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Tips to Avoid Downsizing Surprises

March 14, 2016  
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You’ve done the math and the research, and you’ve decided the best choice for you is to downsize to a place that’s more in line with your current needs. Maybe it’s been a while since your last move (maybe even decades!) so you may run into some surprises when selling your old place and moving into your new one. Here are some things to consider:

Repairs Before You Sell
As you de-clutter and box up your things, you’re likely to uncover issues that you didn’t even know about, like cracks in the walls or foundation, pest or water damage,for-sale-homeweatherstripping that’s gone bad, leaky pipes, termite damage or dry rot in wood, and so on. Your house inspector may have missed those too, if they were hidden behind stuff, or under old carpet or paneling. This could get into some sticky legal issues, but as long as you did everything you reasonably could to disclose or fix issues before the house was sold, you’re unlikely to be held responsible if the buyer should try to sue.

Repairs Before You Move In
Of course, repair issues when moving into a new place is the other side of the same coin. If you knowingly buy a “fixer-upper,” and have signed off on the problems that the inspector found, the new repairs are up to you. Some things may need to be done before you unpack so that you can get at trouble spots. Plan ahead and consider things like refinishing floors before you need to walk on them.

This Old House
Older properties will probably need more help than new ones. Over time, things just fail–water gets into masonry and wood, rubber seals dry out, window treatments need replacing, and so on. Another consideration is if your new place is in a historicbuilding or neighborhood, you may be restricted on what changes you can make, including what’s allowed in your yard, and the color of paints you can pick from. Be sure you know what the limitations are before moving in and making plans for clothes lines, bird feeders, and awnings.

Howdy, Neighbor
Speaking of neighborhood requirements, it’s important to know exactly who is responsible for maintaining what and when. In some areas, you’re responsible for everything out to the curb, including the publicly-used sidewalk. In other neighborhoods, the home owner’s association (HOA) takes care of common areas like sidewalks, curbside strips of lawn (or even all exterior landscaping), parking spaces, benches and picnic areas, and so on.

new home keysDifferent Strokes for Different Folks
But what about the different kinds of units that aren’t simply the old-fashioned single family house type of dwelling, like condos, apartments, a duplex, or the planned unit development (PUD)? All of them are different, depending on the rules of who owns them. In some places you can’t touch a blade of grass, but the property owner does all the maintenance, inside and out. In others, you’re completely responsible for all the maintenance and landscaping of your unit.

When you’re ready to move on down to a smaller place, make sure you understand everything that you’re responsible for maintaining, and get it all in writing so there are no nasty surprises after you’re handed the keys to your new home.

If you’re considering moving out, or moving in, let the Fix-It Professionals help you get everything ship shape, inside and out. We can even help with your heavy lifting! Whole-house (and yard) maintenance can be a lengthy process, so be sure to hire us on retainer to get the very best price and make your move easier.

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