Your plan
The Head-Start Plan
No rush. Just a smart head start.
The families who feel calmest about this move are the ones who started thinking about it early, and you are already ahead. Nothing below needs to happen this year, or at all. It is simply the short list of things that make a future move easier, in the order that makes sense.
How it actually goes
Whenever you like, and it costs nothing
Get a baseline
- A current, honest value for the home, so that every decision after this is based on a real number.
- An idea of what the home would bring prepared, and what that preparation would cost.
- A rough net figure after our fee, legal fees and costs.
- Nothing gets listed, and we will not chase you afterward.
Over the next six to twelve months
The easy wins
- Start with one room, or even one cupboard. Sorting a little at a time is far easier than sorting a whole house in a hurry later.
- Deal with the deferred maintenance while it is small. Roofs, furnaces and windows cost more when they become urgent during a sale.
- Gather the paperwork: surveys, permits, warranties, renovation receipts. Buyers pay more for a documented home.
- Photograph and label anything sentimental now, while the stories behind things are still easy to tell.
When it feels right
The family conversation
- Talk about what you want before anyone has to guess on your behalf. This is the single kindest thing you can do for your family.
- Decide who should be involved in the decision, and who should not.
- Consider what the next home needs to look like, particularly single level living, which is in short supply.
- Write down what matters to you. It is much easier to follow your wishes when they are on paper.
Whenever you are ready, if ever
When the time comes
- Refresh the value, since markets move and the earlier number will be out of date.
- We take over the sorting, the trades, the cleaning and the staging.
- The home is prepared, listed, marketed and sold.
- We coordinate the timing so you are never caught between two homes.
Who does what
We handle
- A no cost, no obligation valuation whenever you want one
- An honest view of which improvements will pay off later and which will not
- A checklist built around your home, at your pace
- The entire move, coordinated, if and when you decide to go ahead
You decide
- Whether any of this ever happens
- The timing, entirely
- How much you want your family involved
- What the next home looks like
How the costs work
Nothing at this stage costs anything. The walkthrough, the valuation and the advice are free and carry no obligation. If and when you decide to move ahead, you only pay for the services you choose, with clear quotes first, and our fee is agreed in writing before the home is listed.
What we would steer you away from
Waiting for a crisis to decide
The families who struggle most are the ones who move after a fall or a diagnosis, when there is no time to prepare and no time to sort. Deciding early is what buys you the calm version.
Renovating years ahead of selling
Work done five years early is dated by the time you list, and you paid for it and then lived through it. Maintain the home, but leave the cosmetic updates until closer to the sale.
Not telling anyone what you want
When wishes are not written down, families end up guessing during the hardest week of their lives, and disagreeing about it. A single conversation prevents most of that.
Letting maintenance slide because you plan to sell eventually
Deferred maintenance rarely stays the same size. Buyers discount heavily for the things they can see, and inspectors find the rest.
Questions people ask at this stage
Is it too early to be talking to a real estate agent?
No. A good portion of the people we talk to are a year or more away, and some decide not to move at all. We would rather be useful early than pushy later.
Will I be pestered with calls afterward?
No. We will send occasional useful things if you have said yes to that, and you can stop it any time with one reply.
How often should I update the valuation?
Every year or two is plenty while you are planning, and again right before you decide to do anything.
Does any of this cost anything?
The valuation, the walkthrough and the advice cost nothing. You only pay for services you choose, if and when you decide to move ahead.
The honest part
There is no perfect moment, and waiting for one is how people end up rushed later. A little planning now buys you calm later. We will also tell you honestly if we think staying put is the better decision for you, because sometimes it is.
Tip: choose "Save as PDF" to keep a copy, or forward it to family.
Ready when you are.
There is no next step unless you want one. When you are curious, a walkthrough and a current value cost nothing and commit you to nothing.