Goodbye, Starter Home!

Remember when you first bought your starter home? It seemed enormous—plenty of space for all your stuff and room to grow, right? Fast-forward a few years, and suddenly, you’ve outgrown it. You’re practically bursting at the seams between kids, pets, and your collection of “I’ll get around to it” projects. Selling your starter home starts now!

Now you’re ready to move on to something bigger, but the idea of selling and buying simultaneously? That sounds like a logistical nightmare. But don’t worry—we’re here to guide you through selling your starter home and upgrading to something bigger in the Denver Metropolitan area. And yes, you’ll survive, even if it feels like you’re juggling while walking a tightrope.

Preparing Your Starter Home for Sale: The To-Do List You’ve Been Avoiding

Let’s face it: you decide to sell when you realize how many things need fixing. Are you ignoring all those minor repairs? Yeah, they need attention. Now.

• Declutter Like You Mean It: Start by decluttering. Your house needs to feel spacious to potential buyers, not like it’s one bad decision away from being featured on a reality TV show. Put away personal items, box up the clutter, and channel your inner minimalist.

Pro Tip: Go ahead and start packing for the move—if you don’t need it now, you probably won’t need it in the next couple of months. Plus, fewer items lying around means fewer things to clean when that last-minute showing pops up.

• Minor Repairs = Major Impact: That leaky faucet? Fix it. The cracked tile in the bathroom? It’s time to replace it. Buyers notice these things; even small repairs can make your home seem more well-maintained. You don’t need a complete remodel (please, don’t go HGTV on your starter home), but those minor improvements can pay off big time.

Remember, you’re not trying to impress Chip and Joanna Gaines here. Make it look like you didn’t ignore everything for the past five years.

Pricing Your Home to Sell: The Goldilocks Zone

Pricing your home is one of the trickiest parts of selling. If you price it too high, it’ll sit on the market like that questionable leftover in the fridge. Price it too low, and you might leave money on the table. So, how do you find the just right price?

• Look at the Local Market: Denver Metro real estate is competitive, and prices can vary by neighborhood. You’ll want to compare your home to others in your area—especially those that have sold recently. Don’t just look at the listing price—pay attention to the sale price. That’s what matters.

Pro Tip: You might feel your home is worth a million bucks, but if homes in your neighborhood sell for half that, it’s time to adjust your expectations. Trust the data, not your emotional attachment when selling your starter home.

• Work With a Realtor: This is where having a great realtor comes in handy (hint: that’s me!). We know the local market and can help you find that sweet spot in pricing that attracts buyers without underselling your home.

Your home might have sentimental value to you, but unfortunately, buyers aren’t willing to pay extra for the memories of your first Thanksgiving dinner. ☹

Click Here To Contact Me Today!

Finding Your Next Home: Bigger and Better (But Within Budget)

Once your starter home is ready for the market, it’s time to start the exciting—yet nerve-wracking—process of finding your next home. The Denver Metropolitan area has a lot to offer, but there’s a fine line between finding a bigger and better home and blowing your budget.

• Identify Your Must-Haves: Do you need a bigger yard? More bedrooms? A home office now that everyone works remotely? Make a list of your non-negotiables versus your nice-to-haves. This will keep you focused during your search (and help avoid the “shiny object syndrome” when you fall in love with a home that’s way out of budget).

Pro Tip: Prioritize function over flair. That second kitchen island might look fancy, but you might want to rethink your priorities if the kids share bedrooms.

• Consider Denver’s Best Suburbs for Upsizing: If you’re looking for more space without breaking the bank, consider expanding your search to the surrounding areas. Suburbs like Highlands Ranch, Centennial, or Broomfield offer larger homes, great schools, and a slightly slower pace than downtown Denver.

Because sometimes, you just need space—both for your growing family and for your sanity.

Juggling Buying and Selling: The Balancing Act

Things get tricky here: you need to sell your current home while finding your new one

Timing is Everything When Selling Your Starter Home: Ideally, you want to sell your starter home and buy your next home in perfect harmony. In reality? That’s about as rare as finding a parking spot downtown during rush hour. To avoid being homeless in between, consider contingency offers, where purchasing your new home is contingent on selling your current one.

Pro Tip: Be ready to move quickly. When your starter home sells (and it will, if it’s priced right), you’ll need to be prepared to move into your new place. Start packing early and have a plan for temporary housing if things don’t line up perfectly.

• Bridge Loans and Temporary Housing: If the timing is off, you may need to consider a bridge loan (a short-term loan that helps finance your new home before your current home sells). Or, if you have family in the area, this might be the time to test how much they really love you by crashing at their place for a bit.

Think of it like a temporary camping adventure… except with more boxes and fewer s’mores.

Wrapping It Up: Upsizing Stress-Free (Sort Of) While Selling Your Starter Home

Moving up to a bigger home is a big step, but with the proper preparation and guidance, it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Start by getting your starter home in shape, price it right, and be ready to find your next dream home in the Denver Metropolitan area.

And remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Working with a trusted realtor (again, that’s me!) when selling your starter home, I can make the whole process smoother, faster, and a lot less stressful.

Need help finding the perfect home in Denver? Contact me directly at 719-201-6563 or email at Matt.Dier@cbrealty.com.