Selling Your Home? Share the People Who Helped You Care for It
When buyers tour your home, they notice the kitchen, the layout, the outdoor spaces, and how the property feels.
But behind those first impressions are questions they may never ask out loud:
Who services the heating system? Who knows how the well works? Who would I call if something needed attention?
As a seller, you may already have those answers. Sharing them can make the transition easier—and give buyers a clearer picture of the care your home has received.
Your Home Has a History—and a Team
Over the years, you’ve likely found service professionals you trust. Perhaps your HVAC technician knows the system’s service history. Your landscaper understands the property’s drainage. Your plumber knows where the main water shutoff is located.
That knowledge is useful to someone purchasing your home.
A simple home maintenance contact list gives buyers a starting point. Instead of searching for every provider from scratch, they have access to professionals who may already be familiar with the property.
Who Should Be on Your List?
Include the providers you have actually used, along with their company name, phone number, and the work they performed.
Depending on your home, your list might include:
Heating and cooling technician
Plumber
Electrician
Roofing contractor
Gutter cleaning professional
Pest control or termite service provider
Chimney sweep or fireplace technician
Dryer vent cleaning professional
Landscaper or lawn care provider
Certified arborist
Drainage or crawl space specialist
Painter or exterior maintenance contractor
Handyman
Appliance repair technician
Garage door service technician
For properties with additional systems, include your septic service provider, well or water-treatment professional, generator technician, pool or spa provider, or radon mitigation installer.
You don’t need a contact for every category. A short, accurate list is more useful than a long list of companies you’ve never hired.
Pair the Contacts With Maintenance Records
A provider’s name is helpful. A record of what they did is even better.
Gather available service invoices, maintenance reports, installation dates, equipment manuals, and warranty documents. Include completed repairs and improvements, with dates whenever possible.
For example, “HVAC serviced regularly” offers less information than a dated service invoice showing the work performed.
Keep the information factual. If you don’t know when something was installed or last serviced, leave it unknown rather than guessing. If a warranty is included, confirm whether it can transfer and whether the buyer must take any steps to keep it in effect.
The goal is to help buyers understand the home—not to suggest that maintenance records guarantee its future condition.
Make It Easy to Use
Organize everything in a clearly labeled folder, either digitally or in a binder.
For each provider, include:
Company name and contact information
System or area of the home they serviced
Most recent service date, if known
Relevant invoice, report, or maintenance agreement
Before sharing documents, remove payment details, account numbers, and unrelated personal information. Security codes and sensitive access instructions should be handled separately during the ownership transition.
Buyers can choose their own providers. Your list simply gives them useful options.
Share Useful Information Before Closing
Ask your real estate advisor which records would be helpful to make available while your home is on the market or during the buyer’s evaluation.
Relevant maintenance documentation can help answer questions before closing. The complete contact list, manuals, and operating instructions can then become part of a welcome package for the new owner.
Keep that package accurate and current, including any work completed during the sale.
A Small Gesture That Carries Real Value
You know your home in ways a buyer cannot learn during a showing. You know who has cared for it, what has been serviced, and where to turn when something needs attention.
Sharing that information helps the next owner begin with fewer unanswered questions.
Preparing to sell means helping buyers see the home’s possibilities—and understand the responsibilities that come with owning it. A well-organized maintenance folder supports both.
If you’re preparing to sell in Hendersonville or the surrounding communities, I’d be happy to help you identify which records and service contacts would be most useful to gather.
Mary Sitton | Global Real Estate Advisor
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
