10 Indispensable Steps to Prepare Your Home for Sale

June 17, 2024

An older man and a younger man sit amidst moving boxes, reviewing home preparation plans. They are seated in front of large windows with a ladder in the background, discussing the next steps for their project.
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You’ve decided it’s time to move.

Perhaps a new city calls your name, your family needs more space, or your tastes have changed. Whatever the reason for this shift, you’re likely eager to get settled in your new home—and doing so implies selling the place you already have. 

You’ll need to get your home in tip-top shape before going to market. These efforts pay off, helping your property attract buyers quickly and earn the sale price it deserves. Here’s our guide to ten indispensable steps that will help prepare your home for sale pre-listing.

  1. Make a plan (and be open to revising it) - As someone trying to sell their home, you have a lot on your plate. Make a plan for getting your home market-ready by setting reasonable goals that align with your timeframe and budget. Start by listing repairs or upgrades your home needs. Pay special attention to issues that could imply problems (and expensive fixes) for a buyer, like leaks, deteriorating paint or siding, or faults in air conditioning and heating units. Then, add optional items to your list, like aesthetic changes you’ll make with any remaining time and funds.

  2. Get a home inspection - Have your home inspected by a professional, who can identify issues you might not discover on your own. An inspector can spot electrical failures, improperly installed roofing or siding, and structural problems. Performing an inspection helps you pinpoint to-dos that should rise to the top of your home-prep plan. What’s more, most buyers want to know if a recent inspection has been done, and you’ll have information to show when someone asks.

A female architect wearing a white hard hat and holding blueprints inspects the ceiling of a room. She is pointing towards a specific area on the ceiling, ensuring quality and safety standards.

  1. Hire a real-estate agent - Meet with realtors in your area to find the right fit for selling your home. Selecting the right agent early in the home sale process benefits you, as you won’t have to scramble later. Plus, this person can provide valuable insights on your home and the local market. An agent might recommend prioritizing certain upgrades or help you determine what’s worth keeping as is.

  2. Refurbish - You don’t have to undertake a complete renovation before putting your home on the market. But some high-ROI (return on investment) or aesthetic home upgrades can boost property value. Renovated properties tend to sell faster, too. Put easy wins like exterior renovations that enhance curb appeal (i.e. landscaping and a new garage or front door) or repainting at the top of your upgrade list. Be sure to get renovations out of the way before crunch time, so you won’t need to rush to clean up dust, paint splatter, or debris.

  3. Declutter - It happens to all of us: over the years, our homes accumulate stuff—decorations, toys, kitchen tools, and so on. While these items might be purposeful or nostalgic for you, they look like clutter to someone else. Clutter distracts from your home’s best features—even making spaces look smaller. Get a head start on packing by boxing up items you don’t use, aiming to leave floors, counters, and other surfaces as clutter-free as possible. Organize books onto shelves and papers into drawers. The result is a tidier, more spacious-looking home, where viewers can appreciate details like hardwood floors or granite countertops.

A minimalist living room with a beige sofa, two blank picture frames on the wall, a wooden side table with a potted plant, and a modern hanging lamp. The room is bright and clean, reflecting a decluttered style.

  1. De-personalize - Potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves in a property. Help spur their imaginations by removing personal items and reversing hyper-custom home renovations (like that themed basement remodel). Repaint bold-hued walls in neutral tones, take down niche artwork and family photos, and remove personal decor. De-personalizing also allows you to further declutter your home, making it look even tidier.

  2. Deep clean - Put on your rubber gloves and start scrubbing or hire a professional to deep clean your home. Professionals have the know-how, cleaning products, and tools (like steamers or industrial vacuums) to leave your space spotless. But should you go it alone, add these essential tasks to your deep-cleaning checklist: 

    • Cleaning or repainting baseboards 

    • Scrubbing grout 

    • Removing stains or repainting ceilings (and walls if you haven’t done so already) 

    • Washing windows

    • Cleaning the toilets, tubs and showers, and sinks

    • Removing grime from kitchen appliances and shining stainless steel 

    • Cleaning upholstery 

    • Organizing and decluttering closets

    • Wiping down cabinets and drawers 

    • Shaking out rugs and vacuuming up dust and crumbs from under them

    • Moving furniture to clean the floors beneath

  3. Stage - Home staging means upgrading the interior design of your home with tasteful knickknacks, throws and pillows, flowers, kitchen items—anything that gives it design-magazine-level polish. You can even go so far as to rent trendy furniture or have an interior designer expertly stage your home. Forbes reports that buyers have an easier time imagining themselves in staged spaces and that staged homes sell faster, too. Plus, you can work on a budget (and without a design degree). Take inspiration from platforms like Pinterest or DIY home shows and consider the following micro-upgrades:

    • Put new towels, mats, and accessories in the bathrooms

    • Light candles or use home sprays to combat odors and give off a luxurious air

    • Swap out old area rugs for updated ones

    • Get aesthetically appealing vases and fill them with fresh flowers

    • Arrange books on art or design on coffee tables or nightstands 

    Bonus: You can take any staging items you buy with you to use in your next home.

  4. Get feedback - So, you think your house looks fantastic. It’s time to get a second opinion. Ask your real estate agent or a design-inclined friend to come by and give feedback. Remember that their ideas can make your home more attractive to a viewer. So, even if their recommendations go against your instincts, trust their know-how of the market, trends, and design.

A woman in a striped shirt and overalls sits on a gray couch, holding a pen and pointing to a cleaning checklist. Yellow cleaning gloves and other cleaning supplies are visible next to her.

  1. Make cleaning checklists (and stick to them) - Selling a home can take weeks or months, and you’ll want to keep yours clean throughout this time. That way, interested buyers can stop by whenever—and you won’t have to speed-clean. Stay on top of cleaning by using checklists for each area. For example, have a living room cleaning checklist that includes vacuuming carpets and upholstery, putting away toys and books, and wiping down surfaces. Make a bathroom list that details shaking out mats, hanging fresh towels, and removing grime from the sinks, toilets, showers, and floors.

Partner with a Titus agent for a successful sale

Boost your property’s appeal by repairing major issues, giving it an aesthetic refresh, and keeping it clean. By putting a bit of work in pre-sale, you’re prepping for a smoother, more financially rewarding transaction. Get sound advice on which upgrades to make by working with a top-notch agent.

Titus only partners with the best real estate professionals in the game. And when you work with a Titus-affiliated agent, not only do you get expert advice but you also gain access to an exclusive closing line of credit (CLoC). Titus offers zero-interest credits of up to $25,000 to help home sellers transform their properties into turnkey ones. Learn more at gotitus.com.