Resources · Worksheet
Keep, Sell, Rent, or Move?
This worksheet makes the alternatives comparable on paper. Estimate realistic monthly costs and one-time costs for staying in the current home and for moving to another, and the difference shows up immediately. It is an illustrative decision aid, not a financial forecast, appraisal, legal opinion, or tax calculation.
Make the alternatives comparable on paper
Reviewed October 2026
Column one
Staying put
Your current home, kept as it is or modified.
Monthly costs
One-time costs
Column two
Moving on
Another home that better fits the next stage.
Monthly costs
One-time costs
Educational information, not advice. This page provides general educational information about real estate decisions. It is not legal, tax, financial, medical, insurance, or other professional advice, and it does not establish an agency or advisory relationship. Laws, procedures, costs, and property conditions vary by circumstance. Consult a qualified professional for advice about your situation.
Options at a glance
The four directions, in one glance
Keep
Continue owning and maintaining the home as it is, or with modifications. Consider ongoing costs, maintenance, and whether the arrangement suits everyone with an interest in the property.
Sell
Convert the property to cash and end continuing responsibility for it. Evaluate likely proceeds, transaction costs, condition, timing, and the authority needed to complete the sale.
Rent
Keep ownership but generate income. Rentals bring management duties, vacancy risk, repairs, insurance considerations, and legal and tax requirements. Estimate realistic net income, not gross rent alone.
Move
Sell your current home and buy another that better fits the next stage. Compare total ongoing costs and one-time costs of both properties, and plan the sequence carefully.
No pressure, no obligation
Want help turning numbers into a plan?
The worksheet structures the comparison; a conversation adapts it to your situation. Ask Carol a question directly, with no obligation and no pressure.