A LONG ISLAND SELLER STORY | Hicksville, Nassau County
When a homeowner called me about selling his Long Island house, he already knew where he wanted to go. He'd kept his apartment in the city for decades, and he missed being able to walk out his front door and get where he needed to go. What he needed help with was everything between that phone call and moving day.
The short version
- A Hicksville house and two garages full of decades of belongings, including three cars and a vintage motorcycle
- Organizers, movers, an estate sale team, a cleanout crew, cleaners and a photographer, coordinated from the Long Island end
- Four qualified offers the first open-house weekend, and a stronger all-cash deal after the first buyer walked
- A records problem at the building department that took weeks to untangle
- About seven months from the first phone call to closing
Decades of Belongings, Two Garages and Three Cars
The house had been in the same hands for a long time. It and its two garages held decades of belongings, including three cars and a vintage motorcycle.
We started with the cars. A longtime client of mine, Kevin Anderson, bought all three, including a '64 Chevy Impala, and handled the title paperwork and pickup.
Deciding What Goes to the City
Tina O'Keeffe of Stow & Behold helped the seller decide what he wanted in the apartment and packed those belongings with him. Joe Paccione at Relocators coordinated the move and storage. By summer, the seller was back in the city.
Handling the Long Island End
I stayed on the Long Island end.
- Estate sale: Leni and Annmarie of It's Simply Done ran the estate sale, and Leni found a buyer for the motorcycle.
- Cleanout: Nicky's Property Management hauled away what was left.
- Cleaning: Cyclone Cleaning deep-cleaned the house.
- Photos: Kyle Porterfield at EPM Real Estate Photography took the listing photos.
When the seller saw the photos, he asked how he could send a few to people close to him. He was proud of how the place looked. That's the part people don't expect: getting a house ready isn't just about price. It's about the person who lived there feeling good about how it's presented.
Four Offers the First Weekend
The first open-house weekend brought four qualified offers. The first buyer backed out before signing because the house needed more work than he wanted to take on. That happens. I called the other interested buyers and negotiated a stronger all-cash deal.
The Paperwork Nobody Expected
The building department had trouble locating records for a second lot. That took weeks of calls and emails. About seven months after that first phone call, we closed.
If there's one lesson from this sale for other Long Island sellers, it's to pull your property records early. Permits, Certificates of Occupancy and lot records can take weeks to sort out. I cover what to check in my guide to getting your Long Island house ready to sell.
What This Sale Taught Me About Downsizing
- Decide where you're going first. This seller knew exactly where he wanted to be, and every decision got easier because of it.
- Move the big stuff early. Vehicles, boats and large collectibles take time to sell. Start there.
- Pack what you're keeping before the estate sale. Separate the move from the sale, so nothing you want ends up with a price tag on it.
- Then estate sale, cleanout, deep clean and photos, in that order. Each step sets up the next.
- Check records before you list. Paperwork problems don't show up in photos, but they can hold up a closing for weeks.
- You don't have to be on Long Island for all of it. The seller was back in the city well before closing.
For the full step-by-step, see my guide to downsizing on Long Island.
Who to Call for a Long Island Move
If you're sorting through a house of your own, you can reach these businesses directly and tell them John Cordeira sent you.
| Service | Who helped | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Downsizing and organizing | Stow & Behold · Tina O'Keeffe | 516-900-7869 tina@stowandbehold.com |
| Moving and storage | Relocators · Joe Paccione | 516-595-7420 joe@usrelocators.com |
| Estate and tag sales | It's Simply Done · Leni and Annmarie | Leni 516-526-2584 Annmarie 516-635-7062 simplydone420@gmail.com |
| House and garage cleanouts | Nicky's Property Management Corp. | 516-605-5378 nickyspropertymanagement@gmail.com |
| Deep cleaning | Cyclone Cleaning Corp. · Gina | 516-319-7533 cyclone.cleaning33@yahoo.com |
| Vehicle buyer | Kevin Anderson | For a personal introduction, call or text me at 516-526-8077 |
| Lawn care | Miguel Ramos · the seller's landscaper through closing | 516-248-0209 |
| Seasonal sprinkler service | All Island Irrigation, Inc. · the seller's irrigation company | 631-753-0004 Ask for irrigation. |
Downsizing and Selling FAQ
What order should I do things in when downsizing a Long Island house?
Decide what's coming with you and get it packed and moved first. Then sell or donate what's left through an estate sale, have a cleanout crew remove the rest, deep clean, and take listing photos. Pull your property records early, since permit or lot record issues can take weeks.
Do I have to be on Long Island while my house is being sold?
No. In this sale, the seller was back in the city well before closing.
What happens to cars and big items in the garage?
Deal with them first. Vehicles need title paperwork and pickup, and they take up the space an estate sale team needs to work. In this sale, one buyer took all three cars.
Selling a House Full of Decades?
Whether it's your own move or a parent's house, I'll walk through it with you, line up the right people in the right order, and handle the Long Island end so you don't have to. I'm John Cordeira, Broker/Owner of Cordeira Homes, with more than 20 years selling Long Island homes.
Selling in Hicksville? See my Hicksville guide, selling a home in Hicksville, and Hicksville home values.
More guides for Long Island homeowners: Homeowner & Seller Resources
John Cordeira
Broker/Owner, Cordeira Homes
#RippedRealtor