Selling your home can be an intimidating task, however with the proper preparation, you can increase your home’s appeal and value. This guide offers actionable steps to get your house ready, set the right price, and manage the selling process effectively.
Preparing Your Home for Sale
When it comes to congressional briefings, the first impression is definitely the last impression. Buyers tend to decide within minutes if they will put an offer on a property, and so first impressions are critical! That’s why it’s critical to get your house in tip-top shape before putting it on the market. Here are the main ones to look out for.
Getting Your House Ready to Sell Checklist
Consider your home from an objective buyer’s perspective. What might awe them. What would completely disinterest them. Here’s a checklist to get you started:
This is the most important first step. Clearing out unwanted clutter creates the appearance of larger, more inviting spaces. If necessary, plan on renting out a storage unit to store extra furniture, decorations, and personal items.
- Deep Clean: A sparkling clean home signals that it’s well-cared for. Deep clean all homes, but put extra emphasis on kitchens and bathrooms, scrubbing grout, steaming under appliance edges, polishing fixtures until every surface glimmers. The typical charge for a professional cleaning service runs about $167, as reported by HomeAdvisor.com.
Make Minor Repairs: Fix leaky faucets, patch holes in walls, replace cracked tiles, and address any other small issues. These minor mistakes may seem inconsequential, but together they can make a project look bad.
Apply Fresh Paint: A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a home's appearance. Opt for muted, non-offensive hues to cast a wide net of appeal to the most buyers possible. If you don’t feel confident in your painting ability, we suggest hiring a pro. As reported on HomeAdvisor.com, the expense will be $380-$790 per space, excluding ceilings, trim or paint.
Carpet Cleaning: Clean or replace stained or worn carpets. That’s according to HomeAdvisor.com, which reports the average cost of a carpet-cleaning service at $176.
Curb Appeal: Don't neglect the exterior. Mow the lawn and trim bushes, weed any flower beds, and power wash the siding. Beyond that, a clean, well-maintained exterior is the best first impression you can make. Maintain your home’s show-ready appearance. Cut your grass and pull weeds weekly to keep potential buyers interested!
Eliminate Odors: Get rid of any lingering odors from pets, cooking, or smoke. Try air fresheners or diffusers with light or citrus-based fragrances. Look into putting your pets in with a family member, friend, or kennel for several weeks in advance. This can make a huge difference in eliminating pet odors during showings.
Organize Closets and Cabinets: Buyers will peek inside closets and cabinets, so make sure they are neat and organized. This creates an illusion of having a ton of storage capacity. Angie’s List reports that most organizers charge hourly rates of $30 to $80.
Tips for Staging Your Home to Sell
Staging is simply using creativity to present the full potential of your home. Even Realtor.com says staging your home could raise its value by 20% and get it off the market 88% quicker. Here are some tips to make your home shine:
Depersonalize: Remove personal photos, souvenirs, and other items that make the house feel like your home. Modern buyers have to picture themselves enjoying dinner around the table, or gathering in a spacious family room. Professional home stagers recommend that you clear out at least 50% of your personal possessions.
Create a Focal Point: Arrange furniture to highlight the best features of each room, such as a fireplace, large window, or architectural detail.
Use Neutral Colors: Stick to a neutral color palette for furniture and décor. This creates an opportunity for buyers to easily picture their own possessions in the home.
Add Pops of Color: Introduce pops of color with accessories like throw pillows, artwork, and plants. These enhanced microfeatures really popped without overwhelming the design.
Maximize Light: Open curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. Bring in lamps to help counteract shadowy spaces.
Kitchen and Bathroom Focus: Kitchens and bathrooms are the most important areas for buyers. Ensure these spaces are inviting by painting them as needed, changing out dated hardware, and keeping them clean and tidy.
- Consider Professional Staging: Hiring a professional stager can be a worthwhile investment. These home improvement professionals, contractors, tradespeople and artisans all have the talent to turn your home into a buyer’s dream home. The national average for home staging comes in at around $2,000-$3,200, based on stats from Fixr.com. Hiring a professional stager can run from $2,000 to $3,200.
