Moving is not easy, especially if you’re moving out of state. Moving to a new house has been ranked as one of the most stressful life events, right up there with the death of a loved one, a chronic illness, and divorce or separation. So you’re not alone if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with the idea of moving out of state.
But, before you pack your belongings, there are a few things you can do to prepare for a smooth transition to your next house. We have compiled a list of 5 tips to sell your house in Fort Worth and some great ideas for making this next move a breeze.
Moving Out Of State? Here Are 5 Tips to Sell Your House in Fort Worth
Tip #1: Figure Out How You’re Going to Sell Your House
Since you will be moving out of state, more than likely, you will want to sell your house. Mainly so you don’t have to cover two mortgage payments every month- which makes figuring out how you’re going to sell your home very important. Ideally, you want to sell your property before your move; that way, you can use any profits towards your next house.
Here are a few ways you can sell your Fort Worth home:
- Sell with a real estate agent.
- Sell by- owner.
- Sell to a home buyer.
Keep in mind selling with an agent or by owner does not guarantee a fast home sale.
Depending on what time of year you’re selling your home in Fort Worth can also play a role in how long it will take to sell your home. On average, houses in Fort Worth, TX sell after 50 days on the market. But that is when your property is turn-key ready.
If your home isn’t turn-key ready and you need to sell your property quickly, you probably should work with a local home buyer to purchase your home. One such buyer is Four 19 Properties, a family-owned home buying company in the Fort Worth area that can close in as little as 7 days.
Tip #2: Do Some Home Repairs
Once you figure out how you’re going to sell your home, it’s time to figure out what repairs and renovations need to be done to the property. Hopefully, there isn’t a lot of work to do because repairs can be expensive and time-consuming. And if you’re trying to move out of state soon, this can throw a wrench into your plans of selling and moving quickly.
When it comes to selling to a traditional buyer, your house will need to be in good condition to sell fast and pass home inspections. Banks usually require a clear home inspection before loaning money to any potential buyer. So if your home is suffering from flood damage or is a fixer-upper, you may have a hard time selling without doing some major home repairs.
Here are a few examples of what repairs and renovations can cost in Fort Worth:
- New Roof- $5,900-$7,500
- New Hot Water Heater- $950-$1,700
- New HVAC – $4,000-$8,000
- New Kitchen Remodel -$12,000-$26,000
- New Bathroom Remodel- $6,000-$14,000
Also, you will want to keep in mind how long these projects could take to finish. A bathroom renovation can take six weeks to 3 months to give you an idea, and a kitchen remodel can take 3-5 months to complete.
Depending on what your timeline is and your finances, fixing up your place may not be feasible. So in this type of situation, it may be best to find an as-is home buyer. There are people out there that purchase properties in as-is condition all the time, Four 19 Properties being one of them. Selling to an as-is buyer alleviates all the stress and hassle that comes with renovating a house.
Tip #3: Make Moving Plans
Now that you’ve figured out how you’re going to sell the house and handle repairs, it’s time to make moving plans. When moving out of state, there’s a lot to keep in mind besides packing up and moving out. Below are a few steps you should take when moving out of state to make this easier for you and your family.
Steps to Moving Out of State
Whether this is your first move or 15th move, moving doesn’t get any easier, but there are ways to make moving out of state a smooth transition. Let’s take a look at a few steps to moving out of state that should help prepare you for your upcoming move.
Step 1: Visit the New State or City Your Moving To
Planning a visit to your new city would be a good idea before making a big move out of state. Spending a few days in your new town will give you a better idea of what to expect before moving there. You want to get a good idea of the location and neighborhood you will soon be moving to. And before you go, do some research on the best communities to live in and drive through those neighborhoods during different times of the day to get a true feel for the area. It wouldn’t hurt to line up a few houses or apartments to look at while you’re there and see how close they are to restaurants and shopping centers.
Step 2: Research Schools
This is important if you have kids or plan to have children while living in this new home. You will want to live in an area with a good school district for your children’s education and future resale value. If you don’t plan to send your children to public schools, make sure there are some excellent private schools nearby that wouldn’t be a hassle to drive to every day.
Step 3: Figure Out a Moving Budget
Moving is expensive, especially when it comes to moving out of state. Sometimes jobs will cover cross country moving expenses for their employees, and other times you may be responsible for covering your move. The cost of moving to another state isn’t cheap.
The average cost of hiring professional movers for an out-of-state move is $4,300, according to the American Moving and Storage Association. If you decide to move on your own, make sure to keep in mind the cost of a moving truck or storage container, moving supplies, and various other expenses.
→ To get a better idea of what your move could cost, check out this moving cost calculator.
After you figure out what your move could cost, it’s time to figure out your budget and how much you can spend, and go from there. Here are a few ways you can cut down on the cost of moving to another state:
- Find as many free boxes as possible; one way to get free boxes is by calling your local grocery stores and asking them for any free boxes they plan to throw away.
