Sandra Meranda

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Should You Buy a New Home Before Selling Your Current One?

Moving from one home to another can feel like solving a complicated puzzle. You need to find the right property, prepare your current home for sale, coordinate financing, and somehow make both transactions happen at the right time.

One of the biggest questions homeowners face is: Should I buy my next home first, or sell my current home first?

There is no single answer that works for everyone. The best approach depends on your finances, local market conditions, timeline, and comfort level. Understanding the advantages and risks of each option can help you make a confident decision.

Option 1: Selling Your Current Home First

Selling before buying can provide greater financial clarity. Once your home has sold, you will know exactly how much money you have available for your next purchase.

Benefits of Selling First

You know your exact budget.
The proceeds from your sale may contribute toward the down payment, closing costs, moving expenses, or updates to your next home.

You may be a stronger buyer.
Making an offer without needing to sell another property first can make your offer more attractive to sellers.

You reduce the risk of carrying two homes.
Owning two properties at the same time can mean managing two mortgage payments, insurance policies, utility bills, and maintenance costs.

There may be less financial pressure.
You will not have to rush the sale of your current home simply because you have already committed to another property.

Potential Challenges

The biggest concern is where you will live between selling your current home and purchasing the next one.

You may need to arrange temporary housing, stay with family, negotiate a leaseback agreement, or place some belongings in storage. Moving twice can also add time and expense.

However, with careful planning, selling first can offer peace of mind and put you in a more predictable financial position.

Option 2: Buying Your New Home First

Buying first allows you to secure your next home before leaving your current one. This may be especially appealing when you have specific requirements or are moving into a competitive neighborhood.

Benefits of Buying First

You have more time to find the right home.
You are less likely to feel pressured into purchasing a property simply because your current home has already sold.

The move may be easier to coordinate.
You can move into the new home before preparing the old one for its new owners.

Your current home can be shown while vacant.
An empty home may be easier to clean, repair, stage, photograph, and show to potential buyers.

You avoid temporary housing.
Purchasing first can reduce the likelihood of needing a short-term rental or moving twice.

Potential Challenges

The main risk is financial. You could temporarily be responsible for two homes if your current property does not sell as quickly as expected.

Before choosing this route, speak with your lender about what you can comfortably afford. Make sure you understand how a second mortgage, down payment, closing costs, and ongoing expenses would affect your finances.

Can You Make an Offer Contingent on Selling Your Home?

A home-sale contingency allows you to make an offer on a new property that depends on selling your current home.

This can help reduce your financial risk, but the seller must agree to the contingency. In a competitive market, sellers may prefer offers without this condition because they involve fewer uncertainties.

Your real estate agent can help you determine whether a contingent offer is realistic and explain how to make it as appealing as possible.

What Is a Leaseback Agreement?

A leaseback agreement may provide another solution for sellers who need extra time before moving.

With this arrangement, you sell your home and temporarily rent it back from the new owner. This can give you additional time to purchase your next property and coordinate the move.

The length, cost, responsibilities, insurance requirements, and other terms should be clearly outlined in the agreement. Leasebacks are not suitable for every transaction, but they can make the transition easier when both parties agree.

Questions to Consider Before Deciding

Before choosing whether to buy or sell first, ask yourself:

  • Do I need the proceeds from my current home to purchase the next one?
  • Could I comfortably manage two homes for several months?
  • How quickly are similar homes selling in my area?
  • How competitive is the market where I want to buy?
  • Do I have somewhere to stay if I sell before finding another home?
  • Am I willing to move twice?
  • Is my current home ready to list?
  • How flexible am I about the location, features, and timing of my next purchase?

The answers can help you determine which option creates the least financial and emotional pressure.

Preparation Makes Either Option Easier

Even when you are not ready to list immediately, you can start preparing for your move.

Consider completing minor repairs, decluttering, reviewing your finances, speaking with a lender, and learning what your current home may be worth. You can also begin identifying the neighborhoods and property features that matter most to you.

Preparing early gives you more choices and reduces the chance of making rushed decisions later.

Why Local Market Conditions Matter

Your strategy should reflect what is happening in both the area where you are selling and the area where you plan to buy.

When homes are selling quickly, listing your current property first may feel less risky. When inventory is limited in your preferred neighborhood, finding and purchasing your next home may take longer than expected.

