Seller's Guide to Selling Your Home

CHECKLIST AND TIMELINE TO HELP YOU GET ORGANIZED FOR MOVING DAY

Selling a house and moving is incredibly stressful. But your Willis Allen Real Estate Agent is here to help. Need some pre-listing work done on the house? Your agent can recommend painters, contractors, landscapers and more. And, thanks to our exclusive global affiliations, we can set you up with a Willis Allen-approved Real Estate Agent, whether your move is taking you to Baltimore or Belfast. Here’s a checklist and timeline to get you organized for moving day.

8 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Purge & Donate – get rid of anything that you really don’t need; set aside time to drop off donations or schedule a pick-up through a local charity.
Research Moving Companies – take the time to get an on-site estimate in writing.
Collect Important Records – arrange for transfer of school records, medical charts, veterinarian files, etc.
Schedule Doctor Appointments – if you or any family members or pets are due for an annual exam (dental or medical), get that done ASAP; ask your doctors for referrals in your new city.
Create a Moving File – this is where you can keep all important receipts, quotes and other move-related information.

7 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Transfer Your Insurance – find out what changes you need to make to auto and home policies.
Identify & Use Items You Can’t Move – begin to use up what’s in your freezer or pantry; remember, you can’t move most cleaning supplies or even propane for the BBQ grill.

6 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Cancel or Transfer Memberships – find out if you can transfer memberships to fitness clubs and other member groups; if you can’t, cancel them.
Identify Valuables – you may not trust some items with the moving company, so identify those and decide how you will transport them (ship them separately? take them in your car?)

5 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Change Your Address – file change-of-address paperwork with the post office, bank, cell phone company, credit card company, magazines, newspapers, etc.
Notify Professional Services About the Move – let your attorney, accountant, financial planner, etc. know you are moving so they can file appropriate paperwork to change your address for you.
Order Moving Supplies – order boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape, markers and specialty boxes (for clothes, dishes, etc.).
Start Packing – identify items that are seasonal or not used often and pack them up now; be sure to carefully mark what’s in each box and the room in which they belong.

4 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Verify Your Move Date – contact your moving company to ensure everything is set for your move.
Cancel & Set Up Utilities – you’ll need to cancel utilities in your old location and set them up for your new home.
- Water
- Gas
- Telephone
- Cable/internet
- Sewer
- Trash
- Electric
Make Travel Arrangements for Pets – do you need to board them on either end of your move? How are they arriving at your new destination?

3 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Service Your Car – make sure your car is in tip-top shape for your moving road trip.
Dispose of Non-Movable’s – old paint, cleaning supplies, propane, etc. cannot be moved and must be properly disposed of (via a hazardous waste program through your city or by giving them to a friend).
Connect with Friends & Family – now’s the time to host a going away party and alert friends and family about how to reach you once you’ve relocated.

2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Verify Travel Arrangements – confirm plans for transporting your family, pets, houseplants and valuables to the new location.
Use Up Food – finish eating up the food in your pantry or freezer (you might have to get creative!).
Clean Rugs & Drapes – it’s nice to have your curtains and rugs cleaned prior to your move so you can have a “fresh start” in your new home.
Pack Your Bags – you’ll want to pack a suitcase or two for the first few nights in your new home; ensure toiletries, personal items and prescriptions are in your suitcase.

1 WEEK BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Pack an Essentials Box – you’ll take this with you in your car for the first day in your new home; include paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, paper plates, plastic utensils, etc.
Prepare Outdoor Equipment – drain water hoses, remove gas from lawn equipment and BBQ grills, etc.
Fill Prescriptions – get any medication refills that you need for yourself, your kids or your pets.
Alert Your Credit Card Company – let them know you’re moving so they don’t flag any move-related purchases as suspicious, which could lead to a freeze on your account.

DAY BEFORE YOUR MOVE

Be Available – even if you’ve hired a moving company, it’s still important to oversee the move.
Check & Double-Check – when the boxes and furniture have been removed, check every room and closet carefully to ensure nothing has been left behind.
Leave Your New Address – leave a note for the new owners with your forwarding address so they can get stray mail back to you.

WHAT'S YOUR PROPERTY WORTH?

Home valuations give you valuable knowledge that can help you plan for the future and make smart decisions. It’s good practice to stay informed about how much equity you have in your home and how much you may be able to borrow against it or sell it for.

Home Valuation Tool

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Raini made the whole process of selling my home easy and without stress and worry. I would highly recommend her services.

Randi H.

Our family used Raini Gordy for a complicated transaction and she quickly managed our situation (1031 exchange), with expertise! We found her to exemplify professionalism and knowledge.

Shreyas P.

Raini is an absolute gem of an agent. She is considerate, patient and will accommodate all of your requests, your budget and asks in your home search. We were first-time homebuyers and Raini made the search process seamless! Ra...

Janet B.

I have had the pleasure of working with Raini for the past two years. She found the perfect property for my 1031 exchange, in 2018, and we are currently searching for my next purchase in San Diego County. Raini combines her sol...

Dick G.

Thorough, knowledgeable and competent. Great follow-through. Supportive and an advocate every step of the way. Continued to be of assistance we’ll after the close of escrow.

Jaime

Raini is an outstanding realtor and all around great person. She maid this the easiest home purchase ever. We would recommend her to anyone who needs a realtor that will be there for you and have your best interests in everythi...

John G.

Raini was very professional and a joy to work with when she was my agent during my the purchase of my home in Del Mar. All and all I couldn’t have asked for a better agent to guide me through the process.

Buyer

Was very helpful in walking me through the process as a first time home buyer. She also helped me to get the locks changed upon completion. Was very good at the back and forth of the negotiation phase of the process.

Cia H.

Raini has helped us both buy and sell our home and we were extremely impressed by her as an agent and a person. When buying our house, she listened carefully and quickly learned our interests and narrowed down our search. What ...

Miriam M.

Raini Gordy is the best! She is thorough and professional and so easy to work with. When we were looking for a home in Carlsbad, she kept us apprised about available listings and always let us know as soon as a new one came on ...

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Comprehensive Seller's Guide for Your Next Move

CHECKLIST AND TIMELINE TO HELP YOU GET ORGANIZED FOR MOVING DAY

8 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

7 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

6 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

5 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

4 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

3 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

1 WEEK BEFORE YOUR MOVE

DAY BEFORE YOUR MOVE

WHAT'S YOUR PROPERTY WORTH?