Dear David,

We’re planning to move out west when our kids are done school for the summer. We are unfamiliar with the neighbourhoods, so want to rent for the first year and get the lay of the land before we buy. That decision has us reflecting on our current home, which is a wartime home just under 1,000 square feet. We bought it and started several projects, then life got busy with two elementary-school kids, so the projects are sitting there 80 percent finished. This house is so small there’s literally nowhere to move things while we try to finish the work. We’ve had a few realtors through; one rated it a four out of ten in its current condition, but said it would be worth way more if the projects were completed. How do we balance work, family life, repairs, and moving without losing our sanity? How do we decide which projects are worth finishing before we sell? – OVERWHELMED

 DEAR OVERWHELMED: When I work with clients facing a complicated move, I start by identifying their absolutes. A few years ago I was helping a couple in their 90s who had made the choice to move to a retirement residence. Their absolute was simple: they were moving. Because of that, it made no sense for them to stay in their house while waiting for it to sell. They figured out where they wanted to go, moved in and started their next chapter before we sold the house. This left me with a much easier project to manage.

Your situation has its own set of absolutes.You know you’re moving once school is finished, and that you’ll rent for a year while getting the lay of the land. These things are not tied to the sale of your current home, and give you a fair amount of flexibility.

You’ve also noted that with busy lives and young kids, finishing your renovation projects while living in a 1,000-square-foot home is incredibly difficult, even though doing so will improve your financial outcome when the house sells.

I suggest you start by focusing on where you’re going. Find your rental home out west and start planning your move. When the moving truck pulls out of the driveway, have your contractors ready. From there, you can schedule the efficient completion of your projects without trying to live through the construction.

Between now and moving day, declutter ruthlessly. Rent a dumpster and get rid of anything you won’t be taking west. The less you move, the easier the transition will be, and the easier it will be to get contractors on the job right away. Move first, then renovate, then sell – and keep your sanity intact along the way.

PRO TIP: Many homeowners never take the time to identify their absolutes, and as a result endure unnecessary stress, delays, and quite often poorer financial outcomes. When we clearly establish important parameters at the start of the process, decisions become easier, and the entire move unfolds smoothly. #Advice #AskDavid #TheNegotiator 

David is a top-selling Broker in Kitchener-Waterloo Region. He works personally with you when selling or buying your home. Moving? Get it right. Ask David today! Call or text 519-577-1212.