What is the Total Home Transition™ Process?

The Total Home Transition™ process is the unique approach of preparing a house to sell for top dollar while also packing for the move to the new home at the same time. Done In A Day, Inc. (DIAD) Home Transition experts work closely with Homeowners to help manage each step within the two phase process.   

The two phases:

1. Designing the house to sell fast for top dollar: The Perfect Listing™
2. Orchestrating the move and setting up the new home: The Perfect Move

How it Works

Phase One – The Perfect Listing™

• Initial Consultation – A home transition expert will complete a comprehensive visual assessment of the entire structure and property. Our experts view the house and property without emotion to compile a recommended and prioritized task list to address issues while creating meaningful impact for potential buyers.

• Expert Recommendations – The prioritized list developed following the consultation will pinpoint where our experts believe time and/or money will be well spent to present the house to sell at top dollar and to advance preparations for the subsequent move. It is critical to consider the move while doing the hard work of getting the property ready to sell. The list will be separated into repairs or updates that are “highly recommended” (includes possible visual red flags at home inspection time) and “recommended” (typically visual presentation issues).  While disregarding items on the list may not prohibit the house from selling, it might impact how much a buyer is willing to offer.  Our goal is a quick sale at top dollar. To that end, the DIAD ideal when designing to sell is to deliver each home in a condition that will allow a qualified buyer up to one year of occupancy without making meaningful material changes.  If potential buyers see the house as truly move-in ready, they will be more willing to offer top dollar – saving the seller time, money, and emotional stress.

• Scope and Schedule – In coordination with the homeowner and real estate agent, the personalized Total Home Transition℠ agreement will incorporate the above recommendations, definitive dates (or range of dates) for completion of all services (including contracted services) ending with the all-important date of the photo shoot.

• Upgrade & Repair – After the list of recommendations has been reviewed with the homeowner and finalized, the next step is to engage the appropriate contractors needed to estimate and make the necessary upgrades or repairs to the house, which may include painting, electrical work, plumbing, repairing or replacing broken or outdated elements of the home (lighting fixtures, flooring, tile) etc. The home transition expert will work with the homeowner to focus on the fast, easy, and inexpensive fixes, always keeping the cost/benefit ratio in mind. The home transition expert will manage collecting, reviewing, and negotiating the estimates, and scheduling the work. They will also manage the process of the work being completed, meeting both quality expectations and schedule requirements.

• Sort – The home transition team will work closely with the homeowner or their designate to sort through the entire house (every drawer, cupboard, closet and all other storage spaces such as the basement, attic, garage, etc.) and will group items into the following categories:
  • KEEP: Items to remain in house for daily living or staging purposes and that may or may not move to the new home following sale
  • STORE: Items not needed for daily living or staging to be packed and stored on or off-site
  • APPRAISE/SELL: Items to auction or consign based on market value
  • DONATE: Items set aside for family/friends or charitable organizations
  • DUMP

• Dispose – After all items have been sorted, the transition team will make the appropriate dispositions, including:
  • packing all household items and furniture to store and if necessary, arranging transport, securing storage contract (short-term unit or long-term palletized), and strategically packing the storage unit,
  • inventorying items to sell and making pick-up or delivery arrangements with local auction houses or consignment stores,
  • packing and transporting all donation items to local charitable organizations and obtaining tax receipt(s)
  • packing and delivering furniture and household goods to friends and family.
  • arranging to pack and send or move items throughout the US.
  • transporting bulk trash items to the dump.  

• Pack and Store (on or off-site) – All items that will be moved to the new home but are not needed for daily living or staging will be inventoried and packed by the transition team. The team will determine, purchase the appropriate packing materials and deliver to your home. High valued, oversized, and fragile items such as paintings, lighting fixtures, and sculptures require additional consideration and may require unique crating or packing procedures for an additional fee by specialty movers. Once packed, boxes (and any extraneous furniture) may or may not remain on-site while the house is on the market. Available storage in the house and visual impact will help our team determine whether or not we recommend a homeowner consider securing storage off-site. Best news: After the transition team has completed the Phase One packing, many homeowners are already 75% packed and poised to move earlier and more quickly saving both time and money. By doing so, the homeowner is ready to accept a quick closing date. Unlike most professional moving companies, we do not strictly pack room by room. Our home transition team packs “like with like” (i.e. all similar items are packed together – candles with candles, books with books, etc.).  Because homeowners can see all the similar items they own at once, our sorting and packing strategy makes unpacking and organizing the new home orderly and efficient. The new home will be settled much more quickly in a matter of days.

• Stage or Set Template – To attract the widest audience of potential buyers, the “personal footprint” (i.e. how homeowners make a house a home) and extraneous furniture is removed during the early packing and storing.  Our home transition team is now able to highlight space and function while arranging the remaining furniture, art and decorative items (possibly in new rooms) to showcase the home’s architecture, unique assets and best selling features.  We will supplement décor with fresh, inexpensive linens, lamps, mirrors, and floral elements as needed to complete the overall design.

• Landscape – Curb appeal is critical to buyers. We highly recommend and will manage front and backyard spruce-ups including mowing, trimming, edging and the addition of fresh mulch and seasonal plantings, if necessary. Power washing the brick, siding, roof and all hardscape is often necessary and cleaning the gutters will ensure a positive visual inspection from potential buyers.

• Final Clean – Our home transition team will complete the final clean of the house after the staging and all contracting work is complete. This will include polishing wood floors, cleaning the appliances, bathrooms, built-in shelves, drawer and cabinets fronts, and removal of any trash. When the team is done the house will truly sparkle and be market-ready for photo shoot day!

Phase Two – The Perfect Move

Transitioning into the new home begins for many once there is a ratified contract on their current house, closing date confirmed and home inspection scheduled. This phase includes:

• Pack – Our transition team will add to the inventory and pack the balance of items not packed in Phase One.

• Go Bag – Our transition team can advise on what necessities the homeowners should personally pack in a bag for the first two days in the new home. This will make for a smooth first night on moving day.

• Move – On moving day, our home transition expert will work closely with the moving crew to supervise and act as an advocate for the seller and/or maintain close communication with the seller if they are not on-site.
  At the old house, our home transition expert and team will:
  • secure parking permits, greet and complete the walk-through of the house with the movers and point out any items that need special attention,
  • field any questions or concerns throughout the day
  • supervise the wrapping and preparing of the furniture and specialty goods to make sure items are handled with great care; maintain separate inventory
  • supervise the loading of the truck and the handling of all items
  • complete the final walk-through to make sure nothing is left behind
  • coordinate quick lunch for moving crew
  • follow the truck to the new home
  • broom sweep, clean kitchen and bathrooms

At the new home, our home transition expert and team will:

• • secure parking permits, conduct tour of new home and confirm the moving company has adequately prepared the space by putting down floor mats and runners, and wrapped stairwell bannisters,
  • supervise the unloading of the truck, verifying inventory
  • facilitate the correct room placement of all rugs, furniture and packed boxes, and
  • suggest gratuity amounts for superior service once the movers are finished.

• Unpack – Professional moving companies that offer unpacking services typically only provide the physical unpacking of boxes and the removal of packing materials. Unpacked items are simply placed on floors or countertops for the homeowner’s eventual attention and distribution. Our transition team is more purposeful, however. Our team will prioritize and strategically open boxes and organize immediate placement or storage of all items. Our home transition expert will lead the process of organizing the design of all key living spaces and storage areas, so the homeowner does not have to make a series of decisions in the midst of this stressful process.

• Tidy – Our transition team will break-down empty boxes and take trash out to street for regular trash collection or schedule a fee based picked with the mover.