You’ve lived in a comfortable home your entire life. Whether that be a cozy apartment or a full-sized house, you’re well-acquainted with a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and living room set up. Up until recently, this has felt just fine, but perhaps the need for some sort of adventure has captured your mind. You wouldn't be the first person to feel like this, and you most certainly won’t be the last. In an era where everyone is ditching their conventional living spaces for time exploring, trading your house for a life in an RV isn’t that far out of an idea. If this has been buzzing in your mind, we have some tips for selling your house and preparing to live in an RV!
First things first, if you’re going to sell your house for a life on the road, you’ll want to find a real estate agent who is going to work on your side. When it comes to transitioning to RV life and you’re wondering when the best time to hire a Realtor is, it’s sooner than later. Interview a few of them and explain your life goals, making sure to weed out anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable about your wants. Once you’ve pinpointed your person, get to work on the planning process of selling your home.
Get Rid of Almost Everything
There’s a world of difference between an RV and a single-family house, and one of the most monumental is the space. In an RV, you’re only going to have room for your basics. If you own a lot of belongings, you will need to devise a game plan to either get rid of these items or store them. If you want RV life to be a more permanent situation, get rid of it all. Further, if you think you’ll be reverting back to house life in the near future, perhaps investing in a storage unit is in your best interest.
Figure Out the Financials
If you’re going to be living the RV life, chances are, you’re either doing remote work or not working at all––congrats on retirement! With that in mind, unless you have a boatload of money to spend, you’re going to need to budget carefully. Luckily, if you do sell your home, even if you sell your house for cash, you’ll have extra moolah in the bank to fund your new lifestyle. Ask yourself if you’re going to use the finances to fund a new RV? Or are you instead going to purchase the vehicle with different finances? Then, come up with a budget to make sure that you don't overspend. Remember, even though you will no longer have a utility bill, you’ll have to consider the price of gas, parking, maintenance, and repairs.
Nail Down the Plan and Logistics
You will want to figure out your move's timeline so that you can properly avoid the stress of the dreaded in-between–– a.k.a. Your house is sold, but you haven’t moved into your new RV yet. When working through this plan, make sure to prioritize the logistics of everything. Choose specific move dates and be prepared to be flexible.
Bottom Line: Have Fun
This experience can seem daunting and stressful, but that’s exactly what it should not be. At the end of the day, if you have your ducks in a row and have a solid plan, you’ll be just fine! Your biggest priority is to have fun!
