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Deciding to sell your home can be a monumental life decision, and its one that shouldnt be made without plenty of thought. Of course, there are plenty of reasons that drive you to the decision. You may be offered a new job out of town, your kids may have left the nest and theres just too much room, or maybe youre just looking for a life change.

But before pulling the trigger and putting your house on the market, here are some questions you should contemplate.

Do I really want to move? Remember, this is a big decision and one that you cant really reverse, so ask yourself what youre really looking for.. You may be bored with your life and looking for a major change, but moving may not be the answer. Make a list of the reasons why and consider the pros and cons of a change. Make sure you really think about what moving means and how it will affect your life going forward.

Is a move necessary? Are you being relocated by a job? Have you met the man or woman of your dreams on the other coast? Can you no longer afford to make your mortgage payments? These are all valid reasons, but be sure to consider all the possibilities. For instance, has the business seen a lot of turnover, which means you might not be happy there? Have you ever spent time with this soul mate outside of the honeymoon phase? And if it is financially based, have you looked into refinancing? There may be better options other than selling, such as renting.

Should I rent? Maybe you arent completely convinced that moving is what you want to do. If this is the case, consider renting out your home for a year so you can continue to pay the mortgage and see where your life takes you over the next 12 months. You might decide that you miss the neighborhood and the closeness to the city or suburbs, and youll want to go back”which you can do in this scenario.

Is now a savvy time to move? Make sure to research the housing market in your area and check to see what houses have been selling for and compare comps to previous months. Maybe time isnt so much an issue for you and you can afford to wait if the market isnt to your liking.

Make sure you have all the answers you need before making this decision, and if you decide to go through with it, contact me for advice on how to successfully get your home ready for a sale.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Getting rid of things you no longer need is a vital step in the moving process because it serves two purposes. First, it’s a key component of home staging because too much stuff can make a room look unorganized and cramped. Second, it makes moving easier”who wants to move a bunch of things they actually don’t need?

But throwing out items that could be put to good use by someone is a waste, and the best solution is often to donate unwanted things to charities and organizations. Goodwill, the Salvation Army and your local church are certain to welcome much of your stuff, but here are some other ideas for places to donate your belongings.

Furniture: You may have sofas, chairs or tables that don’t fit the decor of your new home, or maybe you’re downsizing. Your local senior center may be looking for furniture, either for the center or to give to older people in your community. Women’s shelters are another terrific option, as are organizations that help the homeless find places to live independently.

Clothes: Dress for Success is a terrific non-profit that provides clothing for low-income women to wear during job interviews, allowing them to make a good first impression during the job search. It has branches throughout the country and if there isn’t one by you, there may be something similar. Also, look for schools and organizations that host clothing drives.

Kitchen Appliances: There’s an excellent chance that your kitchen is home to a few gadgets you haven’t used in years, or maybe you have multiple toasters, mixers or blenders. In addition to the usual outlets, your local school or community college may be looking for appliances to use in their classrooms. Many organizations also operate thrift stores where they sell donated items in support of their cause.

Books, CDs and DVDs: These are things that aren’t going to make you much money if you sell them, especially CDs and DVDs, which are declining in popularity in the age of streaming. (However, vinyl is growing in popularity, so your old record collection may fetch a few dollars.) Your local library is sure to appreciate the donation. Senior centers also can make good of these and kids’ books and DVDs can go to a local shelter.

Now you’ve decluttered and provided things to people who need them. What could be better than that?

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Selling a home can be an all-consuming process. It means cleaning, decluttering, staging and preparing for tours and open houses.

But that shouldnt keep you from enjoying yourself, and its especially important for families to not let the selling process get in the way of quality family time. Thankfully, there are all kinds of activities families can do together.

Go Out to Dinner:
If youre moving away from a neighborhood youve lived in a while, enjoy a meal at one of your favorite local dining spots. Pick a special place and splurge a bit”order appetizers, desserts, and let your kids have fun ordering what they want.

A Day in the Park:
If you have younger kids, take them to their favorite park for a few last visits. Make a day of it by spending time at the playground, followed by a hike and maybe even a picnic.

Go to a Museum:
Enjoy a day of culture at a museum. There are beautiful paintings and sculpture to see at art museums, or there may be historical societies and institutions that share the story of your neighborhood.

