8 Things You Should Do Prior to Listing

Thinking about listing your home for sale? It's time to get busy because there are quite a few things to do before putting it on the market. Before you stick that For Sale sign in the front yard, consider going through this list of 8 things you should do prior to listing!

1. Find the right real estate agent: In a hot market like we are today, it is absolutely important to have the right realtor on your side as you list your home for sale. You should do your research and interview real estate agents until you find one that ticks all your boxes and you feel can confidently sell your home for top dollar. 

2. Take a look at your curb appeal: Curb appeal is the first impression that potential buyers will get on your home. You should take a look at your home and see what you could possibly improve or do to make it stand out and appeal to those potential buyers. Whether you need to cut back your bushes, or repaint your front door— small touches can make a big impact on your home's curb appeal. 

3. Declutter and depersonalize your living spaces: Woohoo, you just listed your home and it's time for an open house! One of the most important things you can do as a seller is to declutter and depersonalize your living spaces. When potential buyers are touring your home, they don't want to see your stuff everywhere. They want to be able to envision themselves in the space, so remove as much personal touches as possible, and make sure everything is put away and organized. 

4. Examine your walls: Take a look at your walls and consider doing a paint touch up to any scuff marks. Making sure your walls are clean and fresh can make the space feel very cared-for, which is a big bonus for potential buyers. 

5. Fix loose handles or knobs: Check out all of your door handles and knobs to ensure there aren't any that are loose. It's likely that potential buyers will be taking a look inside of rooms and cabinets, and having loose hardware could be a quick turn off. This takes less than 5 minutes!

6. Do the sniff test: Foul odors are a big reason buyers will walk out of a home. Potential buyers don't want to purchase a home with a lingering odor, so it is important to conduct a sniff test and ensure there aren't any pet or smelly odors that could turn away a buyer. You may not even be able to smell the odor (if there is one), so consider having a friend help with this who can give another opinion. 

7. Clean, clean, clean: This is an obvious step in the process of selling your home, but it is one of the most important things you can do to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. It's very likely that you will have professional photographs taken of your home, and buyers can tell if your home is clean by simply looking at the photos. Whether you clean it yourself or have someone else do it, be sure to pay attention to the details to get that squeaky clean look!

8. Tackle the maintenance you've been neglecting: Let's face it, you've probably got a maintenance to-do list that you've been putting off for some time now, we all do! Now is the perfect opportunity to tackle that list. Things such as cleaning your gutters or  replacing lightbulbs might not be the most fun tasks, but it'll be noticeable by potential buyers.

Having a guide to follow before selling your home can keep you organized and on track, ensuring your home is ready to be listed.