Seller’s Checklist: Timeline To Prepare Your Home For Sale

Although selling your home can be a daunting task, do not rush into listing it as quickly as possible. Thinking ahead about selling, planning your strategy, and preparing your home may seem overwhelming to most sellers. Do not worry, I’ve created a timeline to keep you organized if you’re considering selling your home! 

*About two months before listing*

Step1: Pick a date

Know when you would like to list your home and realistically how long it could take to sell your home. You should know about what time of the year is best for your family to sell the home. Your Realtor should be able to tell you what your market looks like to help you determine the perfect list day for you. 

Step 2: Pick a Realtor, Listing Agent

I cannot stress the importance of this step! Selecting the right real estate agent for you and your family is going to be the determining factor in how fast your home sells and for how much. It is important to find a Realtor will be able to work with long term, remember you will likely talk to them everyday for several weeks! Does their marketing align with what you want? Are they able to provide you with a market analysis for your home? Do they understand your needs as a seller? 

I would recommend interviewing at least three real estate agents in your area before selecting the one to list your home. Ask for recommendations and referrals, request references from those you interview.

Step 3: Know and understand your market

Your listing agent should provide you with other listings (comps) to assist you in determining a list price, but you should know a little more about the market to make you a successful seller. What does expired listings look like in your area? Why did they not sell? How long were they on the market? These are great questions for you to cover with your Realtor. 

More market knowledge is going to help you determine what offer to accept but it will also educate you on what are realistic expectations from the sale of your home! 

Step 4: Start packing

This may sound crazy because you have not even listed your home but I highly recommend you to start packing up items you will not need any longer at this home. For example, if you are listing your home during the summer then you most likely do not need to leave your boots and coats in the closets. Go ahead and box them up, you can store your boxes neatly in the garage or rent a storage unit until you settle into your next place. What about the china collection displayed in your formal dinning room? Leave half of it out, and box up the other half. Think about reducing items throughout your home, specifically in closets, cabinets, and on top of tables. 

Step 5: Freshen up, knock out repairs

A quick thorough cleaning, pressure washing the exterior of your home and fresh landscaping will go a long way in listing pictures and showing your home. Inside your home, think about a fresh coat of paint (do not forget baseboards and doors). If not a fresh coat of paint, at least think about a deep clean. Double check any cosmetic repairs that might be needed. Make sure all doors open, shut, and lock properly. Check cabinet doors also, tighten any loose hinges. Keep things neutral, and freshen up but there is no need for major renovations at this point. 

Remember to keep your home cleaned, organized, and decluttered while it is listed. This can be very difficult while you are living in the home and waiting for it to sell. It is important to keep your home “show ready,” you could have someone reach out to see your property with very little notice and may not have time to prepare it.

*About one month before listing your home*

Step 6: Talk with your neighbors

Just before you list the home, reach out to your neighbors. With an open house and showings, there will be an increase of traffic in the neighborhood. Not only will you be able to give your neighbors advance notice about the traffic, they may have friends that are interested in moving to the area. 

Step 7: Contact your mortgage company 

It is important to do your homework as the seller, before you list your home. Your mortgage company will be able to tell you what the balance is on your loan, as well as any second loans or liens you may have. These will be satisfied first, so it is important to know what the listing price will need to be for loans to be satisfied as well as what profits you will have as a seller. 

*Two to three weeks before listing your home*

Step 8: Staging

Consider staging your home. This does not necessarily mean hiring a company to stage your home, your Realtor can guide you on this step. If you live in the home, chances are that you have items and furniture that can be used to stage your home. If you have already moved out, you may consider a staging company. Either way your Realtor will be able to guide you on what is best.

*One week before listing your home*

Step 9: Pictures and marketing - it’s game time! 

This is the step you have been working towards for a couple of weeks. Your Realtor will suggest a photographer for pictures and have a marketing plan in place. Remember the listing pictures are huge and will play a major role in selling your home. Buyers search for homes online and will conduct online research before scheduling a showing, make sure your home’s pictures make a lasting first impression!

Make sure the home is at its best, no clutter and clean but remember do not touch up any pictures. The listing photos should be an accurate representation of your home. 

Step 10: Listing day

The big day is here! Your home is going active and will be live on various websites. Your Realtor should input your listing in their local MLS and market your home locally. Marketing locally includes hosting an open house, posting a sign in the yard and marketing throughout the community with flyers. Be sure to talk to your Realtor about their marketing plan to maximize your home’s exposure. 

After your home has been shown, your Realtor should have feedback from the potential buyer agents. Your Realtor should share that feedback with you and any offers that are received. Our current market is hot but if you are not getting the traffic you think that you should, talk to your Realtor about possibly marketing differently or even a price adjustment. Currently, our market will tell you pretty quickly if you are priced accurately.

If you are considering selling your home, hope you have found this timeline helpful. Sometimes there are scenarios that might not allow you the timeline as listed above, maybe you need to sell your home faster. These steps should still be followed, and preferably in this order, contact your Realtor for assistance in a more expedited timeline if needed. Your Realtor has your best interest at heart, and will do what it takes to make the process as easy as possible for you!