11 Things to Do Before Listing Your Home That Are Worth the Effort
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Valerie Kalfrin, Contributing AuthorClose
Valerie Kalfrin Contributing AuthorValerie Kalfrin is a multiple award-winning journalist, film and fiction fan, and creative storyteller with a knack for detailed, engaging stories.
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Taryn Tacher, Senior EditorClose
Taryn Tacher Senior EditorTaryn Tacher is the senior editorial operations manager and senior editor for HomeLight's Resource Centers. With eight years of editorial and operations experience, she previously managed editorial operations at Contently and content partnerships at Conde Nast. Taryn holds a bachelor's from the University of Florida College of Journalism, and she's written for GQ, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Allure, and Variety.
A few months from now, or maybe sooner, you plan to sell your house. And you can think of a million things to do before listing your home that might lead to a better offer: swap out the damaged laminate for tile, repaint certain rooms to match the rest of the house or fix the landscaping. The more you think about it, the more the mental to-dos mount.
It’s important to know which projects are worth tackling and what to leave as-is. We’re here to help you prioritize the big stuff with these recommendations for impactful pre-listing tasks that will resonate with buyers and ensure a smooth home sale process.
Connect with a Top Agent
If you’re starting to prepare your home for sale, hiring a great real estate agent is an important step to take. HomeLight data shows that top-performing agents sell homes faster and for more money than average agents.
1. Purge the house of clutter
As early as a few months before you list, start decluttering your home. When you think about your kids’ toys and art projects, old bathroom toiletries, and stacks of mail, you might realize you’ve been holding onto many items that could be re-homed or discarded. Decluttering these can help you get your house ready for the market.
A tidy house presents well in listing photos and in person and entices buyers to make a strong offer. According to HomeLight’s Summer 2023 Top Agent Insights report, decluttering and deep cleaning add an average of $20,000 in resale value to a home. Meanwhile, in the End of Year 2023 Top Agent Insights report, 53% of professionals said that failing to declutter the home hinders sellers from making a successful sale.
“Buyers are usually looking forward to a new lifestyle, not just new walls and doors,” says Kendall Rodesiler, top real estate agent in Toledo, Ohio. “So, if we show them a lifestyle that just feels like clutter and chaos, they’re not going to be interested.”
Follow these steps to get started:
- Clear countertops and miscellaneous items on the floor.
- Pare down the items displayed on open shelving, mantels, and walls. Store family photos in a safe spot and remove sports memorabilia and knick-knacks.
- Sort through old stacks of mail, paperwork, pens, and notepads cluttering up places like the kitchen and home office. Shred sensitive documents you don’t need.
- Pack away small appliances you don’t use daily, like the air fryer, and seasonal items, such as the turkey roasting pan.
- Get a few plastic containers to stash away toiletries. Store them in bathroom cabinets and use them to hide your everyday makeup, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc.
- Rifle through the nightstand, and toss the items you don’t use. Use the space to hide your nighttime reading or other bedtime items. Leave just a lamp on top.
- Ditch expired food from the pantry and refrigerator.
- Reduce closet items. Consider selling some items or donating excess belongings, such as towels, linens, or clothes you haven’t worn in a while.
- If your house still looks cluttered with the items you plan to take to the next residence, rent a storage unit as an interim solution.
2. Deep clean forgotten areas
If you plan to live in your house while you sell it — as most sellers do — you’ll need to get into a routine of regular cleanings and quick spruce-ups before buyers pop in for showings.
However, these tasks will be a lot easier if you deep clean, which is one of the top things to do before listing your home.
Focus on these often-neglected areas:
- Dust ceiling fans. Use a step ladder and cleaning spray to complete the chore. Pro tip: Swap your rag for a pillowcase to prevent particles from falling to the floor.
- Wipe down the doors and interiors of closets and cabinets. Use a microfiber duster in the corners.
- Clean under appliances. You can attach a tube sock to the end of a yardstick with a rubber band to sweep in the crevices. Vacuum up debris.
