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Sellers…11 Things You Can Do Before You Leave

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Home Stager

Sellers…11 Things You Can Do Before You Leave

 

Sellers…it’s been a journey, listing your home, preparing it for sale, the contract period and finally you’re ready to go to the closing table. 

Wait just a second! 


Why not take a few minutes to welcome your buyers. Most contracts have what is known as a “broom clean” condition that the sellers are expected to leave their home in. 

 

But, there are 11 things you can do that will make their new home even more special.

1.Leave it as Move-in Ready As You Can

How would you want your new home to look when you took your first steps inside the door?

If your timing leaves you little time to do a thorough cleaning, hire a crew to come in after the moving company and you have left.

2.Gather Papers

Place inside an envelope or small file container instructions for appliances, the garage door opener, pool pump, air conditioner and anything else that is staying with the house.

If you have receipts for repairs and service that you’ve had on any of the above, it’s a nice idea to include those as well. 

 

3. Garage Door Openers.

If you don’t use your remotes that came with the opener but instead use an app or it’s programmed in our cars, help the new owner out…buy a remote for them! You can purchase universal remotes at Amazon!

4.Remove All Trash.

As you are moving, leave trash bags in every room.  This makes it easy for you, friends, or family members to toss trash right out. Be sure to double check your garage!

5. Ask Before Leaving…

Don’t assume that your new homeowners will want your extra paint cans, wallpaper, tile, etc.  They may be planning on some remodeling or updating to make it their own.  It’s kinder not to have to make them figure out how to dispose of your items.

6. Leave Them Some Light.

Once you’ve packed up your lamps for the move, the only light available will be that coming through the windows, the overhead lights, and any fixtures that are staying with the house, such as the light fixtures in the bathrooms. 

Help your buyer out…check to make sure that all light bulbs are working. 

 

7, Leave Names and Numbers.

Whether your buyers are new to the neighborhood or have relocated from another state, they will welcome a list of emergency numbers as well as contact information for your local cleaners, post office, and grocery stores.

 

Recommendations for local restaurants and delivery services

Take out menus

8. Patch holes left by photos and other hangings.

Patch as you go! Have the tools and as you take down a picture, patch the hole. 

 

9. Leave a note with one or more self addressed stamped envelopes for any extra mail that may be delivered after you leave.

10. Leave your buyer a note with the days and times for trash pickup.

11. To really make a nice impression:

Leave a Welcome Home note. Some sellers have left flowers or a plant...a gift certificate to the local store, the local newspaper or magazine. 

 

 

It’s not that hard to do. Why not make your buyer feel at home?!

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(18)

Show All Comments Sort:
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

These are definitely things that ALL sellers should do, especially if they want their home to sell for top-dollar!

Feb 25, 2025 04:56 AM
Kathy Streib

Hi Brian- Hopefully they would have done the prep work that their agents and stagers suggest leading them to a successful closing. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:42 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy,

I love your list and make a special effort for my sellers to make their buyer feel at home, even if they have already moved out of state. It's so important to leave a house clean, hiring cleaners is probably the best option, as you can be very tired after a move. I always try and have all keys, remotes etc. marked and labeled for the buyer along with any manuals from appliances or roof warranties, etc.

Feb 25, 2025 04:57 AM
Kathy Streib

Dorie Dillard Austin TX Those extras set you apart. On more than one occasion when we've moved, we've had a cleaning crew hired to clean everything from top to bottom after everything has been moved. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:44 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is excellent advice to share with home sellers.

Have a great day, Kathy, with a good book in hand.

Feb 25, 2025 04:58 AM
Kathy Streib

Roy Kelley I added the book you suggested today to my list!!!

Feb 25, 2025 06:44 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Katy. The stager in you is coming out. Not only do you offer advice for the seller to get the home sold you also offer advice on how to stage it for the buyers to have a smooth move-in. Well done. Enjoy your day.

Feb 25, 2025 05:05 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Wayne Martin it comes from having made many moves myself!!

Feb 25, 2025 06:45 PM
Barbara Michaluk
Weichert Realtors | Phone Direct 240-506-2434 | 301-681-0550 office - Silver Spring, MD
Leisure World Specialist / Full Service REALTOR

Hi Kathy, These are all good suggestions to sellers for how to leave their home for a new owner. All they need to do is put themselves in the shoes of the buyer and make moving into the home as easy as possible.

