Selling/Moving

“it is a double edged sword. If someone had taken the time to review their situation, or the family sought some advice for them, [a financial advisor] could have given them some benefit by increasing their pension and protecting their superannuation for longer.” Ms Langton says a common issue she comes across is people not updating their financial situation on Centrelink records, so they are actually not receiving a part or full pension like they should be. Ms Langton says, “Ideally, you should be seeking expert guidance on how to structure your finances so that your super and retirement wealth doesn’t run out.””

Disclaimer: The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Readers should seek their own personal legal and financial advice from a suitably qualified practitioner.

All things selling and moving

Having made the decision to leave the family home to enter a retirement village, how and where do you begin with selling what may be your biggest asset?

Most people use a real estate agent to sell their property but you may choose to be your own agent and look after the sale yourself or use a seller advocate to help you with the selling process.

Real estate agents

Selling through an agent means you can take advantage of their experience and expertise to achieve the best selling price. An agent will manage the sales process for you, from marketing your property, to holding open inspection days and managing enquiries from potential buyers.

They often have access to more potential buyers through their own database and can negotiate the sales price on your behalf. An agent will prepare a contract of sale and can guide you through the legal and financial process of selling a house. When choosing an agent to represent you, it is important to do your research. The right agent will make sure that selling your home is a smooth process while acting in your best interest. It is worth speaking to a number of agents and inviting a couple to do an appraisal on your home so you can compare.

As part of your selection process you may want to consider an agent’s:

◆ Experience

◆ Reputation ◆ Market knowledge ◆ Negotiating skills ◆ References

◆ Commission

◆ Marketing budget

Selling your home privately could save you money because you don’t have to pay agent commission and are in control of how much you spend on advertising your property.

But it’s important to do your research properly so you have a realistic expectation of what your property is worth, know the rules and regulations of selling a home and be sure you have the time and patience to go through the process.

Seller Advocates

Some of the stress from selling your home can be removed by engaging the services of a seller advocate to deal with the real estate agent. By helping you through every step of the selling process, the seller advocate can help you get the best price for your home.

The right agent will make sure that selling your home is a smooth process while acting in your best interest.

The seller advocate assesses your property’s worth, selects an appropriate target market and can advise on the sale method.

They then interview and select an agent based on your requirements. This ensures your budget is not exceeded and that your expectations are met.

The seller advocate can also negotiate the agent’s fee and sale price.

This service reduces the contact between the seller and the real estate agent and ensures that the property’s set price range is attained with no unexpected surprises at any stage.

In most cases the seller advocate’s fee is a percentage taken from the real estate agent’s fee. There is no direct cost to the seller.

A seller advocate can also organise and manage the presentation of your home. Everything from a quick tidy up to a renovation or makeover can be handled by them. Landscaping, gardening, building, and decorating, re-fitting, rubbish removal – you name it.

They know how to increase the appeal and value of your home. And, if there are items you wish to sell, the seller advocate can arrange to have them valued and auctioned.

Tips to selling ‘stress free’

Here are some tips to selling your home ‘stress free’ to maximise the outcome:

◆ Do your research – what is the house really worth?

◆ Think about the presentation of the home – are you going to sell it furnished or empty?

◆ What methods of sale and marketing will you employ? Will the home be auctioned or will you accept expressions of interest?

◆ Will the sale of your home impact on pensions?

◆ Seek professional advice from a real estate agent or seller advocate, as well as a financial and legal advisor.

Selling a property is a big financial transaction, and whether you choose to go it alone or use the services of an expert, make sure you are confident that whatever option you go with is the right one for you.

Managing the move

It is not unusual for people who are downsizing and moving into a smaller unit to have many years of accumulated goods and belongings. The situation can be even more difficult for people who are on their own or where family is interstate and not available to help.

Many people who are moving feel they need a cleaner, removalist, sorter, assistant, confidant, coordinator and gardener all rolled up into one.

The stress of both finding the assistance and then coordinating can be overwhelming.

Being prepared for your move is the key to a smooth transition and will take a lot of the stress out of the experience.

Tips and tricks

We’ve gathered some handy tips and tricks to help you be well prepared for and on moving day:

Don’t leave things to the last minute, but start well ahead. One of the first steps is to decide on a moving date. Ideally you move from your current place to the new location, however, sometimes timelines don’t align and you need to find some temporary accommodation.

Next, decide whether you want to move your belongings yourself with the help of family and friends or whether you prefer to outsource the job to professionals.

You may want to get some quotes from removalists to weigh up the cost and effort involved.

Once you have worked out who will do the moving, the next step is to gather supplies. If you are using a moving company they will most likely provide you with boxes so you can start packing ahead of time or they can do the packing for you on the day.

If you are organising the move yourself make sure you have cardboard boxes, tape, bubble wrap or blankets for fragile items, markers, a utility knife and garbage bags.

Now that you have your supplies ready it’s time to start packing. Allow a few weeks for this process so you can take your time and sort through the things you want to take, sell, donate or throw out.

Closer to the moving date you can dismantle larger furniture, such as cupboards, shelves and desks, but be sure to keep all the small pieces together in a plastic bag and taped to the main pieces so they don’t get lost.

When you are ready to start packing smaller belongings in boxes, don’t overload them and make them too heavy. Use a marker to indicate what rooms the items should go in or if the contents are fragile and should be handled with care.

Clean all your belongings before you start packing so you don’t take dirt and dust to your new place.

Being prepared for your move is the key to a smooth transition

Relocation specialists

There are businesses that specialise in providing practical assistance with all aspects of moving.

Relocation specialists provide a range of services that often include:

◆ Sorting the saleable items, identifying valuables, determining items to be discarded, compiling all documents ◆ Compiling an inventory of the contents and arranging valuations

◆ Assisting people to relocate into alternative accommodation

◆ Clearing the home or unit prior to sale or tenancy termination

◆ Gathering bequeathed items, photographs and memorabilia

◆ Delivering valuables, financial, legal and personal papers to the appropriate person

◆ Removing all rubbish items from the entire property and cleaning

◆ Coordinating real estate agents, auction houses, cleaners, gardeners and all other services

◆ Unpacking your belongings in your new home and put furniture in position

◆ Install electronic devices like a TV or computer and hang pictures

These professionals can take the stress out of moving so all you need to do is arrive at your new house and make yourself at home!