Selling Your Home Before a Move to Garden Spot Village: Carol Lehman on the Purpose and Retirement Podcast
Carol Lehman recently joined Scott Miller and Juanita Fox on Purpose and Retirement, the podcast from Garden Spot Communities, to talk about one of the most common worries she hears from homeowners: how do I get my house ready and sold in time for my move?
Carol has spent years helping Lancaster County families transition to communities like Garden Spot Village in New Holland, including homeowners who had lived in the same house for 30, 40, and even 64 years. Watch the full episode below, or read on for the highlights.
Why Carol Focuses on Helping People Downsize
Carol loves helping every client buy and sell, but homeowners who are downsizing hold a special place in her work. After decades in one home, many of them are stressed about what the move will require.
“I can just basically come in the door, become a friend, and put them at ease,” Carol says. “It’s such a happy time, transitioning.”
Why You Should Talk to a Realtor Years Before Your Move
Many people put their name on the Garden Spot Village waiting list and then put off thinking about the move because it feels far away. Carol encourages the opposite. She regularly meets with homeowners up to three years before they plan to move.
Planning early lets you ease into the process and handle small things now instead of rushing at the last minute. “Every time I experience the client that plans ahead, they’re thankful that they did it,” Carol says. “They’re like, wow, this wasn’t as bad as what I thought it was going to be.”
The Three Category Method for Sorting Your Belongings
When homeowners look at their whole house at once, they get overwhelmed. Carol’s most helpful tool is to break the house down room by room and sort belongings into three categories:
Items you are definitely taking with you
Items you are ready to let go of
A “maybe” pile
The maybe pile is the key. It gives people permission not to make every decision immediately. As the weeks and months pass, most of those maybe items sort themselves out. If you aren’t ready to talk with a realtor yet, Carol says this is the best place to start on your own.
How Routine Maintenance Affects Your Sale
First impressions matter when a buyer walks through your home. Carol points out small things homeowners often miss, like rotting trim around a garage door, along with bigger items like keeping heating and cooling systems serviced. Staying on top of maintenance in the years before you sell means your home is in good condition when the time comes.
Today’s buyers also expect more than they used to. “When my husband and I bought our first house, we knew we were going to change the flooring, paint the walls, and do all these different improvements,” Carol says. “Today is different. They want it move-in ready.”
Five Offers in Three Days: What This Couple Did Right
Carol shared the story of Mario and Barbara, a couple who received five offers on their home in about three days and sold well over asking price before their move to Garden Spot Village.
Carol walked through their home and made recommendations. They decluttered, donated many items, replaced the flooring in a bathroom, and followed every tip she gave them. “We all live in our home differently than how we sell our house,” Carol explains. Combined with the right price, their presentation made the difference.
Can You Really Sell Your Home in 90 Days?
When a residence at Garden Spot Village becomes available, residents typically have about 90 days to move. Many homeowners wonder how they could ever sell that quickly. Carol’s answer: it is very achievable with a plan.
In her first meeting, Carol walks through the home and answers the questions keeping homeowners up at night, like whether the carpet needs replacing or the walls need painting. Often, those projects aren’t necessary. She also asks whether the homeowner will need the funds from the sale to make the move, because that shapes the timeline.
When the home is prepared and priced right, sellers can often set the terms. In Lancaster County’s seller’s market, Carol regularly negotiates the closing date her clients want, plus time after closing to finish moving. One recent client had about seven to ten days after settlement to move out before the new owners took over. And Carol always has a backup plan, just in case.
What Happens in the Weeks Before Closing
Once a home is under contract, Carol and her transaction coordinator, Brittany Shore, stay in constant communication with the buyer’s agent, the lender, the title company, and Garden Spot Village to make sure there are no surprises. For someone who hasn’t sold a home in decades, that steady communication takes a lot of stress off their shoulders.
The Biggest Misconception About Selling in Lancaster County
Carol hears two common misconceptions. The first is that skipping a realtor will save money. Private sales can work when you know the buyer well, but they carry real risks. The second is that a home can go on the market as-is without any preparation. With today’s buyers wanting move-in ready homes, presentation and staging matter.
Balancing the Emotional and Practical Sides of Moving
Leaving a family home is emotional. Carol takes time to let clients talk about their memories in the house before helping them shift their focus to the future, then sets goals and dates together to keep the process moving.
The payoff is worth it. “I talk to them months later, and they’re like, I feel like I’m on a cruise ship and we’re still headed to our destination,” Carol says. “They’re like, we love this. What were we waiting for?”
Start the Conversation Early
Many people avoid scheduling a consultation because they feel it commits them to something. Carol wants to change that. “Our goal is to be a resource,” she says. “It’s never too soon to talk to me. No strings attached.”
If you’re on the Garden Spot Village waiting list or thinking about downsizing anywhere in Lancaster County, reach out to Carol Lehman to start the conversation.