Feb 25, 2025 05:24 AM
Kathy Streib

I agree Barbara Michaluk Put yourself in their shoes and think about what you would want 

Feb 25, 2025 06:46 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kathy,
This is a great list, some of which I have never done, like leave contact numbers and a note with trash pick up day.

Feb 25, 2025 06:04 AM
Kathy Streib

Carol Williams it's not necessary but very helpful. And when you move, one of the first things you'll have is a lot of trash!

Feb 25, 2025 06:47 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Kathy... these are things I recommend to my own clients and I'm happy to report they listen to me. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:07 AM
Kathy Streib

Nina Hollander, Broker I'll bet they listen because they know you know what you're talking about. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:48 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Kathy Streib it's either that, Kathy, or it's because they're scared of me! :)

Feb 26, 2025 05:34 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

In the past few years I'm noticing more un-mowed lawns and semi-dirty interiors. Not enough to delay closing, but enough to make you go ewwww

Feb 25, 2025 06:26 AM
Kathy Streib

Doug Rogers I wonder what that says about us and society in general. This morning we were behind a car and the driver threw a big wad of paper out the window. Who does that anymore!!!

Feb 25, 2025 06:50 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Something that upsets me...when the seller gives me the garage door openers for the buyer...but DOES NOT tell me they are not working. Makes me so mad.

Feb 25, 2025 07:42 AM
Kathy Streib

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty Why do people do that???!!! That's just inconsiderate. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:54 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Kathy Streib Broom clean and sometimes it is left with a dirty refrigerator and oven. Then the buyers get upset with us and want to negotiate $$ to have the house cleaned and get upset with us when we say broom clean  

Feb 25, 2025 10:16 AM
Kathy Streib

Hannah Williams Broom Clean has been around and I wonder if it's spelled out to sellers by their agents. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:55 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

This is pure gold, Kathy Streib! I love how you turned the sometimes stressful act of moving into a thoughtful farewell party for the new owners. Thanks for sharing your insights—who wouldn’t want to roll out the welcome mat like that?

Feb 25, 2025 12:42 PM
Kathy Streib

Hi Lew- Thank you. I've moved enough times to know that all of the above things can make it easier for you when you're trying to unpack and get everything settled. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:56 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy excellent tips, and #5 many can avoid needless problems at the closing.

Feb 25, 2025 01:26 PM
Kathy Streib

George Souto it's like the icing on the cake of moving in!!! Very special. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:57 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

These are wonderful suggestions for sellers to help the new owners feel welcome and get acclimated. I have suggested many of these to my seller clients over the years and usually they are happy to be helpful...some more than others.

Jeff

Feb 25, 2025 05:34 PM
Kathy Streib

Jeff Dowler, CRS I think for first time sellers, it may not occur to them to do this. Who knows, but if it is suggested to them, the light bulb may go off in their head. 

Feb 25, 2025 06:58 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

It's another service we can add to our list of how we help our sellers...perhaps a checklist of things they can consider doing when moving out...a move-out checklist.

Jeff

Feb 25, 2025 07:50 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Excellent advice! I love the one about preparing the new owners for forwarding mail!

Feb 26, 2025 12:35 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Kathy seems like all very reasonable things to me for sellers to do for the new owners.  In fact I'd venture to say almost all of our seller went above and beyond to leave their home in excellent condition.  Some of what you mentions is clearly spelled out in our contract so there is nothing left for sellers to say - should I or shouldn't it.

Feb 26, 2025 01:04 PM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

The world would be a better place if everyone was as thoughtful as this list of things to do when you leave your home to the new buyer!  Thank you Kathy Streib 

Mar 01, 2025 12:03 AM
Chris Lima
Turtle Reef Realty - Port St Lucie, FL
Local or Global-Allow me to open doors for you.

This is a great list and it can't be said enough. If I am working with a seller we go over this. Broom swept is a bit vague as one man's clean is another man's disaster. 

If I am working with buyers I ask them if they would like to keep the 3 pallets of "extra" tile from 1960 or not and then I can relay that info to the agent. At the end of the day it's all about managing expectations.

Mar 03, 2025 07:41 AM