- Choose a cheaper date or time to move. If you hire a moving company, try to avoid peak moving months of May-August. Instead, if you can opt for a mid-week, mid-month moving date between September and April, you could get a cheaper moving rate.
- Get estimates from several moving companies and compare pricing to find a cheaper rate.
- Pack everything yourself. This can be a costly expense you can handle yourself and save a couple hundred dollars.
- Enlist friends to help you move. They may not like you for asking, but it’s worth asking for help, especially when it will save you quite a lot of money. Maybe offering them some cash or a meal for their help will sweeten the deal.
- Purge your home. Go through everything in your house and either sell or get rid of anything you’re not using anymore. This will help cut down on how much stuff you have to pack and move.
- Have a moving sale. After you’ve purged your house, host a moving sale. Not only will this help you get rid of the things you don’t plan to take with you, but this will give you some extra cash to use for moving out of state. Besides having a yard sale, you can always sell items on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Buy, Sell, Trade.
Once you’ve done everything you can to cut down on the cost of moving to another state, then make a list of the necessary moving expenses. Make sure to keep a little extra money to the side for any unexpected costs they may arise.
Tip: If you are moving for work, check with your employer if they plan to help pay for part or all of your move. It doesn’t hurt to ask!
Step 4: Figure Out Housing
After visiting your new city, researching schools, and making a moving budget, it’s time to start looking for your new home. Finding a realtor to work with would help; they will be able to find some properties in your price range and in the communities you’re interested in. Shopping for houses can also be done online now; you can easily search for homes for sale with all the criteria you’re looking for to buy without having to hire a realtor. Online listings usually have great photos and virtual walkthrough options too.
If you’re unsure where you should live or not sure if this move will be long-term, you can always rent. Renting isn’t a bad idea if you’re uncertain about a neighborhood you’re interested in.
Renting doesn’t obligate you to commit to a house as buying would.
Step 5: Make a Moving Out of State Checklist
The next important thing to do when moving out of state is to make a moving checklist; that way, you don’t miss anything big or small. Your checklist should include:
✓ Scheduling shut off and connecting utilities.
✓ Forwarding your mail to your new address.
✓ Letting others know your moving- family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
✓ Establish residency in the new state.
✓ Get a new driver’s license and make sure to register to vote in your new state.
✓ Register your kids with the school they will be attending.
✓ Create a packing plan to pack your belongings.
Tip #4: Sell Your House Before You Move
Ideally, when moving out of state, you want to sell your house before moving. The apparent reason is not to have two mortgage payments to cover and have extra money from your house’s sale to be used to purchase the new home. Besides that, if either your home doesn’t sell or you decide to hold on to it, you will need to make sure someone is maintaining it while you’re living out of state.
Some people choose to hold on to their house to use as a rental property. If you plan to do this also, it would be wise to have some plans in place beforehand. If you plan to rent the house out, make sure to get a legal rental agreement made; even if you will be leasing to a family member, it’s crucial to have a lease agreement in writing.
Something else you should look into is a property management service. A management company will deal directly with your tenant, so you don’t have to. They would handle marketing your rental, collecting rent, handling maintenance and repair issues, responding to tenant complaints, and even pursuing evictions. Hiring a service like this can be helpful but expect to pay a typical residential property management firm between 8 – 12% of the monthly rental value of the property, plus expenses. Some companies may charge, say, $100 per month flat rate.
The important thing is you don’t want your house sitting vacant for months, which can lead to people breaking in or major issues going on unnoticed. Make sure some type of plan is in place for someone to check on the house and keep up with general maintenance.
Tip #5 Find the Right Buyer
As mentioned before, moving, in general, is stressful, let alone moving out of state.
And when you have the stress of selling your house looming over you, it can really be overwhelming.
One way to put your mind at ease is to find the right buyer to purchase your house. Once your home sells, all your focus can be on making an exciting new life for you and your family in this new state you’re about to move to. In the best-case scenario, you will find a buyer that
- Closes quickly and on your timeline
- Lets you pick your moving date
- Buys your house in as-is condition
- Pays closing costs
But is there a buyer out there that would be willing to do all that?
Yes, there is! Four 19 Properties offers all of those best-case scenarios to homeowners working with them. They are a cash buyer, which provides homeowners with a fast closing process.
Also, Four 19 Properties does not require any repairs or renovations to be made before moving out; even cleaning isn’t necessary.
Another advantage of working with Four 19 Properties is there are no agent fees or commissions- saving you thousands of dollars that come with hiring a real estate agent.
If moving out of state is in your future, take the next step by contacting Four 19 Properties and get a cash offer on your house today.
Hopefully, these tips for selling your house in Fort Worth and steps to moving out of state prove to make your next move a success!