Pricing Your Home for Sale
Choosing the right price is the most important factor to a successful sale. Price it too low, and you’ll leave money on the table and attract bargain shoppers. Charge too little, and you’ll rob your business of its potential profits.
How to Price Your House for Sale
Determining the right asking price is one of the most important parts of selling your home. Price it out of range too high, or too low for your market and you won’t get any bites. Here's how to find that sweet spot:
Research Comparable Properties (Comps): Look at recently sold homes in your area that are similar in size, style, and condition to yours. Focus on their sale price and days on the market. Appraisers are tasked with finding the right value for your home and it’s their job to analyze comparable properties, or “comps,” to help them do so. This is one of their most important roles on federal appraisals.
Consider Market Conditions: Are you in a seller's market (where demand is high and inventory is low) or a buyer's market (where demand is low and inventory is high)?
Increasing your rental price
Factor in Your Home's Unique Features: Does your home have any special features that would justify a higher price, such as a renovated kitchen, a large yard, or a desirable location?
Be Realistic About Home Improvements: You won’t necessarily be able to add the full cost of a home improvement to your home’s sales price. First of all, you’ll never receive a one-to-one payoff on any residential renovation. Though upgrades will improve your home’s look and likely marketability, you shouldn’t bank on getting all of that money back.
Consult a Real Estate Agent: A good real estate agent will have a deep understanding of the local market and can help you determine the optimal price for your home.
Supporting Your Case With a Home Inspection
If you’re a seller, it may be worth it to invest in a pre-listing home inspection. This gives you the means to correct any concerns before they become red flags for buyers. It can’t hurt to boost buyer confidence in your home and increase the chances of a faster sale.
Managing the Selling Process
The process of selling a home is about much more than preparing a property for sale and determining a price. You have to know how to run the process to avoid tripwires and pitfalls to make it a smooth transaction.
What to Do While Your Home is on the Market
Once your home is listed, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Keep it Show-Ready: Maintain the cleanliness and staging of your home at all times. Make sure you’re ready to vacate on short notice for showings.
Be Flexible with Showings: Make your home available for showings as much as possible. The more buyers you can get in front of your home, the better your chances of attracting a good offer.
- Consider a Vacation: The initial two weeks of listing can bring a flurry of showings and getting away can reduce the stress. And you could schedule a trip during that first week, or two or three weeks, after putting the house on the market.
How to Handle Offers and Negotiate Effectively
Review All Offers Carefully: Don't just focus on the price. Check the specifics of the offer including the proposed closing date, contingencies, offer financing.
Be Prepared to Negotiate: Most offers are not accepted as is. Get ready to work on price, terms, or both.
Selling a home can be an emotional process, but it's important to remain objective during negotiations.
- Consult Your Real Estate Agent: Rely on your agent's expertise to guide you through the negotiation process and help you get the best possible outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a house ready to sell?
That timeline depends on the state of your home and how much work it will need. That’s new territory — it can take from a few weeks to a few months.
Should I make renovations before selling?
Prioritize renovation work that will make the most difference to potential buyers, like kitchen or bathroom remodels. Avoid high-cost renovations with low return on investment.
Can I sell my house without a real estate agent?
Yep, you can sell your home without a realtor (For Sale By Owner or FSBO). The downside is that you’ll need to do everything related to the sale on your own—from marketing to showings to negotiations. First, you can save out on the commission that real estate agents normally take home, typically 6% of the eventual sales price. Taking this route can drastically reduce your home’s visibility to prospective purchasers.
What if my house sits on the market for a long time?
If your home isn’t moving, it might actually be a million reasons. Whether it’s price, features, or benefit—be willing to adjust and find the product/market fit.
How can I make my home stand out from the competition?
Take the time to focus on staging, curb appeal, and showcasing your home’s best features. Think about providing buyer incentives, like a home warranty or help with their closing costs.
By taking these steps, you’ll be able to confidently put your home on the market in 2025 and get the most value from it. So always stay informed and proactive, and partner with professionals you trust to help you reach your real estate aspirations.