A local real estate professional can review recent sales, available inventory, average marketing times, and buyer demand to help you develop a realistic plan.

Final Thoughts

Deciding whether to buy or sell first is about balancing convenience, financial security, and timing. Selling first may give you a clearer budget and a stronger purchasing position. Buying first may provide more flexibility and make the physical move easier.

The right strategy is the one that fits your finances, goals, and comfort level.

Sandra Meranda helps buyers and sellers throughout St. Charles and St. Louis County plan each stage of their move with confidence. From reviewing local market conditions to coordinating the timing of two transactions, Sandra provides personalized guidance designed to make your transition as smooth and stress-free as possible.

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Selling Your Home in the Spring: How to Prepare

house for sale spring

Now is the right time to start prepping your home if you plan to put it on the market this spring – which is only a few short months away! Selling your home in the spring is a good idea if speed and a higher offer are your top priorities. According to the St. Louis Business Journal, homes listed in early May benefit from a 3.1% boost in final sale price. Let’s explore how homeowners can get ready for an active spring real estate market and sell their homes faster and at a higher price. 

7 Tips for Selling Your Home

1. Clean and Declutter 

Winter is a great time to clean out those closets and declutter your house. This is a perfect time to donate, recycle, or throw out any items in your home that you are not using. Less clutter and knick-knacks can help depersonalize your home and make it seem more spacious. When potential home buyers can envision themselves inside your home and understand the available space, they are more likely to consider your home. 

2. Clean Your Windows

You want the maximum amount of light coming into your home. Dusty, dirty windows can make your home seem dark and unwelcoming. It’s essential to make sure your windows are squeaky clean, inside and out. Hire a professional service to handle the job – it’s worth the money.

3. Pay Attention to Odors

The smell of tobacco, pets, or food can kill a home sale. Carpets and other textiles hold odors. Have your carpets professionally cleaned before putting your home on the market. On nice days, open the windows and thoroughly air out your home. If you have pets, arrange a place for them to stay during open houses or home tours.

4. Make Repairs and Replacements

Potential home buyers will be making mental lists of things they will need to update or repair. Make that list shorter by repairing and updating as many items as possible in your home before it is listed. Fix any plumbing or electrical issues, ripped screens, holes in walls, or other known problems. Replacing aging or mismatched kitchen appliances is also a good idea. 

5. Boost Your Curb Appeal 

Home buyers will quickly judge a home based on how it looks as they drive up. They may not even take a home tour if your exterior is outdated or unappealing. Easy ways to improve your home’s curb appeal include power washing the exterior, replacing old house numbers and the mailbox, and cleaning up the landscaping. Painting your front door and trim can dramatically improve your home’s exterior. 

6. Update Interior Paint 

Painting the rooms in your home over the winter is a great way to clean from top to bottom and give it a fresh new look. This process is especially important if your surfaces look worn or the color needs to be updated. Choose a light neutral color palette that will appeal to the most potential buyers.

7. Create a Marketing Plan

Nearly 100% of home buyers now begin their home search online. Creating an online listing that captures the attention of buyers is the goal. Professional staging and photography can make a significant difference. If you have the budget, consider hiring a professional home stager or follow your real estate agent’s advice before having photos taken for your listing.

Work With An Experienced Real Estate Professional

Selling your home in the spring will be easier with the help of an experienced real estate agent.  They’ll be able to assess your home and give you expert advice on the best ways to prepare before placing it on the market. Call Sandra Meranda at 314-691-1320 for a free market analysis of your home.

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The Importance of Online Curb Appeal

online real estate listing

Most people know that curb appeal or a home’s exterior appearance can enhance the chances of selling a home at the best price possible. Not everyone understands how important it is to create online curb appeal in today’s digital world. With more potential buyers searching for homes online, how you present your home in online listings is more important than ever before.  Follow these tips to improve your home’s online curb appeal.

1. Declutter and Clean

The same rules for traditional open houses apply in the virtual world. Decluttering and cleaning is the first step to improving online curb appeal. Rooms with minimal clutter and furnishings appear more spacious in photos and videos. Removing highly personal artwork, photographs, and collectibles is important. This helps potential buyers see your home’s features and imagine their family living in your house. The goal is to make your home look bright, clean, and spacious.

