Prideful Move • A little preparation goes a long way
Big move.
Clearer next steps.
Useful questions for the showing, the project list, the rental numbers and the lake-home daydream. Start with the part of your move that needs a little more clarity.
Bring these questions to your conversation with Kyle. For a paper copy, use your browser’s Print option. This page does not collect or save your notes.
For buyers
Love the house.
Remember the details.
A good showing helps you understand how a home could fit your life. A few specific notes make the conversation afterward much more useful.
Choose your anchors.
Write down three things that matter most in your everyday routine: space to work, access you need, storage, or room for the people and activities in your life.
Separate what the listing reports from what you still need to confirm.
Observe. Then ask.
Notice the layout, light, usable space and visible condition. Ask permission before opening storage, taking measurements or operating anything.
“I see a ceiling stain” is an observation. Its cause, repair history and current condition are questions for records and qualified evaluation.
Capture the next step.
Record what you liked, what remains uncertain and what would help you decide. A question is more useful than guessing at a repair cost or dismissing a concern.
Compare the home with your own priorities, rather than trying to give every property a perfect score.
Your three-line showing note
I like…I still need to understand…My next step is…
Label information as observed, reported or still unknown. A tour is a starting point; it does not establish condition, lawful use or verified measurements.
For sellers
Before the paint.
Before the projects.
Make a plan.
The first step toward selling does not have to be a shopping list. Start with your timing, your priorities and what you already know about the home.
Name the goal.
When would you like to move? What needs to happen first? How much time, disruption and spending are you comfortable taking on?
Those answers help frame the preparation conversation.
Gather what you have.
Collect available permits, plans, service records, warranties and repair invoices. Note missing records and unresolved questions.
An invoice describes work billed. It does not, by itself, prove permitting, current condition or that an issue has been resolved.
Sort before starting.
Separate concerns that need professional assessment, presentation improvements and optional renovations.
For each proposed project, discuss scope, cost, time and local market context. Spending more does not guarantee a higher sale price.
What should I bring to a preparation conversation?
- Your preferred timing and what a successful move would look like.
- A short list of known concerns and projects you are considering.
- The records you have, plus questions that need a contractor, permitting office or other qualified professional.
- Your comfort level with spending, disruption and work before listing.
Start with a conversation before committing to a renovation. A practical plan can help you decide what needs more investigation and what belongs on the optional list.
Explore the seller guide → Request a personal pricing review →For property investors
A property has a story.
The numbers need one, too.
Before comparing possibilities, organize the information behind them. Keep actual records, estimates and missing inputs clearly labeled.
Show the time period.
Separate rent actually collected from lease amounts and projected rent. Record the period covered, vacancy and outstanding payments.
Keep security deposits separate from the rent figures for appropriate accounting review.
Make the categories clear.
Gather taxes, insurance, owner-paid utilities, maintenance, management and financing information. Separate recurring costs, one-time work and reserves.
Check whether a mortgage payment already includes tax or insurance escrow so the same cost is not counted twice.
Leave unknowns visible.
Identify future repairs, vacancy assumptions, capital needs and the time you expect to spend managing the property.
A missing number is not zero. Verify lawful use and rental requirements with the appropriate local authority before relying on projected income.
How can I compare keeping, changing or selling?
Use the same time period and clearly stated assumptions for each scenario. Compare the cash needed, time involved, risks and unanswered questions alongside the numbers.
Kyle can help organize property and market questions. Review tax treatment, financing and legal matters with the appropriate professionals before making a decision.
This is an organizing worksheet, not a return projection or a personalized investment, tax or legal recommendation. The IRS Publication 527 resource page is a starting point for rental-property tax topics.
Talk through your property goals with Kyle →For lake and rural-home buyers
Picture the quiet Tuesday.
Not just the perfect Saturday.
A beautiful view is one part of the decision. Think through access, upkeep and the ordinary routines that will shape ownership.
Access, seasons and everyday services
Ask who maintains the road and how winter access works. Confirm internet and other essential services for the actual address. Discuss heating, water systems, seasonal opening and closing, deliveries and storage.
Existing heat or prior use does not establish permission for year-round occupancy. Check the applicable records and requirements.
Water, septic and the home’s records
Ask what water source serves the property, what test results are available and what further evaluation is appropriate. For septic systems, gather available design, permit, installation and maintenance records and discuss an evaluation with a qualified professional.
Records help frame questions; they do not replace an assessment of current conditions. The EPA septic-system questions and answers provides general background, including how to seek system records.
Shoreline, shared responsibilities and rental plans
Clarify boundaries, recorded access, shared-road obligations and any dock or shoreline approvals. A view does not establish ownership or access rights.
Verify applicable rental permissions and requirements before including rental income in your plans. Review flood information and insurance questions for the specific property with the appropriate sources.
General educational resources reviewed October 2026. Property records, local requirements, professional evaluations and your contract determine the questions and deadlines for a particular purchase.
Your next chapter
You bring the questions.
Let’s build the plan.
Buying, preparing to sell or thinking through a property you own? Start with what matters to you and what you still need to understand.
Kyle Cavanaugh, REALTOR® • CENTURY 21 Lifestyles
NH License #075088 • (603) 203-8187