Should we move out to sell?

kcmatt79

My partner and I are currently getting ready to sell our house. The problem is, my partner works from home and has lots of stock in the house which takes up a fair bit of room. We know that we need to declutter and am preparing to move some stuff into my parents for a while until we can move. However, my partner obviously needs to have stock in the house to carry on his business.

He has suggested we move out while it's on the market. This would obviously cost us rather a lot of money as we'd have to rent somewhere quite reasonably sized to accommodate all our stuff. Other problem I can see is that most places require a 6 month tenancy and it might not take that long to sell.

I just wondered what other people's thoughts were about this? Is it better to have a completely empty house to sell? In my mind, I'd rather see a house which is a home and has stuff in it to see where things could go. My partner, however, is determined we should rent elsewhere even tho I'm concerned it could break the bank!!

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

LandyAndy

I wouldn't move out. Empty houses, unless just decorated, look scruffy. No way to hide the marked walls or stained carpets etc:D

Can you get all the stock into one room and explain to viewers why its there.

kcmatt79

Thank you

Yes, we can get stock into one room but it's our only spare room and will certainly make it look a lot smaller than it should. I think my partner has decided that it's going to take a VERY long time to sell because of other houses in the area which haven't moved for quite a while.

JanCee

If your house took a long time to sell it could end up costing you a lot of money. Also insurers don't like empty houses and after a while would start to impose conditions that you won't want to do just to keep your insurance valid.

It is not a good idea. You could always rent a storage facility to get rid of the excess clutter.

MX5huggy

Can he move the business to small comercial unit there are loads going free at the moment, probably desperate for tenants this had got to be cheeper than renting a house. Have you got a self storage place near by they allow 24 7 access so he could go and get small quanties of stock.

kcmatt79

Yes, thank you, we do have a storage unit nearby. I'll ask him if he'll consider this. Thanks again.

kcmatt79

Where would I look for FREE commerical premises?

QTPie

Would agree with what others have said...

...Best to continue living in the house, BUT look to move the stock to somewhere else in the interim (if you husband needs to work with the stock, rental a very small office/commercial unit somewhere - this are often available on short leases and cheaper than renting a house).

Houses are virtually always more attractive when presented as a home and many viewers lack the imagination to see a spare bedroom as a bedroom if it is full of stock. Making the effort should really make your house easier to sell.

Good luck
QT

liz-paul

We are planning to move OH's office stuff (along with loads of other things we don't have space for!) out to his mothers this year in anticipation on second child & for sellnig the house so I'd recommend this. If you do move out I'd try to leave enough furniture & 'knick knacks' to make the house look lived in but neat. And your house insurance may have a clause in it about being empty; we had to ask my mum & brother in law to stay at our house one night each when we went to NZ a few years ago as it can't be empty for 30 consecutive nights!

zone

No need to move out. You could leave most of your furniture in the house while its on the market. Do you know anyone who could lend you some of their garage space for tools etc?

ManicMum

Hiya

Wouldn't bank on it selling quickly so wouldn't fork out on extra rent if i were you. Either low cost storage facility or use the spare room. Things are desperate out there. sorry to be gloom and doom but that's the reality. It's not so much your house looking small, cluttered or whatever. It's that no one can get a flippin' mortgage. Good luck though. Some places are selliing!