Seven Things to Do Before Listing a Home for Sale

Image by Nathan Fertig from Unsplash

If you have decided to sell your home and it’s going on the market, you may have mixed feelings. It’s not unusual to feel stressed, nervous, and excited about listing your house — all at the same time. 

The selling process might create anxiety and worry about what is to come because you have little or no control over the market. Fortunately, you can do things that will put your mind at ease and ensure your home gets noticed and sells quickly. 

Before you list your property for sale, consider the following:

Hire a Selling Agent

The best option for selling your home is to hire an experienced listing agent. A selling or listing agent is one that represents the homeowner in all sales negotiations. Their expertise is in properly marketing the property to potential buyers, and preparing the seller with information about the process.

Spread the Word

Even if your property has not hit the market yet, that doesn’t mean you cannot start creating awareness about the ‘for sale’ status. The more interested individuals you can get before the house gets into the market, the higher the chances of you selling quickly. Let friends and family know that you plan to sell and give them your agent’s information to share.

Clean Out Your Excess

Just before you list your home, clean up and get rid of unwanted stuff. Getting your things organized, aside from making moving day easier for you, also declutters your home. Fewer personal items in the home allows buyers to see themselves occupying the property. Find a place to store family photos and heirlooms, important documents, and other items you need to protect when your home is open for buyers to view.

Start Staging

An excellent way to get buyers interested in your property is to accentuate its best features, which is part of the staging process. Staging is an essential part of the house selling process and one you should not ignore. Allow your agent to offer suggestions about what furniture should remain and what to put in storage during the selling period.

Plan for Your Pets

It can be stressful to have pets around when your home showing begins. Before your home is listed, have a plan for occupying your pets during a home showing. It could be helpful to find a local pet sitter or friend that can take your fur-buddy when your agent calls.

Set Expectations with Your Realtor

Before your property goes live, you should speak to your realtor about any expectations you might have concerning the home selling process. You should also ask questions about what to expect and inform your realtor if you have rules for buyers and their agents when they come to look at your property.

Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Putting effort into the exterior of your home goes a long way to create a great first impression. After staging the interior of your home, spend some time on the exterior. Great curb appeal can decrease the time it takes your property to leave the market. Your agent can suggest curb appeal options that are trending in your selling market, seek their advice as you plan for improvements.

The period before listing your home is the time for you to get organized. As soon as your house gets into the market, you might be too busy to get things fixed. Let your agent guide you on the best use of your pre-selling efforts.