- Clean baseboards using the vacuum cleaner brush attachment. Then, apply a sponge dipped in warm water and dish soap. Use a cotton swab for dirty corners.
Consider what other areas of the house haven’t been cleaned in a while and tackle those places now.
3. Tackle neglected maintenance
Whether you should take care of major repairs — such as replacing a 25-year-old roof before selling — is a conversation with your real estate agent and should be evaluated based on your budget. But you can get a head start on making minor repairs around the house to make sure everything is in good working order before buyers come through.
Start with the following repairs:
- Have the HVAC serviced if it’s been more than a year.
- Patch holes in the drywall.
- Change all air filters.
- Replace burned-out lightbulbs.
- Make sure the windows open and close, and repair any that stick.
- Fix that leaky faucet or water heater.
- Make sure kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures, such as toilets, baths, and showers, all function correctly.
4. Gather repair and renovation records
If you’ve lived in your home for a significant length of time, chances are you have the records or receipts for appliance repairs and upgrades, renovations big and small, as well as services to your HVAC and fireplace. Collect those now to have them ready for your real estate agent, home inspector, and property appraiser.
“I always want a list of everything they’ve done since they’ve moved in or the big things they’ve done over the last 10 years,” says Rodesiler, who provides potential buyers an itemized list of upgrades and repairs.
Unless they’re buying brand-new construction, buyers consider your home “used” and wonder how soon they’ll have to replace or repair something, such as a major appliance.
If you can prove that you’ve already spent the time and money to upgrade your home or keep it in top working order, you’re crossing chores off a buyer’s to-do list, making your home more attractive.
5. Hire a stellar real estate agent
When preparing to sell your home, make hiring an agent one of your top priorities. When to contact a Realtor® varies depending on how fast you want to sell and the condition of your home, but generally, reaching out about three months in advance will give your agent enough time to prepare your home for sale.
Contacting an agent in advance will help you in several ways:
- You’ll get access to data on your home’s value through an agent’s comparative market analysis (CMA).
- You’ll receive tailored advice on what updates or repairs your home needs to sell — and what you can skip.
- You’ll better coordinate steps such as a pre-listing inspection and preliminary title report before your house hits the market (more on those below).
“I like to be the starting point for clients when they’re considering listing their home,” Rodesiler says. “A lot of times, if they don’t do that first, now they’ve done a bunch of things that weren’t necessary, so it might have wasted time or wasted money.”
Companies like HomeLight have made the search for a Realtor or real estate agent even easier and faster by introducing free agent-matching services that elevate top-of-market performers. However you find your agent, be selective in who you pick. Our internal transaction data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents sell homes for as much as 10% more than average.
Top Agents Know What Sells Homes
If you’re thinking about selling your house, partnering with a top real estate agent early in the process can be a great move. They have the experience to know how to get you through the process, from prepping your house for sale to getting to closing day.
HomeLight takes just two minutes to match clients with the best real estate agents — who sell houses faster and for more money — who will contact you and guide you through the process. To connect with an agent, simply tell us a little bit about your property and how soon you’re looking to sell.
6. Consider a pre-sale inspection
Even if you feel intimately familiar with your home, there could be hidden issues you haven’t noticed yet. Rather than hear about them for the first time from the buyer’s inspection, consider ordering a pre-listing home inspection, so you aren’t gobsmacked after you’ve accepted an offer.
An inspection will run anywhere from $500 to $900 or more, depending on your local real estate market, your home’s size, and the home inspector’s experience, but it can give you peace of mind if you’re concerned about deferred maintenance or big problems lurking. Jennifer Smeltzer, a top real estate agent in Jackson County, Missouri, suggests obtaining a pre-listing inspection no sooner than two months before listing to be as current as possible while still allowing time for repairs.
If you don’t have enough funds to cover repair bills upfront, talk to your agent about selling the home as-is or consider requesting a cash offer on your home instead. You can start with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, which provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in as few as 24 hours and allows sellers to close in as few as 10 days.