2. Optimize Your Layout

Too much furniture or the wrong layout can make your home look small and cramped in photos. Snap a few test photos to see if your current layout photographs well. If you’re planning to create a video tour, do a video chat walkthrough with a friend to see if you have a clear walking path between your furniture pieces. You don’t want to bump into furniture or trip over rugs while doing a live tour.

3. Hire a Professional Photographer

Your cell phone photos aren’t the best choice when it’s time to sell the most significant investment you own. Unless you are a skilled photographer, it’s worth the money to hire a professional to take the photos. A professional knows how to light interior and exterior shots and can use photo editing software to make every photo look its best online.

4. Write a Compelling Description

High-quality photos aren’t enough. The description accompanying your listing is equally important. Describe what readers can’t see in pictures or elaborate on what they can see. Mention specific appliance brands and upgrades and describe your home’s noteworthy features, whether it’s an updated kitchen, a beautiful view, or access to a community swimming pool. 

5. Create a 3D Virtual Tour

A virtual tour is a must-have and will likely help your listing get more views and saves. Virtual home tours make listings more interesting and memorable. Data collected between April 2022 and June 2022 showed that, on average, listings with a Zillow 3D Home® tour got 68% more views than listings without virtual tours.

Talk to a Real Estate Professional

Selling your home begins with your online listing. Improving your home’s online curb appeal will go a long way to attracting potential buyers and selling your home at top dollar. Talk to a local real estate professional when you’re ready to put your home on the market. They can advise you on the best ways to market your home and can provide helpful information every step of the way. If you’re ready to sell, contact Sandra Meranda at 314-691-1320 for a free market analysis of your home.

 

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7 Simple Tips to Prepare Your Home to Sell

preparing your house for sale

Selling a home can be stressful anytime, but springtime might be perfect for preparing your home to sell. The cold winter months are behind us, and warmer temperatures make it easier to get your home ready to put on the market. Setting your home apart from the competition and getting top dollar means making a great first impression. 

Most buyers are looking for neutral colors, clean lines, and open spaces. You want your home to feel spacious, bright, clean, and move-in ready. Here are seven tips to prepare your home when it’s time to sell.

1. Freshen Up Your Curb Appeal

Buyers start judging your home before they walk through the front door. If your mailbox has seen better days, replace it. A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to update a tired front door. Adding colorful plantings and new mulch to flower beds will brighten the front yard. If your home’s siding is dirty, power washing removes pollen, dust, and mildew stains and will make it look new again.

2. Make Minor Repairs

If you’ve lived in your home for a while, there are probably several issues you’ve learned to live with, such as chipped or faded paint, missing fence boards, leaky faucets, and flickering lights. Potential buyers will notice these minor problems and may assume there are more significant problems to uncover. Making a few inexpensive repairs sends the message that your home is well cared for and move-in ready.

3. Declutter and Organize

Clutter is distracting to buyers as they attempt to imagine living in a home. Overcrowded closets and cabinets convey that your home doesn’t have adequate storage. Remove anything you don’t need from cupboards and cabinets and organize the rest. Excess furniture makes rooms feel smaller and reduces flow. You want to project a sense of roominess and plenty of storage space. 

4. Deep Clean

Cleaning your house before it goes on the market is an essential task. Set aside several days to tackle the job or hire a professional to thoroughly clean from top to bottom. The kitchen and bathrooms need to be immaculate. Wash all windows both inside and out. Thoroughly vacuum or shampoo carpets if necessary. A bright, spotless home will look appealing and well-maintained.

5. Remove Personal Items

Potential buyers need to be able to visualize their family living in your house. Remove personal items, including family photos, knickknacks, family heirlooms, scattered toys, and other belongings that could distract potential buyers. While a few decorative items are fine, too many are distracting. The goal is to create a neutral look that allows people to see a clean slate they could make their own.

6. Touch Up and Repaint

Go room by room, and if you have any bold or bright colors, repaint with a white or light neutral color. White paint makes rooms look larger, brighter and appeals to most home buyers. Touch up any smudged or dirty areas, including doors, baseboards, and trim. A fresh coat of paint is a relatively inexpensive way to make a home look clean, fresh, and move-in ready.

