If you have lived in your home for 20, 30, 40 years or longer, the idea of selling can feel overwhelming.
You may have raised your family there. Every room may hold memories. Closets, basements, garages and attics may contain decades of belongings. At the same time, maintaining a larger home, paying property taxes, handling repairs or climbing stairs may no longer fit the life you want.
Downsizing does not begin with packing boxes.
It begins with understanding your options.
I am Michaela L. Hartery, a NJ Broker Associate with 31 years of South Jersey real estate experience. I help longtime homeowners throughout Cherry Hill, Camden County, Burlington County and Gloucester County determine what their home may be worth, what they should do before selling and how to coordinate the sale with their next move.
Where Should I Start?
Start with your home, not your belongings.
Before spending months cleaning everything out, find out what the property could realistically sell for in today's market and what preparation may actually be necessary.
You may discover that you do not need to renovate the kitchen, replace every floor or make all the repairs you have been worrying about.
Some homes benefit from a few strategic improvements.
Others may be good candidates to sell AS IS.
My job is to help you understand the difference before you spend money unnecessarily.
What Do I Do With 30 or 40 Years of Belongings?
This is one of the biggest concerns I hear from longtime homeowners.
You do not have to solve it overnight.
I recommend beginning slowly and separating belongings into what you plan to keep, give to family, sell, donate or remove.
When additional help is needed, professional organizers, estate sale companies, donation services, movers and cleanout companies may make the transition much more manageable.
You also do not need to have the house empty before you contact me.
I would rather see the home first and help you determine what truly needs to be done.
Are You Moving to a 55+ Community or Retirement Community?
Your current home sale and your next move should be planned together.
Important questions may include:
- When will your new residence be available?
- Do you need proceeds from your current home before buying?
- Would a flexible settlement date help?
- Do you need temporary housing?
- Should you sell before buying?
There is no one answer that works for every homeowner.
The best strategy depends on your finances, your next residence, the local real estate market and your comfort level.
Helping a Parent Move to Assisted Living
Sometimes the homeowner is not the person calling me.
Adult children often contact me because a parent is moving into assisted living or another care setting and the family does not know what to do with the house.
I can help the family understand the property's potential value, preparation options and possible selling strategies while you focus on your parent's transition.
When legal, financial or estate questions arise, I recommend working with the appropriate attorney or financial professional.
You Do Not Need to Be Ready to Sell
Many homeowners contact me six months or even a year before they expect to move.
That is a good thing.
Starting early gives you time to determine what your home may be worth, what improvements make sense, what to do with belongings and how to coordinate your next residence.
There is no obligation to list your house simply because we have a conversation.
Thinking About Downsizing or Retiring?
Let's start by answering three questions:
- What could your home sell for?
- What should you do before listing?
- How can we make your next move easier?