7. Obtain a preliminary title report
A preliminary title report, or “prelim,” is a summary document that tells you, the seller, if there’s anything outstanding on your property before you put your house on the market. In other words, it’s a precautionary report.
If you find any liens against the property for unpaid property taxes, HOA fees, child support, another lender, or other reasons, you won’t be able to close on the home until you’re settled up and clear the lien.
Title issues can take a while to resolve, so it’s best to start that digging as soon as possible.
A preliminary title search also reveals deed restrictions or any limits to the property’s use, such as the type and amount of vehicles allowed on the property — all valuable details that an agent needs to know before listing your home.
8. Do light, selective remodeling
You’ve likely heard that buyers like turnkey homes or those that are move-in ready. That’s why agents may recommend light renovation projects. “Most buyers have just done all of this work to get their home ready for sale. The last thing they want to do is walk into another set of chores,” Rodesiler says.
In general, Rodesiler suggests minor updates to make a home feel fresh, such as:
- Replace dated faucets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and hardware.
- Install new bathroom and kitchen faucet fixtures if yours are dated.
- Remove wallpaper and paint over the walls in neutral colors.
- Paint dated kitchen cabinets a fresh shade of white.
- Re-stain aging hardwood floors to bring them back to life.
- Steam clean carpets or replace unsalvageable carpeting with a neutral, durable, and affordable selection.
However, don’t go overboard. Check with your agent about whether you should, say, replace the crown molding in the living room based on your home’s price point, the neighborhood, and comparable sales. “If it isn’t typical for the neighborhood, then it’s a waste of money,” Rodesiler says.
9. Boost your curb appeal
Turn a critical eye on your home’s exterior, as 92% of top real estate agents say that great curb appeal adds resale value.
Focus on the most impactful outdoor projects:
- Take care of the lawn yourself or hire a lawn care service professional to mow the yard and add fertilizer.
- Apply fresh mulch.
- Add simple landscaping. Investing $3,455 for a standard landscaping upgrade can yield $7,312 in resale value for a 112% ROI.
- If your home lacks an outdoor hangout space, consider installing a simple patio.
- Paint the front door with fun colors, such as teal, red, or dark green, to create a welcoming focal point.
10. Estimate your net proceeds
Selling a home costs money, so it’s helpful to have an idea of the expenses before listing the property for sale.
Sellers typically pay between 6% to 10% of the final sale price in closing costs to cover:
- Agent commissions
- Transfer or excise taxes
- Prorated property taxes
- Recording fees
- Escrow fees
- Seller concessions
You won’t know exactly how much you’ll take home until you receive your estimated settlement statement at closing with an itemized breakdown of fees and credits. But to get a ballpark idea of your costs and payout, follow these steps:
- Get a home value estimate. Use an online tool such as HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator as a starting point.
- Review your agent’s CMA for a more accurate gauge of your home’s fair market value — defined as what a buyer would be willing to pay for the home in today’s market.
- Subtract your current mortgage balance and selling fees from the sale price. HomeLight’s Net Proceeds calculator can help you run the math, or ask your real estate agent to prepare a net sheet.
- Keep in mind that your estimate may change based on how negotiations go with the buyer and any unexpected costs that arise.
11. Plan your next move
Due to a low supply of housing inventory, it could take you longer to buy a home than it does to sell your current one, so it’s best to get ahead of where you plan to move next.
“Is it a short-term rental, staying with family or friends? We have a lot of people living with family and putting their things in storage,” Rodesiler says. “If a seller doesn’t have a contingency plan, they’re just not putting their home on the market until they can get one.”
While calculating those next moves takes time, knowing what’s ahead — much like preparing your home before listing — can relieve some stress from the process.
Make every pre-listing task count
There’s plenty to do and consider before listing your house on the market. Yet, not every project is worth the time, effort, or money. Focus on the most impactful tasks: decluttering, deep cleaning, addressing key maintenance issues, enhancing curb appeal, and hiring a knowledgeable real estate agent who can guide you through the process.
Header Image Source: (Jonathan Borba / Unsplash)
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