How to downsize your San Antonio home
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 23% of people over the age of 50 would like to downsize as they near retirement. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that means about one in four people aged 50 and older are looking to downsize. If you're thinking about downsizing your home in San Antonio, you should consider the condition of your house and your expectations. Many homeowners don’t know their selling options as they struggle to deal with the maintenance of a house that’s too big.
The trick is to know how to downsize your home. Let’s go over some tips for when you are downsizing your home, including why you may want to sell your house “as is,” as well as your selling options.
Reasons to downsize your home
Home downsizing could be the right move when you consider:
- Savings: Maybe you're spending more than 30% of your income on housing costs, which is more than experts at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommend.
- Cost: You could be tired of dealing with all the maintenance costs that come with homeownership. According to Axios, home values, home prices, and property taxes in San Antonio have increased in recent years.
- Lifestyle: Perhaps your current house no longer meets your needs, and it's time for a change that suits you better.
When you downsize, you can also benefit from lower utility costs, reduced property taxes, and the opportunity to declutter your life. Downsizing can provide a fresh start, improved financial stability, and peace of mind.
Tips on how to downsize your home
Downsizing might seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be if you approach it right. Here are some practical tips to help you:
- Start early and plan: To avoid feeling overwhelmed, you should begin the downsizing process well in advance. Create a comprehensive plan that includes a timeline, checklist, and goals for each stage.
- Sort and declutter: Take inventory of your belongings and categorize them into items to keep, donate, sell, or discard. Decluttering is an important step for a successful downsizing transition.
- Store or sell: Consider whether you can store some items or if it's better to sell them to help cover your downsizing costs. This decision can make the process smoother and more budget friendly.
How to sell your house when you downsize
You have a few options for selling your house when you’re planning on downsizing:
- List your house on the market: One option is to sell your house FSBO (for sale by owner) and list it yourself. If you decide to sell your house FSBO, you will need to list, market, and show the house, as well as field incoming offers.
- Work with a real estate agent: Real estate agents have experience navigating the market and vetting buyers. They can help you set the right price, market your house effectively, and manage negotiations. Keep in mind that commissions have historically been 5%–6% of your sale price.
- Sell your house “as is” to an off-market home buyer: Direct home buyers like We Buy Ugly Houses® offer the benefit of a quick sale. We buy houses “as is,” which means you don’t need to make any repairs or renovations. You can save time and effort as you downsize.
How to sell your house in 3 steps
When you’re in the process of home downsizing in San Antonio, selling your house should be a simple process. And it’s exactly that with We Buy Ugly Houses, thanks to our 3-step process:
- Free consultation: Get started by booking a free consultation with one of our local property buyers in San Antonio. You don't have to worry about cleaning up or making any repairs before our visit.
- Fast offer: After our assessment, we can make you an offer. This offer is based on the local market's comparable sales, your house's current condition, and other factors; we sometimes make an offer on the same day we visit. Our offers are typically discounted below market value in exchange for a quick and hassle-free sale.
- Flexible closing: We understand the importance of timing as you downsize your home. That's why we aim for a swift closing, and we can sometimes close in as little as 3 weeks. If that’s too fast, no worries. We'll work with you to find the perfect closing date. We don't charge any commissions or hidden fees, and better yet, if you want to leave personal belongings behind, we'll take care of them.
Downsize and sell your house “as is.”
Now that you’ve considered how to downsize your home, ask yourself: Why are you downsizing? You may be doing it to save on costs, reduce maintenance hassles, and adapt to your changing lifestyle. Why shouldn’t your selling process meet those needs, too? It's not just about downsizing your home—it's about simplifying your life.
Make home downsizing easy and sell your house “as is” with We Buy Ugly Houses in San Antonio. You’re just a few clicks away from a free consultation.
