Last updated November 2026. This article is general information for Georgia and South Carolina homeowners, not legal, tax or financial advice.

The new job has a start date. The house does not care. That gap is the hardest part of a work move, and we hear about it every week from owners in Augusta, Grovetown, Evans, Martinez, North Augusta and Aiken.

Some have PCS orders out of Fort Eisenhower. Some took a promotion in another state. Some just learned their spouse’s job is moving. Almost all of them ask the same thing: how do I sell this house without paying two mortgages or flying back every other weekend?

You have more options than you think. This guide walks through each one honestly, including the ones that don’t involve us.

Why relocation sales are so common in the CSRA

The Augusta area runs on employers that move people in and out on a schedule:

Fort Eisenhower. Military families get PCS orders with a report date, often on short notice. The cyber mission has brought many new households to Grovetown and Evans, and those families eventually move on too.
Savannah River Site. Contract changes and project cycles move engineers and trades workers between sites.
The medical community. Residents, fellows and travel staff at the Augusta hospitals often buy a house for a few years, then match or take a job elsewhere.
Corporate transfers. Promotions at regional and national employers usually come with a move.

What these sellers share is a fixed deadline. The right way to sell depends on how firm that deadline is and what shape the house is in.

Your three options when you have to move

1. List with a real estate agent

If the house is in good shape and you can wait, listing usually brings the highest sale price. A local agent can market it, run showings and negotiate while you are gone.

The trade-off is time and uncertainty. You will likely make repairs, keep the house show-ready and pay the mortgage, utilities and lawn care until closing. Buyer financing can also fall through late. If you have 90 days or more and some cushion, this is often the right call.

2. Keep it and rent it out

Renting can make sense if you expect to come back, the rent covers your payment, and you are comfortable being a long-distance landlord. Many military families do this with a VA loan.

Go in with clear eyes. You will need a property manager, usually 8 to 10 percent of rent, plus reserves for repairs and vacancies. Your VA entitlement stays tied to that loan, which can limit your next VA purchase. And if you rent too long, you can lose the tax break on selling your own home (more on that below).

3. Sell to a local cash buyer

If your report date is close, the house needs work, or you simply cannot manage a sale from another state, a cash sale removes the moving parts. There are no repairs, no showings, no lender approval and no agent commissions. You pick the closing date.

You will usually get less than a fully repaired house would bring on the market. We wrote an honest piece on how much lower cash offers are (https://www.longleafhomebuyers.com/blog/how-much-lower-are-cash-offers-augusta/) so you can weigh it. For many relocating owners, two months of carrying costs and repairs close most of that gap.

Side by side: which option fits your timeline?

	List with an agent	Rent it out	Sell to Longleaf for cash
Time to cash in hand	Often 2–3 months from listing to closing	You don’t cash out	7–14 days, or the date you choose
Repairs and cleaning	Usually expected	Needed to rent	None, we buy as-is
Showings	Many, while you’re away	Tenant screenings	One walkthrough
Commissions and closing costs	Commission plus your share of costs	Management fees	None; we pay standard closing costs
Chance it falls through	Moderate, buyer financing	Doesn’t apply	Low, we pay cash
Best when	You have time and a market-ready house	You plan to come back	Your deadline is firm or the house needs work

Two things to check before you decide

Taxes. If you lived in the house for two of the last five years, you can generally exclude up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 if married filing jointly). Rent it out for more than three years and you can lose that. A job move can also qualify you for a partial exclusion even if you haven’t hit two years. Ask your tax professional before you choose.

Georgia vs South Carolina closings. Both states close real estate sales through an attorney, so you’ll work with a local closing attorney either way. South Carolina is strict that the attorney handles the closing, not a title company. Your attorney will tell you exactly what you need to sign and how.

Already moved? You can still sell from out of state

Many sellers call us after they’ve left. That’s fine. Almost every step can happen without you in Augusta:

The walkthrough. A neighbor, friend or property manager can let us in, or we can use a lockbox. We do one visit, not a parade of showings.
The paperwork. Offers and contracts are signed electronically.
The closing. The closing attorney can send you a signing package to complete in front of a notary where you live, then return it by overnight mail. Ask the attorney about witness requirements, since they differ by state.
Your stuff. Leave what you don’t want. We buy as-is, so you don’t need to empty the house or hire a cleaner from 500 miles away.
Your money. Proceeds are wired to your bank or mailed as a check after closing.

Relocation checklist: before you pack the truck

Write down your hard date: report date, start date or lease start in the new city.
Count your monthly carrying cost: mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities and lawn care. Multiply by the months a listing might take.
Get a payoff statement from your lender so you know what you owe.
Walk the house and list what a buyer’s inspector would flag: roof, HVAC, water heater, plumbing, foundation.
Get two numbers: an agent’s estimate of what it would sell for, and a written cash offer. Compare what you’d actually net from each.
If you’re military, ask your installation housing office and legal assistance office what help is available for your move.
Call your insurance agent. Many homeowner’s policies limit coverage once a house sits vacant for a while.
Pick one person locally who can let a buyer, agent or contractor in.

What selling to Longleaf looks like when you’re relocating

We’re a local, family-owned company based in North Augusta, buying houses in the area since 2007. Here’s how it works (full details (https://www.longleafhomebuyers.com/how-we-buy-houses/)):

Tell us your date. Call or fill out the form. We’ll ask about the house and, just as important, about your move.
One walkthrough. In person if you’re still here, or with whoever has the key if you’re not.
A written cash offer, usually within 24 hours. No repairs, no cleaning, no commissions, and we pay the standard closing costs.
Close on your timeline. As fast as 7 to 14 days, or later if you need to stay until your report date. We close at a local attorney’s office, or by mail if you’ve already moved.

If listing or renting fits your situation better, we’ll tell you that. More than 450 sellers have left us reviews, and that kind of honesty is why.

Moving soon? Let’s talk this week

The earlier you call, the more options you have, and the fewer months of double payments you carry. Call us at (706) 760-9783 or request your cash offer online (https://www.longleafhomebuyers.com/get-a-cash-offer-today/). There’s no obligation and zero pressure. We’ll listen first and help you pick the right path, whether or not it’s selling to us.

Frequently asked questions

How fast can I sell my house if I’m relocating?

With a cash buyer, you can usually close in 7 to 14 days once the title is clear. With an agent, plan on a couple of months from listing to closing, depending on price, condition and the market.

Can I sell my Augusta house after I’ve already moved?

Yes. The walkthrough can happen with a friend or lockbox, contracts are signed electronically, and the closing attorney can send you documents to sign with a notary where you live.

Should I rent my house out instead of selling when I PCS?

It can work if the rent covers your costs, you hire a good property manager and you plan to return. Weigh the landlord costs, the VA entitlement tied to your loan, and the tax rules on rental property first.

Do I have to pay capital gains tax if I sell before two years?

Not always. A move for a new job can qualify you for a partial exclusion. The rules are specific, so confirm with a tax professional before you sell.

Do you buy houses in South Carolina too?

Yes. We buy throughout the CSRA, including North Augusta and Aiken, as well as Augusta, Evans, Martinez, Grovetown and Hephzibah on the Georgia side.

Still have questions about your move? Call (706) 760-9783 and talk with a real person here in North Augusta.