Is it Time to Sell Your Home? – Guide for Empty Nesters

Do you stay, or do you go? A lot of thought goes into deciding if it’s time to sell your home. Here are some things to consider if you’re struggling with the decision.

We sold our home and moved to Florida. Was it an easy decision? Not for me.

We left our family and friends and started over in a new state. Neither one of us has ever lived anywhere else. Our entire lives were spent in the Midwest.

The thought of packing up 22 years of life into a moving van and traveling 800 miles south was both scary and exciting. And emotional. I can’t leave out how emotional it was for me. Leaving our children and grandchildren was the hardest part.

We bought a small vacation home on the Gulf side of Florida, intending to use it a few times a year until we retired. We still had 10 years to go before retirement, so the plan was to use it as an Airbnb when we weren’t there.

Life happened, and in August 2023, while we were in Florida working on the house, my husband, out of the blue, said, “Let’s just move here.” What?!

It was a whirlwind after that. When he makes up his mind to do something, you just have to hold on for the ride. We put our house in Indiana on the market in September. It sold in 2 days. By Halloween, we were moved into that little house in Florida.

Our situation is far from normal. It was an impulse, but we did consider the pros and cons of relocating before we were ready to retire.

There are many reasons for selling your home, and decisions to make before you do it. If you love to be impulsive, then go for it! If not consider the following:

Should you sell?

Before you slap a for sale sign in the yard, here are some questions to ask yourself to figure out if it’s the right time to sell your home.

Do you still need that big house?

After years filled with kids, busy schedules, and family gatherings, the house can suddenly feel a lot quieter. Bedrooms once full of energy may now be a guest room or home office, and you might notice you’re really only using part of the space you once did.

For years, our home was the heart of every celebration. Holidays were big, joyful gatherings that only grew as our kids got married and had little ones of their own.

Grandkids would pile into the guest room for sleepovers with Nana and Papaw, birthdays were always a reason to gather, and every Christmas ended with that cherished family photo in front of the tree.

But as the grandkids grew, life got busier. School schedules filled up, holidays became shorter, and visits had to be shared with the other side of the family. Suddenly, the house felt quiet again—almost like stepping into the empty nest stage all over.

So ask yourself:

• How many rooms do I actually use on a daily or weekly basis?
• How much time and energy do I spend cleaning, repairing, or maintaining the house?
• Are there entire areas of the house (bedrooms, bonus rooms, basement) that mostly sit empty?
• Do yardwork and upkeep feel manageable or overwhelming?
• Am I putting off repairs or projects because the house feels like “too much”?

A yes to any of these questions could mean the house is too big, and it’s time to sell your home.

Have your kids moved away from the area?

Kids go away to college and come home on breaks, still using their old rooms. After college, they may choose to stay in their college area or relocate for a job offer.

While we want them to stay close to home, they have to spread their wings and begin their lives. It’s what we raised them to do.

If your children have moved away from the area, it might be time to sell your home. Bonus if you move closer to them!

Do you have aging parents who will need you?

When deciding to sell your home, considering whether or not your aging parents will need care in the future is something to think about.

You could stay in your home if there is room to move them in with you, if needed.

Talk to them, they won’t want you to move away (the same as you don’t want your kids to move away), but they also want you to live your dream. Just like they always have.

My husband’s parents both live in the same county where we spent 56 years. Florida is 800 miles south, but we’re just a plane ride away if they need us. And, they get to come and vacation for free where it’s warm.

Do you have equity in your home?

As of the writing of this post, home values are still increasing at an amazing rate. We sold the home we had lived in for 22 years and used the equity to update our Florida home.

Our daughter’s home just appraised for $149k more than they paid for it 3 years ago.

After a year in Florida, and a bit of updating, our first home here netted us a cool $100k, so we could buy our dream Florida home.

You don’t have to pay capital gains on profit under $500k from your primary residence, as long as you have lived in it for 2 years or longer. So, if you have equity, it may be time to sell your home.

Have an appraisal done, and crunch the numbers to see if it’s a sound financial decision.

Is selling your home the right thing for YOU?

Is selling your home and moving the right thing for YOU? Many things tie us to the house we lived in for so long. A house is a home because of those who live in it and the memories created there.

It was hard for me. We left behind a lot of traditions and family when we sold our home and moved to Florida. I choked back tears more times than I can count. If I’m being honest, I still do.

But it was our time, and we love where we are now.

It’s a tough, emotional decision to make. Use these questions to help you decide if it’s time to sell and move on to the next season of life.

You got this!