Sometimes, selling your home can seem a bit daunting. After all, it involves a lot more than just plopping a “For Sale” sign on your front lawn and uploading a few photos you took with your phone online. What does it really take to sell your home — and get a great price for it? Don’t worry. If you’re looking to sell your home, you’re in the right place! We’ll take you through our home selling checklist and help you each step of the way.
1
Find an Experienced Real Estate Agent
Finding the right real estate agent is absolutely crucial. It can mean the difference between getting a great price on your home… or not selling your home at all. Look for someone who has experience selling houses in your area. Find a realtor who can sell your home for the most money in the shortest amount of time. Working with a great real estate agent is the best way to get the most money for your home.2
Price Your House to Sell
With all of the memories you and your family have made in your home over the years, you might feel as though your home is absolutely priceless. But the truth is, your home is really only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it. Ask your real estate agent to run a comparative market analysis report to predict what buyers will pay for your home. Then, work with your agent to set a fair yet competitive price.3
Make a Plan
Create a timeline of things you need to accomplish before closing the sale. Prioritize the things that need to get done first. Work with your real estate agent to figure out what’s a realistic timeline for you. (Use this home selling checklist as a road map!)4
Get a Home Inspection
While this step isn’t necessary, it can be a great negotiating tool down the road. Getting a presale inspection on your home costs a few hundred dollars, but it’ll give you evidence of your home’s condition and help you get a jump on repairs. (Buyers will be willing to pay more for a house that’s already in good condition than for a house that needs to be fixed first!)5
Make Your House Look its Best
Plant flowers in your front yard to maximize curb appeal. Declutter your house to make it look as open as possible. Clear the counters and add more lighting. Add plants to make your space look more inviting to potential buyers. And consider professionally staging your home to make it look especially beautiful and up to date.6
Depersonalize Your Home
Remove distractions so potential buyers can imagine the home being their own. Remove personal items and family photos. Take bold artwork down and pack away loud furniture. You want to create a blank canvas for potential buyers. Be sure to hide any valuables, too. You never know who might be walking through your house during a showing.7
Paint Touch-ups
While you don’t need to give your entire house a fresh coat of paint, a few touch-ups here and there can work wonders. Paint over (or clean off) scuff marks on the walls and baseboards. And if you have any bright accent walls, repaint them to neutral tones.8
Clean Until It’s Spotless
You want your house to be positively sparkling clean. Scrub and polish every surface. Get a professional to deep clean rugs and carpets. Organize your space and pick up any clutter. Pay attention to any foul odors and be prepared to do some deep cleaning to get rid of them. And be sure to always keep your house tidy and spotless throughout the home selling process — you never know when a buyer might schedule a last-minute walk-through.9
List & Show Your Home
Once you’ve decluttered, beautified, and cleaned your home and crossed everything else off on your home selling checklist, it’s time to put it on the market. Home showings can be challenging — make sure you’re prepared to be flexible about scheduling showings, keep your house clean, and find a place for your pets (and the rest of your family) during showings.10
Coordinate the Contract and Close
Once a buyer makes an initial offer, negotiations will start to kick in. Work with your real estate agent to get a price that you’re comfortable with. Make sure you understand all of the terms of a purchase agreement before you sign it. Once you and your buyer do reach a purchase agreement, be patient and flexible. Delays can still happen between signing the contract and closing the sale. But in just a matter of time, you’ll be able to hand over the keys, receive your check, and move on with the rest of your life!