Home Selling Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Selling

It's no secret that selling a home can be a complicated and stressful process. But by following a home selling checklist and doing as much preparation as possible before putting your house on the market, you can make the entire process run more smoothly and reduce the chances of any last-minute surprises.

This home-selling checklist will cover ten critical things you should do before listing your home for sale. But first, a quick note on timing:

Ideally, it would be best to prepare your home for sale about two months before listing it. This gives you plenty of time to declutter, make any necessary repairs or cosmetic updates, and stage your home in a way that will appeal to buyers.

If you don't have two months to prepare, don't worry. Just do as much as you can and list your home as soon as you're ready.

1. Declutter Your Home

The first step in preparing your home for sale is to declutter and remove any personal items that could make it feel like someone else's house. This includes things like family photos, collections, and personal memorabilia.

It would help if you also decluttered storage areas like closets, cabinets, and the garage. This will make your home look more spacious and inviting, making it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.

2. Deep Clean Your Home

Once you've decluttered your home, it's time for deep cleaning. This means cleaning your home from top to bottom, including areas you might not regularly clean.

Hiring a professional cleaning service can be a good investment, as they will be able to clean your home more thoroughly and efficiently than you could on your own.

3. Make Any Necessary Repairs

Before listing your home, it's essential to make any necessary repairs. This includes fixing leaks, holes in the walls, and plumbing or electrical problems.

Making these repairs now will make your home more appealing to buyers, but it will also help you avoid any last-minute surprises that could pop up during the home inspection.

4. Update Your Home's Curb Appeal

Your home's curb appeal is the first thing potential buyers will see, so it's essential to make a good impression.

You can improve your home's curb appeal by pressure washing the exterior, painting the front door, and planting flowers or other greenery.

5. Make Your Home's Interior Look Its Best

Once potential buyers are inside your home, you want to make sure they're impressed by what they see.

This means taking care of things like touch-ups, removing pet odors, and adding fresh towels and linens in the bathrooms.

6. Stage Your Home

Staging your home is one of the most important things to prepare for sale, and this involves arranging your furniture and decor to make your home look more spacious, inviting, and appealing to buyers. 

7. Hire a Professional Photographer

One of the most important things you can do to prepare your home for sale is hire a professional photographer. A good photographer will be able to capture your home in the best light possible, making it look more appealing to buyers.

They will also be able to take shots of all the key areas of your home, which can help buyers get a better sense of what your home has to offer.

8. Get Your Home Inspected

Getting your home inspected before listing it for sale is a good idea, as it can help you identify any potential problems that need to be fixed. This will also allow you to get repairs done before buyers can see them and use them as bargaining chips.

9. Get Your Home Appraised

A top question has always been "Why should I get an appraisal before selling my house?" as getting your home appraised before listing it for sale can help you identify any potential problems that need to be fixed. This will also give you the chance to get repairs done before buyers have an opportunity to see them and use them as bargaining chips.

An appraisal is an estimate of a home's value, and it can help set a realistic asking price for your home.

10. Choose the Right Real Estate Agent

Choosing the right real estate agent is one of the most important things you can do when selling your home. A good agent will be able to help you price your home correctly, stage it effectively, and market it to the right buyers.

They will also be able to handle all the paperwork and negotiate on your behalf to help you get the best price for your home.

Selling your home can be a daunting task, but following this checklist will help you get started on the right foot by taking care of these ten things before selling your house.