Moving Made Easy: Tips for a Stress-Free Transition to Your New Home

Buying a new home is an exciting time! With so many decisions to make — choosing paint colors, planning tile layouts, and mapping out electrical outlets — it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of your new build and overlook the needs of your current home. Amid all the excitement, it’s just as important to stay on top of the closing process for your current home to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.  

In this article, you’ll find a helpful reminder on the best time to list your home to ensure a smooth transition into your dream home, along with a handy checklist to guide you through cleaning up before listing.  

When to List Your Current Home 

According to Rachel Turnbull, Cedarglen Homes’ Customer Care Manager, the best time to list your current house on the market is after you’ve completed the Electrical Orientation Meeting at your new home. This meeting takes place after framing and prior to electrical and drywall, about three months before you take possession of your new home. 

“This will ensure that you have enough time to close on your current home and then take possession of your new dream home,” Turnbull advises.  

Selling your home can sometimes take longer than expected. While putting your current home up for sale is commonly left to the last minute (if not forgotten entirely!), knowing the right time to list your current home can help eliminate stress down the line. Your future self will thank you for making sure your current home was taken care of before possession day. 

The Customer Relations Representative guiding you through your homebuilding journey will also remind you at this time to begin the process of listing your current home.  

Checklist: Make Sure Your House is Ready to be Listed 

What needs to be checked off before your house is ready to be listed? Follow this comprehensive guide throughout each section of your house to ensure every room is ready.

Outdoor 

• Landscaping clean-up 

• Pressure wash home exterior 

• Repaint exterior cladding as needed 

• Repair cracked concrete 

• Clean gutters 

• Check and repair fences 

• Inspect roof 

• Store personal items and yard toys 

Indoor

• Clean baseboards, light switches, door handles, and mirrors 

• Replace burnt-out light bulbs 

• Fix squeaky doors, windows, and cabinets 

• Wash walls with a paint-safe cleaner 

• Dust window coverings, shelving, and accessory lights 

• Store all personal belongings you won’t need immediately 

• Wash floors, steam-clean carpeted areas 

• Depersonalize – remove photos and toys 

Kitchen 

• Store small appliances and visible cookware 

• Thoroughly clean large appliances 

• Clean cabinets and countertops 

• Polish faucet and cabinet hardware 

Bathrooms 

• Clean toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers thoroughly 

• Remove stains 

• Clean shower curtains 

• Check for leaks 

• Replace mats 

• Leave fresh soap and toilet paper 

Basement 

• Ensure furnace and hot water heater are operational 

• Check for moisture, and make repairs as necessary 

Questions about building with Cedarglen Homes? Get to know how we make it easy to build with our Homebuilding Journey!