How to Make Your Home Move-In Ready

Prospective homeowners who consume modern media are often exposed to people who want a home that they can fix up, either because it's hard to find exactly what they're looking for or because they want to get a home at a much cheaper price and put their own work in with the hope that they'll save money. But while fixer-upper trends are everywhere, some just want a move-in ready home. If this describes you, let's take a closer look at what a move-in ready home is, how you can make your home move-in ready, and other considerations you should have if you want to become a homeowner with little hassle.

So, What's a Move-in Ready Home?

The term, "move-in ready", doesn't necessarily have a singular definition, which can be confusing when you're shopping for a home. At the most basic level, a move-in ready home is a home that you could move into without having to worry about making any major repairs to the home. It's livable and it has all the essential utilities that you would need to settle in and live there if you were to buy the home today. It's generally best to assume that this is what someone means when they advertise their home as move-in ready.

With the above in mind, some people define move-in ready homes a bit differently than those advertising homes for sale. Some people view a move-in ready home as a home that has been renovated to feature the most trendy interior design elements, top-notch appliances, and other amenities that cater to the modern homeowner. It's not unlikely that you'll come across homes that meet these standards, but it can be a bit more difficult as many sellers may use the first definition.

It's also worth noting that some people aren't worried about what others define as a move-in ready home, but what their own definition is. For example, if someone shopping for a house is unable to find a home that meets all of their expectations, they might say they were unable to find a move-in ready home.

It's important to understand all of these definitions and to adopt a realistic one that will help you find the right home with greater ease.

How to Make Your Home Move-in Ready

Finding a move-in ready home isn't impossible in today's market. However, there are some things that you'll need to do in order to ensure your home is move-in ready. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

●      Get an Inspection Done: If a house for sale is advertised as move-in ready, it's important that you make sure those claims are true. Get an inspection done before you buy a move-in ready home to evaluate the health of certain areas of the home like electrical work, plumbing, roofing and siding, and the quality of the appliances that come with the home.

●      Picture Yourself in Your New Space: Even if the definition of a move-in ready home doesn't align completely with your expectations, you'll likely find a home you could see yourself living in. Picture yourself in every move-in ready home to see if you could build a life there and enjoy that space before you buy it.

●      Be Okay With Accepting Certain Elements or Putting in Work: As we've established, a move-in ready home is not one that necessarily comes without work. Be ready to either embrace elements of the home you don't like or be ready to make minor renovations like repainting to create a space that's uniquely you.

Other Considerations

Shopping for a move-in ready home can also mean shopping across different home types. For example, you might be looking for a home that someone fixed up and is trying to flip if you want a move-in ready home. At the same time, you could get something similar by shopping for a new construction home or a model home. Ask yourself, what's most important to you in a move-in ready home? What are you looking to receive when you buy one? Do your research and establish a list of wants and needs that will help you find the right home with less difficulty.

A move-in ready home doesn't mean the same thing for everyone. Use the insights above to better understand what move-in ready homes are and what you should be looking for as you start navigating the home-buying process.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Grant Homes