Seller Checklist

There's a lot involved in selling a home, and the process can seem overwhelming at first. Your first step should be to contact a real estate agent who can walk you through the process and help you along the way. However, if you're not ready to take that plunge just yet, you can use this checklist to get you started and give you an idea of what's to come.

  • Get Professional Advice From A REALTOR®

    Seeking the advice and guidance of a real estate professional will set you up for success along the way.

  • Generate a Plan To De-clutter Your Home

    Throw away things of little or no value that you don't use. Host a garage sale. Give away, sell, or donate other items you no longer have a need for. Use offsite storage for anything you won't use before your home is sold. Keeping your home looking clean and de-cluttering makes potential buyers feel more welcome in your home, which allows them to easily imagine themselves calling your property home.

  • Inspect Your Home And Make Repairs

    It's better to make repairs in advance, as you'll be legally required to disclose certain issues to prospective buyers. A few things to pay close attention to are listed below.

    • Electrical issues
    • Plumbing problems
    • Structural defects
    • Asbestos
    • Dry rot
    • Mold
    • Infestations
    • Roof leaks
  • Decide Which Appliances And Fixtures You Keep

    Generally speaking, buyers expect to receive appliances and anything that's a fixture to the home, so if you plan to take certain things, it's important to let buyers know what is included in the sale of your home:


    • Appliances
    • Laundry machine
    • Oven
    • Dishwasher
    • Refrigerator
    • Microwave Oven
    • Light fixtures (you should always replace any light fixtures you wish to take with you, like a chandelier)
    • Custom window coverings
    • Built-in furniture
    • Hardware (cabinet knobs, etc.)
    • Playground equipment
    • Landscape features like statues or birdbaths
  • Clean The Home So It Feels Inviting

    Keeping your home clean at all times is important when marketing it. Sometimes it's much easier to hire someone to help with the cleaning of your home. Consider cleaning:

    • Appliances
    • Windows (window treatments, glass, ledges)
    • The entryway
    • Carpets/ flooring
    • Cabinets
    • Trash bins
    • Dust furniture
    • Closets
    • Shower curtains
    • Polished woodwork
  • Perform Interior Repairs And Maintenance

    Although you can update certain rooms, like the kitchen and bathrooms, to help make your home ready for the real estate market, the most important point is to ensure everything is tidy and in proper working order. Consider taking the following measures:

    • Oiling door hinges
    • Contacting pest control
    • Painting
    • Fixing any drips or clogs
    • Repairing/replacing carpets and flooring
  • Perform Exterior Repairs And Maintenance

    There's no need to redo an entire lawn to prepare for a sale, but the yard and exterior of the home should be orderly and functioning well. Consider taking care of:

    • Pest control issues
    • Oiling and cleaning the garage door
    • Painting
    • Lawn mowing
    • Maintaining snow removal of sidewalks and driveways
    • Sweeping sidewalks
    • Pruning trees, gardens, and bushes
    • Weeding gardens and flower beds
    • Cleaning/repairing gutters
    • Replacing any missing or damaged shingles
  • Stage The Home

    Buyers tend to buy emotionally. To get the greatest effect when motivating potential buyers to write an offer, try to:

    • Focus on creating inviting spaces
    • Remove counter-top appliances
    • Add flowers near the entryway
    • Bake cookies or bread
    • De-clutter the refrigerator
    • Replace all soaps and towels
    • Replace or clean floor mats
    • Keep your home at a comfortable temperature
  • Get A Market Valuation

    Your REALTOR® can perform a comparative market analysis to help you determine what a fair market value is. Pricing is important to be sure you avoid the pitfalls of over- or under-pricing your home by working with a professional real estate agent.


    Your agent can give you more tips specific to your home and neighborhood, and walk you through what prospective buyers are looking for. They will also handle most of the "heavy lifting" in regard to marketing, negotiating, and closing the sale of your home, so once you've given them a clean plate to work with, you can sit back and relax.

Increase Your Homes Value

Your home is probably your greatest asset, and you deserve to get top-dollar for it when you're ready to sell. While certain renovations can excite potential buyers, they don't always increase what a shopper is willing to pay for a house. It's important to keep this in mind as you prepare your home for the market, so you can make small changes that provide the best return on investment. It's a good idea to consult with a real estate agent to get tips that pertain to your residence and local market, though certain methods are universal.

1

Begin With A Deep Clean And De-clutter

Home-buyers want to imagine what life will be like in the house, so the less you have there, the better. If need be, rent off-site storage to stash away holiday decor and other things you aren't using. If your kids have a mountain of toys, try to pare it down for the duration of the sale. You may also benefit from hiring professional cleaners to come in and give the place a shine.

2

Have The Home Inspected

If you're handy, this is a do-it-yourself project. However, you can also hire a home inspector to come out and give the house a once-over. At some point during the process, you'll have to have the home formally inspected, but it's a good idea to catch any issues and correct them before this step. This way, you're sure potential buyers aren't going to find any surprises while they examine the home, and they have less wiggle room to request a lower rate later.

3

Make Sure There Is Plenty Of Lighting And Go Natural Whenever Possible

A well-lit house with modernized fixtures feels warm and inviting, though your best bet is to utilize natural lighting whenever possible. Sun domes, a more modest approach than skylights, also resonate well with today's Eco-conscious buyer.

4

Create Curb Appeal By Cleaning Up The Front Lawn And Staging A Welcoming Entryway

Because the exterior of your home is the first thing people see and sets the expectations for what they'll find inside, your front yard and facade should look tidy and well-kept.

5

Common Repairs To Consider

Depending on your budget, you may wish to tackle other projects that can help your home command a higher sales price. Consider:

  • Staging your home
  • Landscaping the backyard
  • Shampooing or replacing carpets
  • Repairing any damaged flooring
  • Painting interior walls
  • Updating the kitchen
  • Painting the home's exterior
  • Updating the bathrooms
  • Fixing any loose doors or cabinets

6

Be Ready For Showings

Showings can happen at any moment with little notice. Always having your home ready to show is very important. Consider marketing to all five of your customer's senses:

  • Smell: Always keep your home smelling fresh and clean
  • Sight: Do your best to always have the dishes done, laundry put away, and your home kept clean. (Consider having a grab bag that you can quickly grab loose items and debris with and place in a corner, so that you can quickly keep your home clean-looking.)
  • Sound: Playing nice, soft, inviting music can help place a potential buyer at ease and help them feel comfortable in your home
  • Taste: Consider always having a fresh batch of cookies available for potential buyers. Be sure to leave a sign that they are welcome to have some. Not only will this make them feel invited and at home, but it smells great too
  • Touch: Make sure that your doors don't squeak, your cabinets are not loose, and your home is in the best condition possible.

Some people get caught up in trying to make a home unique by adding specialty rooms or performing a total remodel, when buyers usually prefer a home that's move-in ready. It's easy to become lost in projects, hoping to make your home really stand out, but you also have to be careful that you aren't making your home too overpriced for the neighborhood. This is another reason why it's a great idea to bring a real estate agent on board early, even if it's only for a consultation. That way, you can be sure you're directing your attention to the things that matter most to your potential buyers.