11 Things to Do Before Listing Your Home That Are Worth the Effort
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Valerie Kalfrin, Contributing AuthorClose
Valerie Kalfrin Contributing AuthorValerie Kalfrin is a multiple award-winning journalist, film and fiction fan, and creative storyteller with a knack for detailed, engaging stories.
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Taryn Tacher, Senior EditorClose
Taryn Tacher Senior Editor
Taryn Tacher is the senior editorial operations manager and senior editor for HomeLight's Resource Centers. With eight years of editorial and operations experience, she previously managed editorial operations at Contently and content partnerships at Conde Nast. Taryn holds a bachelor's from the University of Florida College of Journalism, and she's written for GQ, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Allure, and Variety.
A few months from now, or maybe sooner, you plan to sell your house. And you can think of a million things to do before listing your home that might lead to a better offer: swap out the damaged laminate for tile, repaint certain rooms to match the rest of the house, or fix the landscaping. The more you think about it, the more the mental to-dos mount.
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It’s important to know which projects are worth tackling and what not to fix and just leave as is. We’ll help you focus on the updates that matter most with these pre-listing tips that can make your home stand out and help the sale go smoothly.
1. Purge the house of clutter
As early as a few months before you list, start decluttering your home. When you think about your kids’ toys and art projects, old bathroom toiletries, and stacks of mail, you might realize you’ve been holding onto many items that could be rehomed or discarded.
Decluttering these can help you get your house ready for the market. A tidy house presents well in listing photos and in person and entices buyers to make a strong offer.
“Buyers are usually looking forward to a new lifestyle, not just new walls and doors,” says Kendall Rodesiler, top real estate agent in Toledo, Ohio. “So, if we show them a lifestyle that just feels like clutter and chaos, they’re not going to be interested.”
Follow these steps to get started on purging your home of clutter:
- Clear countertops and miscellaneous items on the floor.
- Pare down the items displayed on open shelving, mantels, and walls.
- Store family photos in a safe spot and remove sports memorabilia and knick-knacks.
- Sort through old stacks of mail, paperwork, pens, and notepads cluttering up places like the kitchen and home office. Shred sensitive documents you don’t need.
- Pack away small appliances you don’t use daily, like the air fryer, and seasonal items, such as the turkey roasting pan.
- Get a few plastic containers to stash away toiletries. Store them in bathroom cabinets and use them to hide your everyday makeup, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc.
- Rifle through the nightstand and toss the items you don’t use. Use the space to hide your nighttime reading or other bedtime items. Leave just a lamp on top.
- Ditch expired food from the pantry and refrigerator.
- Reduce closet items. Consider selling some items or donating excess belongings, such as towels, linens, or clothes you haven’t worn in a while.
- If your house is still full of stuff you plan to take to the next residence, rent a storage unit as an interim solution.
2. Deep clean forgotten areas
If you plan to live in your house while you sell it, as most sellers do, you’ll need to get into a routine of regular cleanings and quick spruce-ups before buyers pop in for showings. These tasks will be a lot easier if you deep clean, which is one of the top things to do before listing your home.
Focus on these often-neglected areas:
- Dust ceiling fans. Use a step ladder and cleaning spray to complete the chore. Pro tip: Swap your rag for a pillowcase to prevent particles from falling to the floor.
- Wipe down the doors and interiors of closets and cabinets. Use a microfiber duster in the corners.
- Clean under appliances. You can attach a tube sock to the end of a yardstick with a rubber band to sweep in the crevices. Vacuum up debris.
- Clean baseboards using the vacuum cleaner brush attachment. Then, apply a sponge dipped in warm water and dish soap. Use a cotton swab for dirty corners.
Consider what other areas of the house haven’t been cleaned in a while and tackle those places now.
3. Tackle neglected maintenance
Major repairs, like swapping out a 25-year-old roof, may or may not be worth doing before you sell. Your real estate agent can help you decide what makes sense based on your budget and market conditions. But you can get a head start on making minor repairs around the house to make sure everything is in good working order before buyers come through.