7. Don’t Over Invest In Expensive Remodeling Projects

Increasing home value and getting a significant return on your investment isn’t the same thing. The most recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) remodeling impact report reveals that homeowners who invested in expensive upscale kitchen remodels only recouped 53-58% of the cost when they sold. Far less costly kitchen upgrades realized a 77% return on investment. If you’re remodeling in hopes of recouping the cost when you sell, it’s essential to work with an experienced local realtor. They’ll know what homebuyers in your market are willing to pay for when searching for a new home.

The Bottom Line

Properly preparing your home is critical if you want to sell fast and for top dollar. If you’re unsure where to start, work with an experienced real estate professional. They’ll be able to assess your home and give you expert advice on the best ways to prepare your home before placing it on the market.

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9 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

how to improve curb appeal

Creating a great first impression starts from the outside. If a home has good curb appeal, that means it’s attractive to the eye and inspires confidence. Curb appeal is an effective way to get potential buyers in the door. Great curb appeal helps sell a home faster and often for more money because of its positive impact on buyers.

Even in today’s low-inventory housing market, it’s essential to evaluate your home’s curb appeal before putting it on the market. Not putting some effort into ensuring your home’s exterior looks its best can deter potential buyers and drive down the perceived value of your home. It often doesn’t take much time or money to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Nine Ways to Improve Your Curb Appeal

1. Declutter and Clean
Keep your driveway, walkways, and lawn free of unnecessary clutter. Gather and store toys, yard tools, old newspapers, garden hoses, and excessive lawn ornaments. Simplify so that your home’s architecture and landscaping are what people notice.

2. Wash the Siding and Windows
If your home’s exterior is dirty, use a pressure washer to remove dust, grime, mold, mildew, and algae stains from the siding. Make sure to thoroughly clean windows both inside and out. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to ensure your windows are free from streaks, dirt, and dust.

3. Upgrade Your Mailbox
If your mailbox has seen better days, replace it. Choose a mailbox that blends in with others in your neighborhood. Add flowers at the base for a pop of color. Remember to place easy-to-read house numbers on the new mailbox.

4. Replace Your House Numbers
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to locate an address when you’re house hunting. If your house numbers are faded, too small, or out of style, replace them. Look for modern house numbers made from aluminum, brass, or steel. If possible, match the finish on your home’s exterior light fixtures.

5. Prune Trees and Shrubs
Overgrown yards not only block the view of a home, but they also look uninviting to neighbors and potential buyers. Overgrown landscaping can damage the siding on your home and act as a natural bridge for squirrels, raccoons, and mice that might try to gain access to your home. To keep your home from looking unkempt, regularly trim shrubs and trees.

6. Clean Driveways and Sidewalks
Too often, it’s easy to focus on the landscaping and forget about the hardscape areas, including concrete sidewalks and driveways. Use a pressure washer to clean off dirt and grime and give these areas a fresh, clean appearance. Ensure paver stones, stepping stones, or bricks are secure and create safe footing for visitors walking to and from your home.

7. Stage Your Front Entrance
Your home’s front entrance is the focal point of your curb appeal. Thoroughly clean the entrance and add a new doormat. Make a statement by giving your front door a fresh coat of paint. If your door is outdated or damaged, replace it with a new entry door. Liveable outdoor space is in high demand. If you have a front porch, add furniture to create a welcoming atmosphere. Even a small chair or table can boost an entrance area’s curb appeal.

8. Replace or Paint Shutters
Shutters are a focal point on homes, so paint or replace them if yours are faded, chipped, or look outdated. Updating your shutters with a fresh coat of paint will give your home an instant upgrade for minimal cost. Replacing dated or damaged shutters is a low-cost upgrade that will instantly improve your home’s appearance.

9. Clean and Repair the Roof and Gutters
Your roof makes up a large percentage of your home’s exterior. If your roof is damaged, dirty, or missing shingles, it can hurt the value of your home. Sometimes a thorough cleaning and minor repairs are all that is needed to make your roof look new again. Make sure gutters are clean and properly attached to your home as well.

First Impressions Matter in Real Estate
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Buyers often assume that a home with good curb appeal has been well maintained and is worth more than similar homes. A few simple upgrades can improve your home’s curb appeal and make it more appealing to prospective buyers when it’s time to sell your home.

Contact Sandra

Cell: 314-691-1320
Office: 636-946-2020
Contact Sandra

 

ReeceNichols – St. Charles

2171 Bluestone Dr.
St. Charles, MO 63303

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