Planning a big change in your life means taking some big steps. One common change many people make, often for the better, is to sell their home and move.
Changing cities, states, or even countries means committing yourself, and once you go past a certain step, there’s no going back.
Planning to relocate means finding a new home and selling your current one. This process can be long and tedious, but many consider it rewarding.
The problem is that some people often struggle to figure out the next steps. Luckily, today’s list will guide you through the process of what to do after you sell your home.
Table of Contents
Decide What You Plan to Keep
Personal belongings are not part of your home you’ll leave behind, so it’s the part you’ll be taking with you. Multiple statistics say we have too much clutter in our homes, making this the perfect time to declutter your life.
You’ll need to go through everything you have and decide if it’s something you’ll need or want. Some old lamp you found at a 99-cent store and never used is a common example of something you don’t need.
The most important thing to consider is that not everything is junk. Yes, you will have a certain amount of junk you’ll need to throw away, but other items can be used by someone else.
Depending on how much time and effort you want to spend, you can either organize a sale or give them away. It’s up to you to decide, and you can even combine both if you’re willing to put in the extra effort.
Consider Hiring a Moving Company
A big move often means you’ll have a good amount of things, most of which won’t probably fit in the back of your car. This is where a moving company comes into play, which makes things easier for you.
The best thing is that finding one is pretty simple. If you live in The Big Peach, all you need to do is search “moving companies Atlanta”, and you’ll get tons of results. Reach out to a few and explain how much stuff they’ll need to move and what the destination is.
Once you get a few quotes, it’s up to you to decide which one to hire and set a date. Make sure to go for a company or contractor who can move all of your stuff. Most importantly, make sure to hire a reputable one to minimize the chances of potential damage or loss of items.
Double-Check Your Old Home
During the selling process, there is some back-and-forth between you and the buyer, and one of the many topics is the items you’ll leave behind. The contract often outlines this, and you should ensure you’re honoring it.
Before you lock the door for the last time, double-check that you’re leaving the home as stated in the contract.
Selling an empty home is easy, as you won’t have a lot of stuff you’ll leave behind. On the other hand, if you’re leaving the furniture, make sure you leave everything as promised.
Don’t Leave the Home in a Mess
Being excited about your new home is understandable, and wanting to go there as soon as possible is what most of us would want. That doesn’t mean you should sell your home and leave it in poor condition.
Just as you’d want your new home to be in good condition, so do the new owners of your old one. Leaving the old home in a mess isn’t something you’ll want to do.
The least you can do is hire a team to clean it. Most people will want to clean their new homes themselves, but leaving the old ones clean is humane.
Another thing worth mentioning is patching some minor damage. Some of us are guilty of hanging a photo to cover an ugly hole or crack in the wall. If you’re taking the photo with you, the new owners will have to live with the damage until they do something to fix or cover it.
If you’re into DIY, you can patch some of these things yourself and leave the home in a decent condition.
Change the Locks on Your New Home
The locks in your new home are often overlooked. As much as you have faith in the previous owners, it’s a good idea to be mindful of your safety. This is why changing the locks is recommended even before you start moving your things in.
You cannot know who may have a spare key to your new place, and no one wants uninvited guests. In this regard, booking a locksmith before you move there is a good idea. You wouldn’t want to sleep with one eye open.
Many things need to happen when you sell your home, and reviewing a checklist is important to ensure you don’t forget anything.