Start with the following fixes:
- Have the HVAC serviced if it’s been more than a year.
- Patch holes in the drywall.
- Change all air filters.
- Replace burned-out lightbulbs.
- Make sure the windows open and close, and repair any that stick.
- Fix that leaky faucet or water heater.
- Make sure kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures, such as toilets, baths, and showers, all work properly.
4. Gather important documents
If you’ve been in your home for a while, you probably have records or receipts for things like appliance repairs, upgrades, renovations, and HVAC or fireplace work. Gather those now so they’re ready for your agent, inspector, and appraiser.
“I always want a list of everything they’ve done since they’ve moved in or the big things they’ve done over the last 10 years,” says Rodesiler, who provides potential buyers with an itemized list of upgrades and repairs.
Unless they’re buying brand-new construction, buyers consider your home “used” and wonder how soon they’ll have to replace or repair something, such as a major appliance.
If you can prove that you’ve already spent the time and money to upgrade your home or keep it in top working order, you’re crossing chores off a buyer’s to-do list, making your home more attractive.
After gathering receipts for your home upgrades and repairs, it’s time to organize the other paperwork you’ll need for the sale. Make sure to have these ready:
- Deed and original sales contract: These documents show your property ownership and provide details about your original purchase, which may be needed during the sale.
- Mortgage payoff statement and loan documents: These show your remaining loan balance and help determine how much you’ll need to pay off when the home sells.
- Property survey: This outlines your property boundaries and can help clarify the exact size and layout of your lot.
- Appliance manuals and warranties: Keeping these documents handy makes it easier to pass along useful information about the home’s appliances to the buyer.
- Homeowners insurance policy: These provide details about your current coverage and may be useful for reviewing your home’s history and protection.
- HOA documents (CC&Rs, dues schedules): These explain your community’s rules, fees, and requirements that buyers will want to review before purchasing.
- Utility bills and property tax statements: These give buyers an idea of ongoing costs and help confirm important property-related expenses.
- State-specific residential property disclosure form: This form lets you disclose known issues or conditions with the home, as required by your state’s laws.
5. Hire a stellar real estate agent
When preparing to sell your home, make hiring an agent one of your top priorities. When to contact a Realtor varies depending on how fast you want to sell and what kind of condition your home is in, but generally, reaching out about three months in advance will give your agent enough time to prepare your home for sale.
Contacting an agent in advance will help you in several ways:
- You’ll better understand your home’s value through an agent’s comparative market analysis (CMA).
- You can get tailored advice on what updates or repairs your home needs to sell and what you can skip.
- You can complete key tasks, such as a pre-listing inspection and preliminary title report, before your house hits the market (more on those below).
“I like to be the starting point for clients when they’re considering listing their home,” Rodesiler says. “A lot of times, if they don’t do that first, now they’ve done a bunch of things that weren’t necessary, so it might have wasted time or wasted money.”
Companies like HomeLight have made the search for a Realtor or real estate agent even easier and faster by introducing free agent-matching services that help you quickly connect with some of the best agents around. However you find your agent, be selective in who you pick. Our internal transaction data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents sell homes for as much as 10% more than average.
Top Agents Know What Sells Homes
If you’re thinking about selling your house, partnering with a top real estate agent early in the process can be a great move. They have the experience to know how to get you through the process, from prepping your house for sale to getting to closing day.
6. Consider a pre-sale inspection
Even if you feel intimately familiar with your home, there could be hidden issues you haven’t noticed yet. Rather than hear about them for the first time from the buyer’s inspection, consider ordering a pre-listing home inspection, so you aren’t gobsmacked after you’ve accepted an offer.
An inspection will run anywhere from $296 to $424, depending on your local real estate market, your home’s size, and the home inspector’s experience, but it can give you peace of mind if you’re concerned about deferred maintenance or big problems lurking.
Jennifer Smeltzer, a top real estate agent in Jackson County, Missouri, suggests getting a pre-listing inspection no sooner than two months before listing to be as current as possible while still allowing time for repairs.
