People move for all kinds of reasons. A new job or a transfer. Being closer to kids, grandkids or aging parents. A different school district. Remote work that suddenly lets you live anywhere. Or a neighborhood that has changed, a commute that’s gotten worse, or neighbors who never seem to sleep. Whatever is pulling you away from Spokane, Coeur d’Alene or the Tri-Cities, one of the hardest parts is selling the house at the right time.
Here’s how to think through the move, time the sale, and avoid the most expensive mistake movers make: paying for two homes at once.
The timing problem
When you’re moving, timing cuts both ways:
- Sell too early, and you may have nowhere to live before the new job starts or the new house is ready.
- Sell too late, and you’re paying the mortgage, taxes, insurance and utilities on an empty house while also paying rent or a new mortgage somewhere else.
With a traditional listing, you don’t control when a buyer shows up, and a buyer’s loan can delay or derail closing. That’s how people end up carrying two housing payments for months, or managing a vacant house through an Inland Northwest winter from another state.
How a set closing date helps
The simplest way to avoid two mortgages is to know your closing date in advance and line it up with your move. When you sell to Backyard Home Buyers:
- You’ll usually have a fair cash offer within 24 hours.
- You pick the closing date. It can be in as little as 7 days, or weeks out to match your start date.
- Because we pay cash, there’s no buyer’s loan that can fall through at the last minute.
- Need to stay a little while after closing? Rent-backs are available, so you can sell, get your money and move on your schedule.
- We buy as-is. No repairs, no deep cleaning and no showings while you’re packing.
- No fees or commissions, and we pay the closing costs.
Your sale proceeds can then go toward a down payment on the next home, without needing to qualify for two mortgages at once.
Before you move: questions worth answering
Moving for work
If you can, lock in the new job before you sell. It’s better to sell quickly with a job waiting than to move somewhere new without steady income. Ask whether your employer offers relocation help, and what it covers.
Moving to a lower cost of living
Do the research rather than relying on word of mouth. Compare housing, groceries, gas, utilities, income taxes and property taxes. Washington and Idaho, for example, tax things quite differently, so a move across the state line can change your budget in ways you might not expect. A CPA can help you compare.
Moving closer to family
Decide how close is close enough: the same house, the same street, or a short drive away. Think about the lifestyle you want in the new neighborhood, and set a budget for the move before you start house hunting.
Moving for schools
Look at more than test scores. Consider programs your kids care about, class sizes, the commute and how the school fits your child’s learning style. Visit and talk to teachers and the principal. School boundaries can be very specific, so confirm which school serves a particular address.
Moving because you work remotely
If you can work from anywhere, you may want more space for a real home office, a quieter street or a different city altogether. Check internet service at any new address before you commit. It can vary a lot, especially in rural areas.
Moving to a new city sight unseen
Learn the main employers, the cost of living, how walkable or car-dependent it is, and which neighborhoods fit you. Spend time there before buying if you can, and consider renting first.
Moving because of where you live now
Sometimes the reason is closer to home:
- The neighborhood changed. Neighborhoods change over time. Getting to know neighbors and reporting problems can help, but sometimes a move is the right call.
- Noisy neighbors. Talk to them first. Many cities have quiet-hour rules, and the police non-emergency line is there for repeated problems. In a duplex or multi-family home, soundproofing doors and windows can help.
- Traffic and commutes. Bus routes, biking or a job closer to home can help, or you can move closer to work.
- You relocated here and picked the wrong spot. It happens a lot when people move to Spokane or Coeur d’Alene in a hurry. The area turned out more rural, or more urban, than you thought. The schools, shopping or doctors are farther than you’d like. If that’s you, there’s no shame in moving again.
Selling after you’ve already moved
Already gone? You can still sell. Title companies can often arrange for you to sign with a notary near you or close remotely. Keep the heat and utilities on, or winterize the house, and have someone check on it regularly. We can coordinate a walkthrough with a neighbor, family member or property manager, and handle everything else by phone and email. In the Tri-Cities, we can often work from photos.
Moving for the military? See our guide to selling on PCS orders.
A local company that makes moving simpler
Backyard Home Buyers is local and family-owned. Both owners were born and raised in the Inland Northwest, and since 2019 we’ve done over 500 deals. We buy in Spokane and Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and North Idaho, and the Tri-Cities.
See how it works, or call (509) 461-9079 and tell us your moving date. We’ll help you work backward from there.