Courtesy: Royal LePage Binder Blog
Moving to a new home can be an exciting new start – which is something you should keep in mind when you are leaving the house you just sold to the new owners. What condition would you want your new home to be in when you unlock the door with your newly acquired keys? While part of the fun of owning a home is making it your own, there are some things that you shouldn’t leave up to the new owners when the sold sign is taken down and the moving truck parks to be unloaded.
Walk Through the House – One of the more obvious tasks before leaving your old home is walking through all the rooms in the house to ensure everything is packed – this includes closets, drawers, cupboards, garage, shed and attic. In all the hustle and bustle on moving day, it can be easy to rush through everything, so take your time when everything is loaded into the moving truck and make sure you have absolutely everything.
All Clutter Must Go – Unless agreed upon in the home offer, everything must go. Leaving furniture or appliances behind for the home owner to dispose of is not acceptable etiquette.
Last Minute Cleaning – Remove all garbage, ensure all food and clean up any dirt or water (if it’s snowing/raining outside) that may have been tracked in. If the weather is dry, open the windows to air out the house. Sweeping and mopping the floors will freshen everything up and erase any evidence of you being there. If you have children and pets, you should also make sure you’re not leaving any nose or hand prints on the windows.
Secure The House – Even if the owners are moving in the same day as your moving out date, lock up the house. Every external door and window should be closed and locked.
Leave All Keys – Most sellers leave their sets of keys in the kitchen for the new owners – this includes keys for all locks that are being left behind (shed, garage door opener, etc).
Leave Information – This isn’t mandatory, but more of a friendly courtesy. Some people like to leave a nice note for the new homeowners, others leave the recycle/garbage collection schedules, and parking information (if needed).
Even though your house isn’t new to you, doesn’t mean it can’t feel new to the next buyer. Treating buyers, the way you would like to be treated when walking into your new home is the best rule of thumb.
If you're ready to sell your home, talk to our team about how we can help you get started towards your new beginning.
