Selling a home is a complex process, and it can easily start to feel overwhelming if you try to tackle everything at once. Planning ahead is essential to managing the home-selling process, with the steps you take to prepare paving the way to less stress and more success as you progress through the process. Our real estate agents are here to help you prepare, with our checklist that covers the selling process from start to finish.
From Listing to Closing: The Ultimate Home Seller's Checklist
Clean and Declutter the Home
Cleaning and decluttering your home is often quite an involved process, especially if you've been living there for a while. So it helps to get started early once you know you plan to sell, and tackle it step-by-step. Cleaning is essential for making sure that the home looks and smells its best for buyers, while decluttering will make it easier for buyers to imagine their own lives in the home.
Make Necessary Repairs
Depending on the current condition of the home, it may need significant work before sale, or it might need little if any. One way to find out is by having a pre-listing inspection, which can help you identify any serious issues that will have to be repaired before you can sell the home. Generally, anything that presents a significant safety issue will need to be addressed. Make sure small things like leaky faucets or broken light fixtures are repaired, as well.
Consider Curb Appeal
Buyers start forming an opinion on a home as soon as they arrive at the curb, which is why curb appeal is so important to consider when selling your home. Here are a few easy steps you can take to boost curb appeal:
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Clean and declutter your yard. Just like inside the home, clean presentation matters to buyers when they arrive.
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Trim hedges and trees. If your yard requires more significant landscaping work, hiring the pros can help you maximize curb appeal.
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Check that the front door is in great shape. It might need fresh paint, fresh fixtures, potted plants, or other décor to make it feel as inviting as possible.
Find a Great Real Estate Agent
Whether you've sold a home before or are doing it for the first time, your real estate agent should be your best advocate during every step of the process. Invest time in learning about agents, ask for recommendations, and take the time to choose the best agent for your needs. From marketing the home to managing closing day, your agent will be with you every step of the way.
Make Your Marketing Shine
Work with your agent to make sure your marketing looks great. This will include getting high-quality photos of the home, planning open houses, arranging showings, and more. You might consider additional steps, like staging the home or setting up a virtual tour.
Prepare for Closing
After your agent helps you attract a buyer and handle negotiations, it will soon be time for closing day. Your agent can help you gather the necessary documentation, review it, and be prepared for the big day. You'll also want to gather house keys, garage remotes, access codes, and anything else used to access the home. Make sure that you're prepared for your own move, as well. Schedule movers if needed, cancel utilities, and make your final preparations.
Ready to sell your home? Our local team is here to help you achieve your real estate goals. Get in touch for all the help you need to sell your current home and shop for your next one.
