5 Trade Up Mistakes To Avoid

“You have to sell your present home at exactly the right time in order to avoid either the financial burden of owning two homes, or, just as bad, the dilemma of having no place to live during the gap between closings.”

Unlike the experience of buying a first home, when you want to move up and already own a home it can be complicated. It’s very important for you to consider a few factors before you list your home for sale.

Not only is there the issue of financing to consider, but you also have to sell your present home at exactly the right time in order to avoid either the financial burden of owning two homes or, just as bad, the dilemma of having no place to live during the gap between closings.

Five Strategies

In this report we outline the five most common mistakes homeowners make when moving to a larger home. Knowledge of these five mistakes, and the strategies to overcome them, will help you make informed choices before you put your existing home on the market.

1. Rose-colored glasses – Most of us dream of improving our lifestyle and moving to a larger home. The problem is that there’s sometimes a discrepancy between our hearts and our bank accounts. You drive by a home that you fall in love with only to find that it’s already sold or that it’s more than what you’re willing to pay. Most homeowners get caught in this hit or miss strategy of house hunting when there’s a much easier way of going about the process. For example, find out if your agent offers a Buyer Profile System or “House Hunting Service,” which takes the guesswork away and helps to put you in the home of your dreams. This kind of program will cross-match your criteria with available homes on the market and supply you with e-mailed information on an ongoing basis. A program like this helps homeowners take off their rose-colored glasses and, affordably, move into the home of their dreams.

2. Failing to make necessary improvements – If you want to get the best price for the home you’re selling, there will certainly be things you can do to enhance it in a prospective buyer’s eyes. These fix-ups don’t necessarily have to be expensive. But even if you do have to make a minor investment, it will often come back to you ten-fold in the price you’re able to get when you sell. It’s very important that these improvements be made before you put your home on the market. If cash is tight, investigate an equity loan that you can repay at closing. Watch “Designed to Sell” on HGTV, or go to the website (www.HGTV.com) for good advice on how to go about preparing your home to sell, as well as program times in your area.

3. Not selling first – You should plan to sell before you buy. This way you won’t find yourself at a disadvantage at the negotiating table, feeling pressured to accept an offer below market value because you have to meet a purchase deadline. If you’ve already sold your home, you can buy your next one with no strings attached. If you do get a tempting offer on your home but haven’t made significant headway on finding your next home, you might want to put in a contingency clause in the sale contract which gives you a reasonable time to find a home to buy. If the market is slow and you find your home is not selling as quickly as you anticipated, another option could be renting your home and putting it up on the market later – particularly if you’re selling a smaller, starter home. You’ll have to investigate the tax rules if you choose this latter option.

4. Failing to get a preapproved mortgage – Preapproval is a very simple process that many homeowners fail to take advantage of. While it doesn’t cost or obligate you to anything except a small application fee refundable at closing (make sure the lender you work with offers this alternative), preapproval gives you a significant advantage when you put an offer on the home you want to purchase because you know exactly how much house you can afford, and you already have the green light from your lending institution. With a preapproved mortgage, your offer will be viewed far more favorably by a seller – sometimes even it it’s a little lower than another offer that’s contingent on financing. Don’t fail to take this important step.

5. Failing to coordinate closings – With two major transactions to coordinate together with all the people involved such as mortgage experts, appraisers, title company representatives, home inspectors, the chances of mix-ups and miscommunication go up dramatically. To avoid a logistical nightmare ensure you work closely with your agent.

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