So you’ve finally landed the job of your dreams, or secured that promotion you’ve been chasing at last. Victory is sweet, but there’s just one hitch: you need to relocate. If you’re a relocating homebuyer or a relo agent, there’s a lot to consider. The good news? Finding the perfect home and community when it’s time to relocate has never been faster or easier.
To help, we’ve assembled the Top Five Tips for Relo Buyers based on advice from industry experts and buyers. Knowing what to look for—and where to look—can make relocating more enjoyable than you think.
Treat yourself to turnkey
Because repairing or renovating an older home can be stressful, consider buying new. “Most of my relocating clients want to move in, drop their stuff, and keep going,” says Leslie Feeback, Senior Sales Executive for Better Homes & Gardens Kansas City Real Estate. Feeback recently helped client Marcy Bytner do just that.
“She didn’t want to have to spend time working on her home, but she did want something stylish and well-kept,” says the realtor, who found her client a brand new Rodrock home in Olathe’s Maple Brook Park. Buying new can also be a better for your timeline, says Reece & Nichols’ Associate Broker Mary Fate. “Often when you’re relocating, you’re looking for a quick possession, which sometimes isn’t possible with resale,” explains Fate.
Make your home your own
Choose a home that you can customize for ultimate convenience and comfort. You may feel out of sync at first in a new city, so make sure you can relax in a home that feels completely like you. Look for a floor plan that matches your lifestyle and a builder that allows you to make as many design selections as time permits.
Kelly Blandford loved the open floor plan of Rodrock Homes’ Larsen II, which she found in Overland Park’s Wyngate just months from completion. “We had already sold our home in Virginia, so we needed to move fast,” she explains.
Even with her compressed timeline, Blandford could still choose floor stain, tile, granite, carpet, lighting, and plumbing with the help of free design services from Twigs Interiors. “We looked at a couple of resale homes, but in the end getting exactly what you want is hard to beat,” says Blandford.
Select standout schools
It may seem obvious, but schools, family satisfaction, and rising property values go hand in hand. Many buyers research school test scores and accreditations early in the process, says Feeback, who calls top school districts like Johnson County’s Blue Valley “the number one motivator for transferees coming in.”
Find instant community
Don’t want to be the only new kid on the block? Look for a neighborhood with other new residents. New communities typically mean all new neighbors. Also, look for a developer with a solid reputation. “Go with a trusted source,” advises the relo specialist, who recommends developers like Rodrock Homes for their track record and trademark community amenities and activities.
Pick for the process
Because you’ll be managing your move remotely, choose a builder and developer with the most mature, streamlined processes and communication.
“It makes both the buyer’s and the agent’s lives easier,” explains Feeback, who was impressed when her out-of-town client received weekly photos from Rodrock Homes documenting her home’s progress. “I’ve been doing this for twenty years and never seen anything like that level of tech-savvy communication.”
Remember resale value
And while you may not want to think about it now, the success that helped you get your new job might someday propel you to another promotion—in another city. “Relo buyers are more likely to be moved again within five years,” says Feeback, who advises looking for a home with strong resale value. In many cases, that means buying new.
“Real estate used to be all about a home’s location,” says Fate. “Now it’s about location and condition. Even in a soft market,” says the realtor, “the shiny penny always sells.”
Shop RodrockHomes.com
Finally, if you or someone you know is looking to relocate, click on the Available Homes at RodrockHomes.com. There you’ll find a variety of new homes ready for move-in within 45 days, plus over twenty home plans ready for building in all our communities.
Or, come tour our models finished by Twigs Interiors. Located in the heart of Blue Valley in the Summerwood and Wyngate communities, our furnished homes are open seven days a week.
