything goes well for all of you!
Penny says
I am so glad I could encourage you, Samantha.
Andrea Grinstead says
Make sure you get a Home Inspector! Sold two homes in the past, and was thankful each time for the Home Inspector doing a pre-inspection before any potential buyers got their own.
Penny says
I never thought about getting a home inspection prior to listing our home. Great idea!
Alison at NOVA Frugal Family says
We are currently in the process of fixing up our new house to move into and fixing up our current house to sell. I know that many people do cosmetic changes to help sell and don’t do some of the other repairs that need to be done. There is a limit on how much money you should put into a house when leaving but I understand not hiding things that have to still be fixed. We made a page long list of the things that we were going to do to the house to get it ready to sell. There are still a few more things that can be done but isn’t that owning a house. Hope that you find the perfect new house and great new owners for your old house!!
Penny says
Yes, home ownership seems to bring a never-ending list, doesn’t it? 🙂
ESCO says
Thanks for posting such helpful info! To get as much money as possible from the sale of your home, consider improving a few things in it. I have heard and read many times that it’s not advised to buy houses with old plumbing. Plumbing repairs are not cheap. And old faulty plumbing can cause flooding and damage to property. Therefore, check all this before showing the house to a potential buyer.
Happy Hiller says
That’s a good point! I would say the same about wiring.
DSP says
Thanks for sharing! Many people often install swimming pools to boost the value of their homes. In fact, swimming pool installation doesn’t pay off when selling a house. BUT. If you already have a swimming pool, you can improve it. For example, install a solar-powered heating system. Or convert your chlorine pool into a salt pool, which is easier to maintain. Usually, people appreciate it.
SentriForce says
If you want to get as much as possible from the sale of your house, keep in mind that safety also matters.
Studies have shown (https://sentriforce.com/news/how-to-reduce-crime-in-your-apartment-community/) that about 97% of renters and buyers factor crime into their decision making when deciding where they choose to live. So think about what you can do to improve home security. We can offer to install burglar-proof doors, 3-4 video surveillance cameras watching your door, front lawn and backyard, as well as a high fence and a gate with a code.
Kurt Widderick says
Thanks for some very good tips.
Polestar says
When selling your home, also pay attention to the kitchen. kitchen is the heart of any house and it affects the first impression. To improve your kitchen, consider replacing your traditional faucet with a modern eco-friendly option. Switching to a low-flow faucet that uses 1.5 gallons per minute can reduce your sink’s water flow by about 30% or more. These days, people are more concerned about their impact on the planet and pay attention to such things as water and energy efficiency.
Integrity says
I like the way you’re talking about moving. And really like your approach to this. I strongly agree that just cosmetic work is not enough. Other more important things shouldn’t be neglected as well, such as the heating and cooling system. Anyone will prefer to buy a house with new or at least well-functioning HVAC systems. After all, we all know what discomfort unexpected breakdowns in this regard can bring.