Often, yes. It’s called a rent-back.

How a rent-back works. The buyer agrees to let you stay after closing for a short time, while you finish moving or wait for your next home to close.

Why a rent-back after selling your home helps. You have the money from your sale before you move out, so you can put it toward your next home.

What goes in a seller rent-back agreement. Get everything in writing: how long you’ll stay, what you’ll pay, who covers insurance and damage, and the day you’ll hand over the keys.

Plan it from the start. Not every buyer will agree, so ask your REALTOR® to build it into your plan from the start.

(See also: What Happens at Closing, and When Do I Get My Money, When Selling My Home in Tacoma? and How Do I Buy a New Home Before I Sell Mine?)

What happens at closing, and when do I get my money? Closing is the finish line.

Signing your paperwork. A few days before, you’ll sign your paperwork with escrow, often at their office or with a mobile notary.

Funding and recording. Then the buyer’s loan funds, and the sale records with the county. That’s when your home officially belongs to the buyer.

When do you get the money after closing on a house? After that, escrow pays your closing costs, including your mortgage, and sends you the balance.

How you get paid. You can have it wired to your bank, mailed as a check, or pick it up in person. Let your escrow officer know which you’d like.

Hand over the keys. Then hand over the keys. You did it.

See also: What If the Appraisal Comes In Low When Selling My Tacoma House? and How Much Will I Walk Away With When I Sell My House in Tacoma?

What if the appraisal comes in low? If the buyer is getting a loan, the lender will only lend based on the appraised value, not the sale price.

If the appraisal comes in below the price you agreed on, there’s a gap.

You have a few options. You can lower the price to the appraised value. The buyer can pay the difference in cash. Or you can meet in the middle.

Ask for a second look. Sometimes your REALTOR® can ask the appraiser to look at recent sales they may have missed.

It doesn’t have to end the sale. A low appraisal usually means a conversation.

See also: What If the Home Inspection Finds Problems When Selling My Tacoma House? and How Much Will I Walk Away With When I Sell My House in Tacoma?

What if the inspection finds problems? Don’t panic. Almost every inspection finds something.

Start by sorting the small items from the big ones.

Most items are small. Things like a loose railing or a dripping faucet.

Buyers focus on the big things. The roof, the foundation, plumbing, electrical, or safety issues.

Your choices. The buyer may ask you to make repairs, give a credit, or lower the price. You can say yes, say no, or offer something in between.

A credit is often simpler. Often a credit is simpler than doing the repairs yourself before closing.

Keep the goal in mind. Stay calm. Your REALTOR® will help you decide what’s reasonable, so you can keep the sale moving.

See also: What Are Seller Concessions When Selling a House in Tacoma? and What Happens After I Accept an Offer on My Tacoma House?

What happens after I accept an offer? Your home is now under contract, but there’s still work before closing.

A few steps happen in this order.

Earnest money. First, the buyer delivers the earnest money to the escrow designated in the purchase and sale agreement.

The inspection. Next comes the inspection. The buyer may ask for repairs or a credit. You and the buyer can negotiate these items.

The appraisal. If the buyer is getting a loan, the lender orders an appraisal. The appraiser may call for a work order, a repair that needs to be done before the sales price can be the appraised price.

Title, escrow and the loan. Title, escrow and the lender continue their process to close the loan.

Your move. Meanwhile, you start planning your move.

Every step has a deadline. Each step has a deadline in your agreement. Your REALTOR® keeps track of them, so nothing slips through the cracks on the way to closing day.

See also: How Do I Compare Multiple Offers on My Tacoma House? and How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in Tacoma, Washington?

How do I compare multiple offers? Getting more than one is great news, but the highest price isn’t always the best offer.

How to decide between multiple house offers. Look past the price and compare four things.

How the buyer is paying. Cash or a strong loan approval can be safer.

The contingencies. Fewer conditions, like inspection or the buyer selling another home, mean fewer ways for the deal to fall apart.

The closing dates. Does one fit your move better?

Any credits the buyer is asking for. They come out of your bottom line.

Lay them side by side. Your REALTOR® can lay the offers side by side, so you can choose the offer that best suits your needs and is most likely to close.

See also: What Are Seller Concessions When Selling a House in Tacoma? and How Much Will I Walk Away With When I Sell My House in Tacoma?

Should I be home during showings? In most cases, no.

Can I be home during a showing? You can, but it usually works against you. Buyers want to open closets, look around, and talk openly with their agent. That’s hard to do when the owner is in the next room.

Buyers stay longer when you’re gone. When you’re not there, buyers relax. And the longer they stay, the more they picture themselves living there.

Make a plan to step out. Take a walk, run an errand, or grab a coffee.

Before you go. Take your pets with you if you can, and leave the lights on.

Let the agents handle it. Your REALTOR® and the buyer’s agent will take it from there.

See also: How Do I Keep My Tacoma House Show-Ready While Living In It? and Do I Need to Stage My House to Sell in Tacoma?