market as owner occupied. Approximately 36% of these homes’ listing expired, versus the 29% when unoccupied by the owner. Therefore, the statistics, in fact, show that owner-occupied homes will take more time to sell.
MOVING OUT WHILE S T WHILE SELLING
A psychological benefit of moving out of your home while it is on the market is it signals a “motivated seller” to potential buyers. An occupied home will not always give the message the seller is ready to negotiate and sell when the home looks lived in. If you’re planning on putting your home on the market soon, it is best to do so after you have moved into a new place. This way, prospective buyers will be able to see you are ready to sell, finalize, and close the deal as soon as they are ready to go. This will also help in staging the home with furniture and decor. If the agent or you have decided the house should not be staged and instead remain empty, then all the better. Minimize furniture within the home when you move out. This will help buyers to picture where their furniture will fit into the home, even if their personal taste is not like what you currently have. Decorative pictures — not family portraits or pictures of your children — will also help the home to feel inviting, without being overpowering. Overall, a staged furnished home looks more spacious and attractive than an entirely empty home. During the process of moving out, check with your home insurance agent to find out the homeowners insurance coverage situation while your house is unoccupied. Usually, there is an insurance coverage difference in an “unoccupied” home (i.e., the owner is on extended vacation) and a vacant home (no one is living there). Your current policy will determine whether additional or different insurance is necessary.
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