Sell your house? Smart preparation leads to smoother sales, stronger offers and less surprises during closures.
This Redfin Real Estate article categorizes 12 important things before you sell your home, including what your agent is looking for, how to appeal to a buyer, and what could directly affect the market value of your home.
12 Things to Do Before Selling Your Home: Checklist
1. Schedule pre-listed walkthroughs with agents
Bring a real estate agent in advance for publicly listed consultations before touching the paintbrush or calling Stager. They will identify which updates actually improve value and which skips will skip based on your neighborhood, price and current market demand.
2. Organize and depersonalize your space
Buyers should imagine living in their home. It starts with removing personal items, oversized furniture, and distractions from the space itself.
3. Working on repairs
Agents flag items that could turn into red flags during the buyer’s inspection. Addressing these in advance will help reduce headaches for renegotiation later. The general ones are:
Loose railings or fixtures Damaged floor leak-prone faucets can be used for windows or sealed roofs or HVAC maintenance
4. Invest in curb appeals
Buyers will begin screening your home from the street. Easy upgrades such as fresh mulch, cropped bushes and painted front doors can make your list stand out during online photos and drive bees.
5. Please undergo a pre-listed inspection (optional is strategic)
At Hot Markets, some sellers choose pre-inspections accordingly to reveal potential issues and prices. This transparency can build trust with buyers and lead to stronger offers with less contingency.
6. The stage to sell
Staging is not about decoration. It’s a marketing tool. Step-by-step house:
Photos are better online, help buyers understand scales to create emotional connections during tours
7. Neutralizes paint and finish
Bold colors, busy wallpaper, or outdated finishes can deflect buyers and affect perceived values. Fresh paints in modern neutral tones like gray or soft white can instantly modernize the space and provide a clean slate.
8. Organize documents and disclosures
Buyers (and their lenders) need documentation. Prepare these:
Title and Deed HOA Document (if applicable) Property Tax History Recent Utility Bill Reform Permission or Guaranteed Mortgage Payment Information Disclosure Statement of Distributor
This makes the agent’s job easier and avoids delays in escrow.
9. Understand the local market situation
Redfin Real Estate Agents perform comparative market analysis to set strategic list prices. Factors they consider include recent sales comps for your area, current active lists (competitions), market days, buyer demand, and seasonality.
10. Capture professional list photos
Photos are the first shows at today’s digital first market. 93% of buyers start a home search online, and a list of high quality photo shoots gets more clicks and shows.
Ask your agent if your marketing package includes professional photos (and videos or 3D tours).
11. Preparation for the show
Once you’ve listed, your home should be “show-ready” every day:
Keep your floors and counters clean Minimize odors (avoid strong food and pets) Turn on the lights, open blinds for natural light, and ready to leave the house for last minute tours
The easier it is to display, the faster it will be sold.
12. Know your online revenue
Work with agents to calculate netsheets that estimate sales prices, agent committees (usually 5-6%), seller payment closure costs, remaining mortgage balances, and estimated profits.
Knowing the final results can help you set a realistic price and plan your next move with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Things You Should Do Before Selling Your Home
Do you need a real estate agent to sell my house?
FSBO is possible, but working with experienced agents will help you earn more money, reduce risk and save time.
What’s the most important thing before selling?
Preparing your home for the market through cleaning, repairs and strategic pricing is key to attracting buyers and powerful offers.
What is the fastest selling house?
Clean, well-stage, priced and professionally photographed homes tend to sell quickly.