If you don’t have enough funds to cover repair bills upfront, talk to your agent about selling the home as-is or consider requesting a cash offer on your home instead. You can start with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, which provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in as few as 24 hours and allows sellers to close in as few as 7 days.
»Learn more: If you want to sell your home as is, without repairs, showings, or delays, use our Home Cash Offer Comparison Calculator to see what real buyers may pay. It’s a quick way to compare your options and decide whether a cash sale makes sense for your situation.
7. Obtain a preliminary title report
A preliminary title report, or “prelim,” is a summary document that tells you, the seller, if there’s anything outstanding on your property before you put your house on the market. In other words, it’s a precautionary report.
If you find any liens against the property for unpaid property taxes, homeowners association (HOA) fees, child support, or other reasons, you won’t be able to close on the home until you’re settled up and clear the lien. Title issues can take a while to resolve, so it’s best to start digging as soon as possible.
A preliminary title search also reveals deed restrictions or any limits to the property’s use, such as the type and number of vehicles allowed on the property. These are all valuable details that an agent needs to know before listing your home.
8. Do light, selective remodeling
You’ve likely heard that buyers like turnkey homes or those that are move-in ready. That’s why agents may recommend light renovation projects. “Most buyers have just done all of this work to get their [own] home ready for sale. The last thing they want to do is walk into another set of chores,” Rodesiler says.
In general, Rodesiler suggests minor updates to make a home feel fresh, such as:
- Replace dated faucets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and hardware.
- Install new bathroom and kitchen faucet fixtures if yours are dated.
- Remove wallpaper and paint over the walls in neutral colors.
- Paint dated kitchen cabinets a fresh shade of white.
- Re-stain aging hardwood floors to bring them back to life.
- Steam clean carpets or replace unsalvageable carpeting with a neutral, durable, and affordable selection.
However, don’t go overboard. Check with your agent about whether you should, say, replace the crown molding in the living room based on your home’s price point, the neighborhood, and comparable sales. “If it isn’t typical for the neighborhood, then it’s a waste of money,” Rodesiler says.
9. Boost your curb appeal
Improving your home’s exterior helps create a strong first impression before buyers even step inside your home. Simple updates like mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown plants, power washing surfaces, or adding fresh mulch can make your property look more inviting.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on major landscaping projects to make a difference. Even small improvements can make your home look clean, cared for, and ready for buyers:
Focus on the most impactful outdoor projects:
- Take care of the lawn yourself or hire a lawn care service professional to mow the yard and add fertilizer.
- Apply fresh mulch.
- Add simple landscaping.
- If your home lacks an outdoor hangout space, consider installing a simple patio.
- Paint the front door with fun colors, such as teal, red, or dark green, to create a welcoming focal point.
10. Estimate your net proceeds
Selling a home costs money, so it’s helpful to have an idea of the expenses before listing the property for sale. Sellers typically pay between 9% and 10% of the final sale price in closing costs to cover:
- Agent commissions
- Transfer or excise taxes
- Prorated property taxes
- Recording fees
- Escrow fees
- Seller concessions
You won’t know exactly how much you’ll take home until you receive your estimated settlement statement at closing with an itemized breakdown of fees and credits. But to get a ballpark idea of your costs and payout, follow these steps:
- Get a home value estimate. Use an online tool such as HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator as a starting point.
- Review your agent’s CMA for a more accurate gauge of your home’s fair market value. This is the price a buyer would be willing to pay for the home in today’s market.
- Subtract your current mortgage balance and selling fees from the sale price. Ask your real estate agent to prepare a net sheet to see the breakdown.
- Keep in mind that your estimate may change based on how negotiations go with the buyer and any unexpected costs that arise.
»Learn more: Don’t want to crunch the numbers yourself? Use our Net Proceeds Calculator below to quickly estimate how much money you could pocket after selling your home.
11. Plan your next move
Your home may sell faster than you can find your next one, so it’s smart to start planning your move early. Research neighborhoods, explore available homes, and get a sense of what you want before listing.
