Hello World! Welcome Friends! Selling your property and moving onto the next home is an exciting time. You’re ready to decorate and live out your dreams in your new home, but there are a few tasks to complete at the old property first. Make your transition a smooth one by following these best practices.
Do the Basic Cleaning
Before the local moving company shows up, give the home a good cleaning. Wipe down the bare walls now that pictures and artwork are removed from the rooms. Clear away any spiderwebs with a cloth-covered broom.
As you move the items into the moving truck, sweep and vacuum the exposed floors. Although your home may have been cared for with diligent efforts, there will always be hidden areas where furniture covered up dusty conditions. By leaving the home with a basic cleaning or hiring house clearance services, the new owners don’t have to spend a lot of time on this chore. They can move in with almost no chores at first.
Leave the Window Treatments On
It’s customary to leave the home in the same condition as it was shown to the new owners. Naturally, you’ll take your furniture and personal items with you. However, leave the window treatments in place. Most people consider these items to be part of the home sale. When the new owners move in, they don’t want any exposed windows. It seems impersonal on the part of the previous owners. Leave the window treatments in place because they fit the home’s decor. Your new home may have a unique style, which calls for a different type of window covering.
Set the Hot-Water Heater to Vacation Mode
Selling a home doesn’t mean that the new owners will move in on the heels of the previous residents. There’s often some lag time, such as finishing out a lease at an apartment complex. Protect the property in the meantime by setting the hot-water heater to the vacation mode.
The vacation mode is clearly marked on the appliance. It’s designed to lower the water’s temperature so that it’s not working as hard as when people occupy the space. This courtesy extends the life of the water heater. If you have a particularly older model, keeping the water cool can ward off premature failure.
Shut off the Utilities Under Your Name
Don’t forget to shut off the utilities at the old property. The new owners may be moving in just days after you, but the utility process must remain the same. Leaving the utilities on in your name means that you’re responsible for the incurred charges. You need to put your name on the utilities at the new property.
Verify with the utility company that the electricity and gas are off at the old property as you move out. Their deactivation also protects the property from any hazards between owners.
Leave the Keys for the New Owners
Ready the property by leaving the keys for the new owners. There are several ways to perform this courtesy. Your agent might do the honors for you. Simply drop off the keys at the agent’s office after you move out. The transfer is done without you being present.
Other scenarios include you handing off the keys to the new owners. It’s not as common as involving the agent, but it works well for owner-sold properties. Be sure to give the new owners all of the extra keys because it secures the property from any unauthorized access.
Remember to Leave Agreed Upon Items
Many home sales come with stipulations that certain items are left behind, such as the laundry system. Remember to follow these instructions as they’re dictated in the closing papers. Trying to skip these steps is producing a legal problem. The new owners deserve the agreed-upon items. The final sale can be compromised otherwise.
If you’re unsure of the exact items to leave behind, contact your real-estate agent. He or she can explain the legal terms so that the confusion is cleared up. Most items were probably agreed upon during a verbal discussion, so remembering the details can be difficult for some people.
By following these best practices, you might experience a pay-it-forward scenario. The previous owners of the home that you’re moving into might adhere to the same rules. These courtesies make any home a comfortable one. No one wants to walk into a property that’s been left in a chaotic state.
Click the links below for any posts you may have missed!
6 Home Improvements that are Worth the Investment
7 Things to Prep your Home for Spring
Tips for Creating a Home Office Space
Redecorate your Home on a Budget
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Toodles,
Those are all good tips. The house we live in now is bought to the friend of my dad. Good thing is that they got to maintain the beauty and function of the house. Thank you for sharing this article.
Great tips you have here and thank you for breaking it down so well. Most people often forget how important it is to ready the property to new owners because they think that the new owners would do the job. Well, it should be every previous owner’s responsibility to prepare the house, making it pleasant for the next owners. I’m amazed by these tips you shared and would definitely keep these in mind if I intend to sell my property. Of course, it is equally important to ensure that all documents are complete and legally processed. Keep posting! Cheers!