3 Things To Do Before Listing Your House

Once you’ve decided to move, the goal is to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. To ensure this happens, you’ll want to do some prep work before putting your current house on the market. Declutter, depersonalize, and stage your home to help potential buyers easily envision themselves living in your house. The whole process of moving is overwhelming, so I’m breaking down the steps you’ll need to take to prepare your home and make packing and moving as stress-free as possible. But first, let’s take a look at the stats…

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It’s worth the time and effort to prepare your home before listing. You’ll see the benefits of your prep work not only in the sale price, but also when it comes time to move all your belongings from one house to another. So here’s how to get started…

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Step 1: Declutter

When preparing for a move, the first thing you should do is declutter. You want potential buyers to feel there is ample space to meet their needs. You also want to avoid wasting time packing and moving items to your new home that you no longer need. Added bonus: you’ll save money on packing materials and moving costs.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete the task of decluttering. Once you get down to the wire, you’ll be more tempted to just throw everything in boxes and get it out the door, but this creates even more stress and work for you as you’re trying to get settled in your new home.

+ Tidy all closets—pack up excess linens, clothing, and other items that you can do without during the moving process. Removing seasonal items is a great place to start.

+ Reduce paper clutter around your home and immediately sort and file incoming mail. Keeping surfaces clean and clear will take a lot of stress out of preparing for showing appointments.

+ For even more ideas check out my Declutter Checklist.

Step 2: Depersonalize

If your home is filled with personal items it will be hard for other families to visualize themselves living in the space.

+ Pack personal items like family pictures and collectibles. You might consider replacing family photos with downloadable prints. (Etsy has great selections at affordable costs). Surfaces that once held collectibles or personal items can be styled with a stack of books or a vase of fresh flowers.

+ It’s also a good idea to pack up unneeded toys, craft supplies, and hobby materials as these may prevent a potential buyer from feeling at home in your space.

+ Buyers should be able to focus on your space and not be distracted by your stuff.

Step 3: Stage

I’ve seen first-hand the value of staging. Our first home sold in less than 7 days and I’ve given staging advice and assistance that has helped others land an offer in less than 24 hours. Something as simple as moving a piece of furniture may just net you thousands of dollars.

+ Painting is an affordable way to give your home a crisp and cohesive look. Choose a warm, neutral color to make your home feel spacious and inviting.

+ Be sure to show off your home’s lighting. Open the blinds and pull back the curtains so your home is filled with natural light. Additionally, make sure your light fixtures are clean and have working bulbs.

+ Use your furniture and decor to showcase how each room in your home can be used. In some cases, it’s best to pair down your furniture to make rooms feel more spacious.