Sell your house? Smart preparation leads to a smoother sales, stronger offers and fewer surprises during closing.
Herein Redfin real estate articleWe will break down the 12 essential things before we sell your house, including what agents are looking, how you can address buyers and what can directly affect the market value of your house.
12 things to do before selling your house: a checklist
1. Plan a pre-listing Walkthrough with your agent
Before touching a brush or calling a Stager, bring in your broker for a pre-listing consultation. They will identify which updates will actually improve the value and which skip, based on your neighborhood, price and the current market demand.
2. Declutter and depersonalize the space
Buyers must imagine that they live at home. That starts with removing personal items, oversized furniture and everything that distracts from the room itself.
3. Tackle repairs
Your agent will mark items that can be red flags during the inspection of a buyer. By tackling this in advance, the re -negotiation of headaches can later reduce. Frequently occurring:
- Loose handrails or luminaires
- Damaged floors
- Leaking taps
- Cracked windows or seals
- Roof or HVAC maintenance
4. Invest in Occupation
Buyers are starting to assess your house from the street. Simple upgrades such as fresh mulch, trimmed bushes and a painted front door can make your list stand out in online photos and during drive by’s.
5. Get a pre-listing inspection (optional but strategic)
In Hot Markets, some sellers opt for a pre-inspection to reveal potential problems and accordingly. This transparency builds trust in buyers and can lead to stronger offers with fewer unforeseen events.
6. Internship to sell
Stamping is not about decorating; It is a marketing tool. A staged house:
- Photos Better Online
- Helps buyers to understand scale
- Creates an emotional connection during tours
7. Neutralize paint and finishes
Grashed colors, busy wallpaper or outdated finishes can distract buyers and influence the observed value. Fresh paint in modern, neutral tones such as gray or soft white can immediately modernize a space and offer a clean slate.
8. Organize paperwork and disclosures
Buyers (and their lenders) need documentation. Have these ready:
- Title and deed
- HOA documents (if applicable)
- History of real estate tax
- Recent utility accounts
- Renovation Germs or Warranties
- Info of mortgage payments
- Disclosure statement from the seller
This makes the work of your agent easier and helps prevent delays in Escrow.
9. Understand the local market conditions
Your Redfin broker will perform a comparative market analysis to set up a strategic catalog price. The factors that they will consider are recent compositions in your region, current active entries (your competition), days on the market, the demand of the buyer and seasonal influences.
10. Record professional list photos
In today’s digital first market, photos are your first show. 93% of the buyers start their home search online, and offers with high -quality photography get more clicks and impressions.
Ask your agent if they include professional photos (and video or 3D tours) in their marketing package.
11. Prepare for impressions
As soon as you mention, your house must be ‘show-ready’ daily:
- Keep floors and counters clean
- Minimize scents (avoid strong cooking or pets)
- Turn on the lights and open the blinds for natural light
- Be ready to leave the house for last-minute tours
The easier it is to show, the faster it sells.
12. Know your net proceeds
Work together with your agent to calculate a net magazine that the selling price, agent committees (usually 5-6%), the closing costs of the seller, the remaining mortgage balance and the estimated profit is estimated.
If you know your bottom line, you can plan realistic prizes and plan your next step with confidence.
Frequently asked questions about things to do before selling your house
Do I need a broker to sell my house?
Although FSBO is possible, working with an experienced agent can bring you more money, reduce the risk and save time.
What is the most important thing to do before selling?
Preparing your house on the market, through cleaning, repairs and strategic prices, is the key to attracting buyers and strong offers.
What does a house sell the fastest?
Houses that are clean, well -staged, well -priced and professionally photographed have a tendency to sell quickly.
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