The Moving Shuffle, how to do it

[sombrueil]

Originally Posted by Krsy

Last move we vacated the old house, stored most of the stuff and lived in our 5th wheel on the new property for much longer than I had anticipated. Our new house had to be gutted, so it was nice to be on-site. It was easy for us being in the same Zip Code.

After the first 6 months of trailer life and the old house was long sold, I insisted my husband get help. I knew at that point with him doing all the work at his age, after work and on weekends that I was likely to die in the trailer. My husband has all the skills, he built other houses from the ground up, but that was many moons ago and his full time job then.

For your own sanity, I would suggest you move out to MA with the dogs and let your husband clean up and ready for sale or, if finances allow, put the dogs in a kennel for a week or two in MA and return to help hubby. Do put a time limit on that, otherwise it could go on much longer than you hope.

I think empty homes show well, just make sure you label the rooms in the pictures and provide measurements.

Wise advice, thank you.

[JanND]

If it were me I'd move to Mass house taking only what you need. Then I'd either have a neighbor or hire someone to check on the Cali house. because the Cali house isn't going to freeze during the winter like the Mass house.

That solves the dogs and how to ready your home in Cali to sell. You could always go back and forth, or hire someone for painting etc. Have a couple tag sales after you've edited down your things to move.

Once your Cali house is empty it won't seem so overwhelming.

[lae60]

I would not leave anything in the CA house for staging. I just entered escrow with my house in CA and it was empty, nothing for furniture at all.

I also recently (last year) settled my mom's estate and the two empty, just fixed up rental properties both sold within a week. Her home, with my messy brother living in it, was the slowest to sell, even though it was in a much better area.

I'd recommend that you spend the next two months packing a room each week of the things you are moving, and donate the other things. Hubbie could follow you and as you empty a room, the next week he does his part. Then after Christmas you and the dogs move to MA and leave hubbie to finish the last of the house, or move with you and hire it out. If you have the funds you could get a container in your driveway, like a packrat now and just pack it as you go over the next few months.

Winter selling can be good, not much competition And the market is hot now in CA, who knows what will happen in the future.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I think you should talk to a real estate agent. For all you know, you may be able to sell it as-is for way more than you thought.

Ask a good agent what to do, and how much you can list it for, and what needs to be done to get different prices for it.

Depending on where your place is located, it might not be a bad time to sell, and you may even get a great price as-is. After all, the weather is still great in CA - sunny and not rainy yet, etc.

[sombrueil]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I think you should talk to a real estate agent. For all you know, you may be able to sell it as-is for way more than you thought.

Ask a good agent what to do, and how much you can list it for, and what needs to be done to get different prices for it.

Depending on where your place is located, it might not be a bad time to sell, and you may even get a great price as-is. After all, the weather is still great in CA - sunny and not rainy yet, etc.

Worth trying. Thanks. At present the median price for single family homes here is $825,000. Feels like the bottom could fall out of this insane market any time . . .