How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Buyers form an opinion within seconds of seeing your listing photos, and again within seconds of walking through the front door. Preparing well is less about expensive upgrades and more about removing reasons for a buyer to hesitate.

Start with a clear-eyed walkthrough

Walk through your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. Note anything that looks worn, cluttered or unfinished. Better still, have someone who does not live there do it with you.

Repairs worth making

Small, visible issues make buyers wonder what else has been deferred. Fixing them before listing is almost always cheaper than negotiating over them later.

• Leaky faucets, running toilets and slow drains
• Sticking doors, loose handles and broken blinds
• Scuffed walls and chipped trim (a fresh coat of neutral paint goes a long way)
• Burnt-out bulbs and mismatched light colors

Declutter and depersonalize

The goal is for buyers to picture their own life in the space. Clear countertops, thin out closets so they look roomy, and pack away most personal photos and collections. If it would not appear in a hotel room, consider boxing it up.

Curb appeal

The front of the home is the first photo in most listings. Trim landscaping, refresh mulch, clean the entry, and make sure the house number and porch light look cared for.

Consider a pre-listing inspection

An inspection before you list can surface issues on your timeline rather than the buyer’s. You can choose to repair them, price them in, or disclose them up front, which tends to make escrow smoother.

Photos, pricing and timing

Professional photography, an accurate price based on recent comparable sales, and a thoughtful launch date work together. A home that is priced well and presented well from day one usually attracts the strongest interest.

Not sure what is worth doing in your home? A walkthrough together can help you prioritize, so you spend only where it makes a difference.