Try Something Different:
There are probably all sorts of things to do in your area that youve never gotten around to. Maybe theres a theater that presents plays and concerts or a local orchestra that makes wonderful music. Escape rooms are a growing trend and make for a great way to escape from the stress that comes with selling a home.

Get Active:
Combine your family outing with some physical fitness. Go bowling or take your swings at a batting cage. If your family golfs, play a round together at your favorite course. If youre a member of the local YMCA, you could also play a friendly family game of basketball.

Be a Good Sport:
If you root for your local teams, visit the football stadium, basketball arena, or baseball park one last time. Youll create special memories as you enjoy the excitement, and be sure to buy some souvenirs as a memento of your time in this area.

Family is always a priority, so its important to not let selling a house and moving get in the way of spending quality time with your loved ones.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Home improvements are sometimes necessary to make a house safer, more comfortable or more functional, but they are often very expensive. Many homeowners struggle to save money for upgrades and consider tapping into their retirement savings to fund projects, especially for urgently needed repairs, such as a roof replacement. Dipping into money set aside for your golden years may or may not be a wise move, depending on your circumstances.

How Close Are You to Retirement?
Borrowing from a retirement account could help you avoid high interest rates associated with credit cards or loans, and the money could be used however you saw fit. However, youd reduce your retirement savings, and money that you contributed later might not have enough time to accumulate interest and get your savings back to the level they were at before the withdrawal.

This means that how far you are from retirement is a key part of the equation. Generally speaking, borrowing from retirement accounts is not a good idea if youre nearing retirement age. If youre decades away from retirement and you can continue to make regular contributions and allow your money to grow from compounded interest, you should be able to build your savings back up by the time you retire.

Potential Taxes and Penalties
If you withdraw money from a 401(k) or a traditional or Roth IRA before age 59 1/2, youll have to pay a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty and income taxes. In addition, the money that you withdraw wont be able to accumulate interest. The total hit to your retirement savings could be much larger than the amount of the withdrawal because you could lose years or decades of potential savings with compounded interest.

Talk to a Financial Professional
If your home needs repairs as soon as possible, tapping into your retirement savings may seem like an attractive option. In some cases it makes sense, but in other situations it can be too risky. Consider the type of work your home needs, how urgent it is, the cost, how much money you currently have saved, how far you are from retirement, and the potential taxes and penalties you could have to pay. A financial advisor can help you understand the implications and weigh the pros and cons so you can make the right decision for your circumstances. If youre considering cosmetic changes or improvements that can wait, you might be better off exploring other financing options.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Youve just moved into your starter home”congratulations! But spare cash is limited, and you are eager to show your new home off.

Start with a few cosmetic changes, advise the money editors at Bankrate.com, who offer five easy upgrade projects that can help spruce up a tired living space for a few hundred dollars or less:

Start with a power wash.It wont cost much, but having your homes exterior professionally power-washed will give it a fresh, bright look”and since curb appeal counts, make sure the lawn is edged, hedges are trimmed and weeds are pulled.

Freshen the front door.A new fiberglass door can cost $1,000 or more, but you can get a snazzy new look by simply painting the old door and/or replacing any worn-looking hardware. (While youre at it, you might replace a tired-looking mailbox.)

Paint the interior.For a minimal investment, fresh paint makes any room look cleaner and brighter. Its your space now, so cover those interior walls with the neutral shades or bolder colors that appeal to you.

Improve the lighting.Replace old ceiling fixtures with inexpensive new designs from the home store that may cost less than you imagined. While youre there, check out modestly priced DIY track lighting, spotlights and accent lights that can brighten and modernize any room.

Spruce up the kitchen.Short of replacing cabinets or countertops, you can give your kitchen a new look on a limited budget by painting the existing woodwork and/or changing outdated door and drawer pulls. If your kitchen appliances dont match, check with the manufacturer about ordering new doors or face panels.

Buff up the bath.Adding a pedestal sink can radically and economically change the look of an older bathroom. While youre thinking economically, you can install a new toilet for less than $200. It will not only look good, but todays low-flush models will save you money on the water bill.

Expand your storage space.Older homes are notoriously short on closet space. A quick trip to the home store can net you a variety of inexpensive closet organizers that may not add much to the look of your home, but will save you from crying over too-cramped closets.

Published with permission from RISMedia.