Selling Your Overland Park or Olathe Home from Another State? The Secret Sauce for a Successful Relocation . . .

Selling Your Overland Park or Olathe Home from Another State? The Secret Sauce for a Successful Relocation . . .

Recently, I was contacted by a homeowner who is currently living in Dallas and owns a home in Overland Park, Kansas. She and her family are preparing for a job relocation to Dallas, Texas in a month. Due to the slow real estate she will need to move to Dallas before her home is sold in Overland Park. As many homeowners have found out in the past couple years, it is hard to maintain a house from another location, much less sell it. Here are a few pearls of wisdom for those who find themselves forced to sell from another state.

Build a Team

When you’re in another city and trying to sell, you must get yourself a good team. Let’s face it – a house needs continual maintenance.  Do not leave this type of activity to friends, relatives or family — those situations almost always end badly. Find true professionals that can help maintain your home before you leave if possible. You want to be sure that everyone on your “sales” team treats this as a business transaction, not a “nice-thing-to-do.”

Most Important Person

The first most important person on the team is your real estate agent. Not any real estate agent, but a solid, well-connected agent who has helped relocate homeowners and understands the task that need to be accomplished. Did you know that 20% of the real estate agents in any area sell 80% of the homes? Now you may understand why you need to hire a true professional. Since you are living in another state like Texas, make sure they are technically and virtually savvy and  can connect via email, voice mail, and texting, if need be.  Ease of communication with your real estate agent is very important. As the home seller,  you will have to do your part in responding quickly and timely to requests — it is a two-way street!

Mr. Handyman

The next person on your team is the reliable and dependable handyman. Preferably, not the unemployed guy down the street. This is the person who may have already done work on your home while you lived there, so you already know their work ethic. Of course, your real estate agent can recommend handymen if you’re not familiar with any. Keep in mind, the handyman will need accessibility to your home. Ideally you want someone who you can email or consistently reach over the phone at a defined time daily, and can accept checks or credit card payments, since sending cash may not be an option.

Important issues to address with your handyman is caring for your home during the cold winter, after storms and during plumbing catastrophes.

Stage it

To round out the team, hire a local home stager or interior deorator,, especially if you are looking to sell an empty Olathe or Overland Park home. Homes in Olathe and Overland Park, KS. sell faster and for more money than vacant homes. Most home buyers can’t visualize furniture in an empty house.  A home stager who specializes in vacant homes would be a great asset on your team. Like the handyman, the home stager should be easily accessible and able to accept payments virtually.  They can provide, or advise, on the presentation of your property, especially important when you are not in town. Home stagers can make it look as if the homeowners are still in town and ready to sell!  Home stagers can help you utilize current  furniture or else secure furniture from local stores to help accent and provide an inviting home to potential home buyers.  Also, the stager can act as an impartial party to review the work of the handyman/contractor, help be your eyes and ears on site. Some home stagers will provide weekly services like adding fresh flowers to help create a pleasant atmosphere for potential home buyers. Your real estate agent can help you identify a home stager to help you sell your property.

Mrs. Clean

Although you will not be living in the home a cleaning service or person will be helpful to clean after you move out as well as clean until the sell takes place. Dusting, removing dirt that is tracked in and tiding up after showings will send a positive message to potential buyers. Daily cleaning since you’re not there will not be necessary. Weekly or bi-weekly cleanings will do the job.

Hope the advice was helpful. Best of luck with your long-distance relocation and selling your home – they aren’t easy, but hopefully this helps! A successful relocation will be successful – with the right team!

RE/MAX sells more homes than any other real estate company.
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Blog post written by the Dowell Taggart Team of RE/MAX Premier Realty 

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