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Updated September 27, 2026
Selling Your West Metro Home to Relocate
Selling your west metro home to relocate starts at your move date and works backward: set the target closing first, then the list date and prep window. Decide early whether the home will show occupied or vacant, and how you'll sign if you've already left. Nick Ahrens builds pricing and the timeline around your date.
Who this is for: West metro homeowners who are moving away (job, family, retirement) and need the sale to fit a fixed move date.
Before you list: who's handling your sale
- Straight answer on experience: until now, Nick's work on this site has been on the buyer side, running live search for Lakewood, Arvada, Golden, Littleton, and three more west metro cities. Track record: 350+ closings and $300M+ in sales since 2011.
- What he won't do: post an online value estimate or promise a sale speed. Pricing comes after he's seen the home.
Nick Ahrens · Denver Mile High Properties · Colorado real estate license FA.100104470 · eXp Realty, LLC
How Nick runs a sell-to-relocate move: the West Metro Move Plan
- Move-date backward calendar. Start at your last day in the house, then set closing, contract, list, photo, and prep dates in reverse, with a buffer at each step.
- Price and prep. Complete the Seller's Property Disclosure early, decide whether to test for radon before listing, and fix only what would stall a buyer's inspection.
- Occupied or vacant showings. If you're still living there, showings get planned around your schedule. If you've left, arrange cleaning, lighting, and scheduled check-ins before the first showing.
- Remote closing and hand-off. Keys, utilities, and signing get arranged in advance, so you know how closing will work from another city.
Sell before you move, or after?
Selling before you move keeps you close for repairs, but showings run around packing. Selling after you move makes the home easier to show and stage, but you carry mortgage, utilities, and upkeep remotely.
Some sellers bridge the gap with a brief post-closing stay. Others rent the home instead, becoming long-distance landlords. Renting can suit you if you might return or want to keep the property, but it means screening tenants and handling repairs remotely.
| Scenario | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Sell before you move | You're close by for repairs; one less payment after closing | Showings while you pack; tight dates |
| Sell after moving out | Easy showings; the home can be staged or cleanly empty | Carrying costs on an empty house; remote oversight |
| Stay after closing | Sale proceeds in hand before your move | A post-closing occupancy agreement (rent-back) is negotiated case by case; the buyer may say no |
| Rent it out instead | Keep the property and its future value | Landlord duties from far away; you still carry the risk |
Choose to sell before you move if you can handle showings while packing. Choose to sell after if a clean, easy-to-show home matters more than a few months of carrying costs.
Colorado rules and programs to know
- Seller's Property Disclosure (Residential): finish it before you leave town, while you can still walk the house and check what you remember. Contracts from January 1, 2026 require the Commission's updated version (Colorado Division of Real Estate, checked September 27, 2026).
- Radon: roughly half of Colorado homes exceed the EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, so plan on a buyer asking to test for it (CDPHE, as of September 27, 2026).
- Signing from afar: ask your title company about mail-away or remote signing well before closing. Colorado lets a notary approved by the Secretary of State for remote notarization notarize deeds and other real estate documents over a live, recorded audio-video session, even if you're signing from another state. It's optional, so confirm what your title company and lender accept (Colorado Secretary of State, as of September 27, 2026).
Where to start
See what buyers are comparing your home against. Browse current listings on Lakewood homes for sale, Arvada homes for sale, Golden homes for sale, or Littleton homes for sale, and note the homes that look most like yours. Then read about Nick before you reach out. If you're deciding between selling and renting it out, bring that question to the first conversation. It changes the prep plan.
Selling to relocate FAQ
How far ahead should I list my Lakewood home before a job relocation?
Count backward from your move date. Leave room for prep and photos, time on the market, and a typical contract-to-closing period, then add a cushion. Nick Ahrens builds that calendar with you, because the right list date depends on your home's condition and how quickly you need the proceeds.
Can I sell my Colorado house after I've already moved away?
Yes. You can list after leaving, with the home vacant and cleaned for showings. You'll want someone checking on it, a plan for utilities and yard care, and a signing method arranged with your title company. Carrying costs continue until closing, so build them into your plan.
Is it better to sell my Arvada home vacant or furnished when I'm relocating?
Vacant makes showings simple and lets buyers picture their own things. Furnished or lightly staged helps buyers judge how big each room is. If you're still living there, edit down before photos. If you've already left, consider light staging for the main rooms rather than leaving them bare.
Can I rent my home back from the buyer for a short time after closing in Colorado?
Sometimes. If your new job starts before you can fully move out, it takes a post-closing occupancy agreement (rent-back), negotiated case by case, and your buyer must agree. Put it on the Commission-approved form, and raise it while reviewing offers, not at closing, so the stay ends before your movers and start date do.
What disclosures does a Colorado seller have to give buyers?
The main one is the Colorado Real Estate Commission's Seller's Property Disclosure (Residential), updated for mandatory use starting January 1, 2026. Answer only from what you actually know, and ask your agent about anything unclear before you sign it. Other disclosures can apply depending on the property, so review them with your agent before listing.
How do I sign closing documents if I've already moved?
Ask your title company early what it offers: mail-away signing packages, remote signing, or signing at a local office where you've moved. Each has its own lead time, so settle the method before you go under contract. That way, a signature doesn't hold up your closing date.
Start with your move date
Your move date sets every date. Tell Nick your address and move date in the message field, and say whether you'll still be living there.
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Related specialties: Move-up buyers · Downsizing for empty nesters · All specialties
Listing information is provided through an MLS/IDX or brokerage search display where applicable; details may change and should be independently verified. Price, availability, status, measurements, and other listing facts are not guaranteed.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Nick Ahrens is committed to compliance with federal and Colorado fair housing laws.
Nick Ahrens · Denver Mile High Properties · Colorado real estate license FA.100104470 · eXp Realty, LLC