Summary
Friends of ours in the Morgan's Point area of Belton were thinking about moving to Minnesota to be near family. We ran the numbers before the job offer even came. Once it did, we finished the last few projects in their remodel, priced it above the older homes nearby, and listed in mid August while they were still living there. It sold to a cash buyer, and they signed on a Monday morning and drove north.
What were they trying to do?
This one started as a conversation between friends. They were exploring a move to Minnesota to be closer to family, and nothing was official yet.
So before there was ever a job offer, we sat down and talked numbers. What the house would likely sell for. What they'd walk away with. What that meant for buying up there. That way, if the job came through, they'd already know the plan was possible.
Then the job came through, and it all got real, fast.
What did the house need before it hit the market?
Honestly, not much. They had already done the heavy lifting: the kitchen, most of the flooring, the rest of the house.
What was left were the finishing touches. So we made a to-do list:
- Finish the primary bathroom
- Finish the last of the flooring
- Clean up and paint the exterior
The goal was simple. Buyers should walk into a finished remodel, not somebody else's unfinished project. Half done work makes buyers start subtracting money in their heads. Finished work lets them picture moving in.
Why was this one tricky to price?
Because Morgan's Point is all over the map.
Near the lake you'll find big, expensive homes with lake views right down the road from small, older homes that need a lot of work. A plain average of nearby sales doesn't tell you much.
Since this home was already remodeled, we were able to price it higher than a lot of the older homes around it. And it had a pool. In a Texas August, that is not a small thing. It was still hot, and buyers noticed.
What was it like listing in mid August?
We listed after school had already started, which is past what most people think of as the best time to sell. The summer rush was over.
They also lived in the house the whole time. Showings happened around their real life, while they were packing up and getting ready for a move across the country.
It went under contract in about 45 days.
How did contract to closing go?
Smoothly. It was an older home, so the inspection turned up a few repair requests. Because it was a cash buyer, we handled those by taking the amount off the price instead of scheduling repairs, which kept everything simple and on time.
Then came the part I'll always remember. They packed their U‑Haul over the weekend. They slept on air mattresses Sunday night. We closed first thing Monday morning, they signed, and they hit the road for a two day drive to Minnesota.
When they got there, they closed on their new home and moved their things straight in. One move. No storage unit. No renting in between.
What would I tell someone whose new job is taking them out of state?
Prep your home well, and price it realistically for your timeline.
When a job is pulling you somewhere else, the start date doesn't care what the market is doing. The last thing you want is to move away and leave your house sitting here empty, holding up your plans to buy. Or worse, having to rent where you're going and then move twice.
If you're thinking about a move for work, talk to me before the offer is even final. Knowing your numbers early is what made this one so smooth.
FAQ
Should I talk to a real estate agent before I've accepted a job out of state?
Yes. Knowing what your home will likely sell for and what you'll net helps you decide on the move with real numbers, and it gives you a head start on prep if the offer comes through.
Is it bad to list my home after school starts?
Not necessarily. Late summer can be slower than peak season, but a well prepared, well priced home still sells. In this case, a finished remodel and a pool helped it stand out in mid August.
Can I live in my home while it's for sale?
Yes. Many sellers do. It takes some planning around showings, but it also means you aren't paying for two places at once.
What happens to inspection repairs if the buyer is paying cash?
It depends on the deal, but often the simplest route is a price reduction instead of completing repairs before closing. That's what we did here, and it kept the closing on schedule.
How do I avoid moving twice when I'm relocating?
Time your sale so you close here right before you need to buy there. Pricing realistically and prepping well are the two biggest things you control to keep that timeline.