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Jul 24, 2023

Steps to Take Before Listing Your Home

If you’re considering selling, this is the best time to do so. Inventory across our region is down and buyer interest is up. To learn more about our local real estate market, and to prepare your home to earn top dollar when its sold, speak with a Realtor, your local real estate expert. They’ll survey your home, create a CMA (comparative market analysis), and discuss what you should and shouldn’t do prior to getting your home listed. (Learn more about CMA’s.)


We think your Realtor will agree with the following checklist:


Minor Repairs

While major repairs are often best left to new owners, minor repairs can make a world of difference in your home’s perceived value to prospective buyers. Take a thorough inventory of potential repairs to discuss with your Realtor. A leaky faucet, for example, is a low-cost repair that has big benefits to buyer perception. Ripped window screens are also low-cost, high-impact repairs.


Other things you might consider updating:



Oil squeaky hinges. Install new cabinet door handles or polish the existing ones. Patch holes in drywall. Clean or replace showerheads to optimize water pressure.


Read our recommendations on which home repairs that are best left to professionals.

man with checklist

Remove Your Personal Touch

Buyers don’t mind a home that’s lived-in, but they need to be able to envision themselves living there more than they see your personal stamp. Declutter and depersonalize the space and aim for a neutral atmosphere. Pack up and store family photographs, heirlooms, political effects, and anything that might be seen as a reflection of your personality.


And when packing up the things that you treasure most prior to listing your home, plan to store these items elsewhere if possible. Use larger storage areas, like your unfinished basement or attic, or under beds and sofas, if renting a nearby storage unit is not a feasible solution. Don’t stuff the closets or cabinets to give the illusion of more space.


Accent Positive Features

With your Realtor, decide on the most desirable features of your home and work to spotlight them. Remove throw rugs from beautiful, finished hardwood floors. Pare down visible clutter in pantries and closets to show the spaciousness of storage and add thoughtful lighting to accentuate the space. Create a welcoming entryway, inside and out, for a great first impression. Address your outdoor seating area with the same focus on design as indoor seating – and stage indoor and outdoor living space with neutral décor and vibrant plant life.


Read more about how to enhance your curb appeal in a few easy steps.

woman mopping floors surrounded by cleaning supplies

Clean Everything

Once you’ve repaired the basic broken things, removed personal effects, and highlighted the most beautiful features, clean everything. It may be worth hiring professionals to have everything done perfectly. Steam-clean carpets, rugs, and furniture. Get the kitchen and bathrooms sparkling and smelling fresh. Dust the baseboards and trim. Launder all fabrics. Use a furniture polish to dust larger, wooden surfaces. Wipe down the windows inside and out.


Address unpleasant smells by cleaning, not covering them up. Your house must smell clean to feel clean, which makes a significant impact on buyer first impressions.


Read why now is the time to list your home in our New York regional market.


Set the Stage

Many Realtors are home-staging experts, and some will even bring an outside company in to stage your home for you. Follow the advice you receive, whether it relates to repair work, decluttering, accenting, cleaning or simply moving or removing furniture. It is often difficult to objectively see a room as others see it if you’ve been living in the space for more than a few months, harder still to see a room’s potential. Take the advice of the experts that know for sure what will and will not matter to a prospective buyer. Even if the market is leaning in the sellers’ favors, you’ll want to do the most you can to maximize your home’s value.

woman walking with pillow in the bedroom

Related Article: A Checklist for Selling Your House [INFOGRAPHIC]

Related Article: Downsizing May Be Rightsizing for You

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