Selling your home is always bittersweet. While it serves as the beginning of a new chapter in your life in a newer and better home (https://cbtraditions.com/listings/our-active-listings), it’s also a process of saying goodbye to a house and community that has sheltered you for a long time. If you’re in the process of selling your Williamsburg home, why not use it as an opportunity to give back to the community?
In this home sellers’ guide, we will show you different ways on how you can help your community before selling your home and relocating to a new place:
Donate to your local charity
Decluttering your home can be one of the most overwhelming parts of the home selling process. Whether you’ve lived in your home for a few years or for several decades, there always seems to be a mountain of stuff that you either forgot about, don’t use anymore, or regretted buying.
To paraphrase Marie Kondo, it’s clear that these items don’t spark joy. However, they can spark joy for someone else who needs them. Here are some items in your inventory that you might want to give away to your local charity:
Furniture
If you’re moving to a new home, it’s unlikely that you will get to keep all your furniture. Not only will it make moving out more cumbersome, but there’s also a good chance that it won’t match the interior design of your new home. So, instead of letting them waste away in landfills, you can give them away to affordable housing organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStore (https://www.habitatpgw.org/restore/).
Clothing
Now is a good time to reorganize your closet. If you haven’t worn that sweater or those jeans in the past three years, then you’re probably not going to even when you move into your new home. Donate them instead at clothing-specific charities like the Salvation Army or Goodwill’s donation centers (https://www.goodwill.org/donate/donate-stuff/).
Food
Check your pantry for any non-perishable and uncompromised food items as well. Relocating and moving all your
belongings to a new house is a massive job in and of itself, so it’s better to give away those canned food items and dry pet food rather than lugging them along with you. In Williamsburg, you can drop these off at food banks like Meals on Wheels (https://williamsburgmealsonwheels.com/) or animal shelters like Heritage Humane Society (https://heritagehumane.org/).
Work with local contractors and businesses
There are a ton of things you need to do to prepare your home for sale, from enhancing your curb appeal to making repairs and home improvements. You can use this opportunity to work with local contractors or support local businesses.
Home improvements – from minor cosmetic repairs to major home renovations – can increase your home value. Ask your Williamsburg real estate agent (https://cbtraditions.com/directory) to recommend remodeling contractors who work within the area. Not only would they be familiar with the usual issues that Williamsburg homes face, but they also know which home features have the highest appreciation rates in the local market.
Similarly, you can also purchase unique furniture and fittings from local boutiques and consignment stores. There are many benefits to buying from a consignment shop, such as its relatively low prices, great quality items, and environmentally friendly shopping process. If you stage your home with these items, you can even add a tag to let prospective buyers know where you bought them.
Here are some stores you might want to check out in Williamsburg:
The Vintage Rabbit (https://www.facebook.com/The-Vintage-Rabbit-116260868465116)
The Goodman Home (https://thegoodmanhome.com/)
Williamsburg Antique Mall (https://antiqueswilliamsburg.com/)
Lucky Junque (http://www.luckyjunque.com/)
Hire Realtors® with CSR initiatives
If you’re looking for an agent, Realtors® who work in companies with transparent Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are a green flag. These companies use their business operations for social improvement, whether by volunteering for community service programs, promoting diversity and inclusion in and out of the workplace, or by supporting various sustainability initiatives.
Moreover, if your real estate team puts socially responsible policies at the forefront, you can be sure that their professional relationship with you goes beyond simply making a profit – they will work towards what’s best for you and for the Williamsburg community.
Lastly, take note that great real estate agents are the ones who know their community from the inside out. That’s why many seasoned Realtors® are also community leaders who are active in various organizations and community programs. By hiring a real estate team with CSR initiatives, you get to work with local experts while also supporting their advocacies.
Our Real Estate professionals are knowledgeable and ready to assist you with your buying or selling needs.
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