“Is it a short-term rental, staying with family or friends? We have a lot of people living with family and putting their things in storage,” Rodesiler says. “If a seller doesn’t have a contingency plan, they’re just not putting their home on the market until they can get one.”
There are several ways to handle the gap between selling your current home and moving into your next one. You can rent short-term, work out a rent-back agreement with the buyer, or line up your sale with when your new construction home will be ready. The earlier you think through your options, the smoother your move will be.
Another option is HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program, which helps you purchase your next home before selling your current one. That way, you can move when it works for you and avoid the stress of trying to line up two big moves at once.
Watch the video below to see how our Buy Before You Sell program works:
Here are the simple steps to using HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program:
- Apply in minutes with no commitment: Find out if your property is a good fit for the program and get your equity unlock amount approved in 24 hours or less. No cost or commitment is required.
- Buy your dream home with confidence: Once you’re approved, you’ll have access to a portion of your equity in your current home. You’ll be able to submit a competitive offer with no home sale contingency at any time, regardless of how long it takes to find your dream home.
- Sell your current home with peace of mind: After you move into your new home, we will list your vacant home on the market to attract the strongest offer possible. You’ll receive the remainder of your equity after the home sells.
While calculating those next moves takes time, knowing what’s ahead, much like preparing your home before listing, can relieve some stress from the process.
What you don’t need to do before listing
Before you put your home on the market, it’s easy to slip into “fix everything in sight” mode. However, many pre-listing tasks sound productive but mostly drain your wallet and your sanity. You don’t need to do these things before listing:
- Complete major renovations: A full kitchen or bathroom overhaul might feel like the obvious move, but it’s rarely a guaranteed payoff. Buyers often prefer a lower price and the freedom to redo things their way rather than live with brand-new finishes that don’t match their style and preferences.
- Fix every minor cosmetic flaw: Small imperfections like hairline cracks, scuffed paint, or outdated fixtures are expected in lived-in homes. Buyers typically focus on layout, location, and overall condition, not tiny details that are easy to change later.
- Replace older but functional systems: If your roof, HVAC, or appliances are working properly, replacement is usually unnecessary before listing. Buyers care more about functionality and remaining lifespan than about brand-new equipment.
- Stage every room professionally: You don’t need your guest room to look like it belongs in a design magazine. Clean, well-lit spaces with minimal clutter often photograph and show just as well.
- Make your home “perfect”: There’s no such thing, and buyers know it. A well-priced, honestly-presented home will outperform a “perfect” one that took months (and a small fortune) to prepare.
Make every pre-listing task count
There’s plenty to do and consider before listing your house on the market. But not every project is worth the time, effort, or money.
Focus on the most impactful tasks: decluttering, deep cleaning, addressing key maintenance issues, enhancing curb appeal, and hiring a knowledgeable real estate agent who can guide you through the process.
If you’re still looking for the right agent, HomeLight’s Agent Match tool makes it easy to connect with experienced real estate professionals in your area.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about pre-listing tasks
Not quite. Decluttering is about removing excess stuff and making your home feel cleaner and more spacious, while staging focuses on arranging furniture and decor to help buyers picture themselves living there. Decluttering is often the first step before staging your home.
You’ll want to remove enough items to make your home feel open, tidy, and easy for buyers to imagine as their own. This usually means clearing out closets, countertops, storage areas, and personal items like family photos. If you’re unsure what to keep, pack away anything you won’t need before the move.
The cost of preparing a home for sale can vary, but many sellers spend around 1% to 3% of their home’s sale price on updates, repairs, cleaning, and staging. You don’t need to tackle every project, though. Focus on improvements that make the biggest impact on buyers. A good real estate agent can help you decide where your money is best spent.
Homes that are priced competitively, in good condition, and marketed well tend to sell the fastest. A clean, well-maintained home with high-quality photos and a smart listing strategy can help attract more buyers. Working with an experienced agent can also help you avoid pricing or marketing mistakes that slow down a sale.
Header Image Source: (Jonathan Borba / Unsplash)
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