Post Home Sale: What Do I Do Now?

If you haven’t sold your home yet, check out my video on How to Buy and Sell Your Home at the Same Time to see what options are available for you.

• Have a few potential homes identified before selling
• Consider that improving your current residence may be better for you than buying in our current market
• Hold on to your home using a cash-out refinance or HELOC (home equity line of credit) to purchase a new home and earn passive income from renting
• Partner with a Realtor? who you can have candid conversations with regarding long-term goals and all of the options available

Okay, you just sold your home, and congratulations are absolutely in order! However, it’s hard to know what to do next. Here are some things to keep in mind after the sale of your home:?

Keep and Organize Your Home Sale Documents

Buy a file box and save every document from the sale. Even if you think you won’t need it, keep it for when it comes time to do taxes. These include items like:

• Paperwork surrounding closing and settlement
• Proof of improvements and prior purchases

I recommend doing this as losing important documents is extremely easy, especially during the moving process.?

Get Ready for Your Move?

Time to pack! This is one of the essential parts of the moving process. I recommend going through each room in the house and deciding what you want to bring to your next home and what you can donate or throw away.?

Next, hire a moving company. Make sure you use a trustworthy service that will protect all of your belongings.?

Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations, and then check out the following resources:

• Better Business Bureau – See if the company has received any complaints
• The U.S. Department of Transportation – Verify if the company is appropriately licensed and insured

Choosing Your Next Home

There are a lot of things to consider when looking for your next home. Consider if the agent who helped sell your house can meet your homebuying needs. Finding a real estate professional who knows the area you’re moving to can be beneficial.

The down payment: It’s essential to choose the size of your down payment as it can affect mortgage programs. A 20% down payment is pretty standard; it provides the best loan conditions and avoids expensive mortgage insurance.?

However, everyone’s situation is different, and as the #1 Mortgage Lender in Colorado, I’m happy to partner with you and customize a loan that best suits your needs!

Turn Off Utilities?

Make sure that you call to have your utilities turned off for the day after your closing.

Leave All Essential Documents for the New Owners?

Providing these documents isn’t mandatory, but it’s a kind gesture. These are documents can include:

• Helpful tips about the house
• Appliance manuals
• Maintenance recommendations
• Past house cleaners
• Warranty documents

Send Change-of-Address Notices

It’s imperative to send change-of-address notices for your mail. You can set up a change-of-address through the United States Postal Service for 12 months for only $1.05; the USPS recommends that you do this 30 days before moving to your new home.?

• You will also want to alert federal government organizations, your bank and your employer of your move so they know where to send any documents

Again, congratulations on the sale of your home! This can be an extensive process but an enriching one. The Rueth Team is willing and excited to help you secure your dream home! We are eager to help you with whatever you may need, from loans to real estate investing education. Contact my team and me today at 303.214.6393.