If you’re selling a house while looking for a new one, working, and taking care of children or elderly relatives, you need organization tools! Stay on track with our detailed home selling checklist to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Prior to Listing

Get started before you put your house on the market. Having all your ducks in a row will make the selling process smoother and quicker. Here is a pre-listing checklist for selling a home:

Assemble Your Financial Documentation

Getting the necessary paperwork together will help you feel more organized and prepare you to answer questions from buyers and buyers’ agents as they arise. Get electronic and hard copies of:

• Mortgage balance, so you know exactly how much you still owe, and to calculate your potential net proceeds when you get an offer.
• Property taxes and condo/ HOA fees to show to buyers so they know what their ongoing costs will be.
• Receipts for major improvements and new appliances which can help justify your asking price.
• Homeowners insurance details in case buyers and lenders ask about past claims or issues with getting insurance coverage.
• Warranty paperwork and manuals for appliances and systems so buyers can see that these big-ticket items are still covered.
• Permits for improvements, additions, and renovations.
• Property surveys and boundary maps, if appropriate.

Property Evaluation and Bigger Repairs

Every checklist for selling a home should include doing needed repairs. These can take time and be a bit messy, so you’ll want to take care of these before any showings:

• Arrange a pre-listing home inspection to identify potential problems that you may be overlooking or that you’ve gotten so used to that you don’t notice them.
• Fix any safety hazards or major functional issues such as exposed wiring, loose railings, leaky taps, or missing smoke detectors.
• Replace or remove appliances that are clearly non-functional, dirty, or rusty.

Interior Fixes

To get ready for showings, use this checklist when selling a home:

• Declutter and depersonalize all your rooms to help potential buyers imagine themselves living there. Create a neutral environment where buyers can easily picture their own furnishings and décor.
• Deep clean everything, including the carpets. Not only does a spotless home look well-maintained, but it will appear move-in ready; buyers won’t have to worry about spending weeks cleaning before they can even move in. Professional cleaning is a great investment if you don’t have time to do this yourself.
• Paint your walls in a neutral color where needed, covering up any bright accent walls.
• Ensure all your light fixtures work and can illuminate the space to its best advantage. Make sure all the light bulbs in a room are the same color.
• Address odors from pets, cooking, or smoking. You may have gotten accustomed to these, so have your real estate agent or a neighbor tour your home and give you honest feedback.
• Stage the key areas of the home, such as the living room and primary bedroom.

Exterior Cleaning and Updates

The outside of your home and your landscaping are the first things buyers will see. Use this exterior selling home checklist to get your home ready for showings:

• Trim your hedges and mow your lawn, weed and add fresh mulch to flower beds.
• Get some bright potted plants to make the entrance more appealing.
• Power wash your siding, driveway and walkways.
• Ensure the front door and entry are safe and welcoming. Consider repainting the door, replacing the hardware with a fresh modern set, and getting a new doormat to make the home look well cared for.
• Replace spongy or loose deck boards, and make sure deck railings are stable.
• Spruce up exterior living spaces to make them look inviting.

This part of your home selling checklist will take time to complete, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Take the time to properly evaluate your home and schedule your fixes to proceed at a steady pace.

Marketing Your Home

Once you’ve gotten your home ready to show, it’s time to start getting eyes on your listing. Here are some key steps for your “getting my home ready to sell” checklist:

• Hire an experience real estate agent that will use quality photography (not just cell phone pictures). They will take multiple high-quality images that present your home in flattering lighting and from the best angles. Since most homebuyers browse listings before touring any homes, excellent photography is the way to stand out from the competition.
• Ask about virtual tours and video walkthroughs to help buyers tour the house at their own pace. These tools can be especially helpful for out-of-state buyers who are building a shortlist of homes to visit when they’re in town.
• Get drone photography or video for large lots and properties that are near appealing features such as lakes, rivers, and forested areas.
• Review your listing details to make sure nothing was missed, and the best aspects of your property are highlighted.
• Gather information about the neighborhood, the school district, and local amenities to showcase your home in its context. Why leave it up to buyers to do this research when you can present it to them yourself?
• Prepare information that includes neighborhood information, floor plans, utility costs, property tax bills, and a list of recent updates. 
• Make a list of things you love about your home so your real estate agent knows how to market the lifestyle your home offers.

Selling a home can be a flurry of activity, but with a detailed selling home checklist, you can stay on track for a successful sale and closing. Work closely with your real estate agent to make sure you’re not missing anything; they’ve been through this process many times and will give you excellent guidance!