Putting your home on the market is a big decision to make, and one that involves a lot of time, energy, and preparation. My goal as a Realtor is to help make that process as fast, easy, and stree-free as possible for you and all my seller clients.

If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market soon but aren’t sure where to begin, you’re in the right place.

How to Sell Your Home: 14 Tips to Prepare to List

Whether your home needs minimal touch-ups or significant repairs, these tips should help you gain a better understanding of the kinds of tasks and projects that are important as you prep to enter the market.

That said, every home is different. When it comes to preparing to sell, no two listing are the same in terms of what needs to be don’t to make those homes shine in their fullest potential. If you have specific questions about your own home (maybe you’re wondering if that kitchen remodel is worth it or not?) you can always reach out to me personally.

But now, without further ado, here are 14 tips for selling your home.

1. Nail your first impression

First impressions really do count. Your goal is to wow your potential buyers from the minute they pull up to your house. 

Some refreshing of your landscaping can work wonders on your home’s curb appeal, so you’ll want to mow the lawn, trim bushes and trees, perhaps add some new flowers, freshen up mulch, and consider adding an inexpensive feature such as a fountain. 

If you have any deferred exterior maintenance, like faded or peeling paint, damaged screens, or cracks in your front porch or sidewalk, it’s likely worth the investment to take care of it. 

You don’t want to give your buyers a reason to walk away before they even get inside the front door.

2. Consider repainting your interior

Paint is relatively inexpensive and has a massive impact on the feel and appeal of interior space. Repainting your interior with light colors will make your home feel larger and more modern. Neutral colors and tones will appeal to the most buyers. 

3. Declutter inside and outside

Not only does clutter leave a bad impression, but it makes your home look smaller. 

Before your listing is live, go through everything—in the yard, the garage, and inside your home—and get rid of anything that isn’t essential. Your goal is clean counters, especially in the kitchen, and half-full closets so everything looks bigger!

If you just can’t part with those non-essentials, put them somewhere they won’t be seen. Remember that potential buyers will open cabinets, so store them where people won’t be peeking or consider renting a small storage unit while your home is on the market. 

4. Look closely at your kitchen

Most buyers walk into a home and head straight for the kitchen—it’s the heart of the home and the most expensive to upgrade. 

While it’s likely not cost effective to do a full-blown remodel, there are some basic things you can do to update and increase the appeal of your kitchen, such as install new countertops  or upgrade an appliance (or two). We understand that it’s not cheap, but if done wisely, this investment could pay for itself and then some. 

5. Improve your interior lighting

A light and bright home conveys a cheerful and healthy living space. Natural sunlight is always preferred, so open those curtains or blinds before showings. If you have dark corners that don’t get a lot (or any) natural light, use lamps to create a warm, cozy glow.

Also, change out all of your lightbulbs to warm light with the same wattage to provide consistent lighting throughout your home. You'll also want to make sure all your light switches are functional prior to any showings — if you have lots of switches on one panel, consider labeling them to help potential buyers (and their Realtor!) explore lighting with ease.

6. Deep clean your home

A dirty home can definitely turn buyers away, so before you start showing your home, do a deep clean that includes the inside of cabinets and eliminates any odors (got pets?). We recommend hiring a professional cleaner who knows exactly what to do and how to do it.

If your carpet is looking dingy, get them professionally steamed as well so you can (hopefully) eliminate new carpet as a future negotiation point. 

And, don’t forget those windows. Sparkling windows and clean sills make a huge difference in the presentation of your home.

Once everything is clean, use an oil diffuser to keep your home smelling fresh and bright. 

7. Repair anything that’s broken

When it comes to repairs, proactiveness and transparency go a long way in preventing lower offers, re-negotiations, or a fall out of escrow. The less that’s found in personal and professional inspections, the better position you’ll be in for a seamless closing.

8. Use professional photos

Remember the power of first impressions? Your listing photos are the very first visual that potential buyers will get, so you’ll want them to be stellar. Investing in professional photography with a real estate photographer is a must, which is why all my seller clients receive complimentary professional photography for their listings.

Video and 3D virtual tours are also popular listing marketing tools these days, so be sure to discuss those options with your real estate agent.

9. Consider staging your home

Depending upon your local market, staging to sell your home with fashionable furniture and accents may make a huge difference in the sale of your home, particularly if your property is vacant. 

You can’t count on buyers having vision. With designer decor and furniture in place, they are able to see the potential of your home and will be able to envision themselves living there.

Complimentary staging is another service I offer all of my seller clients. We want to make sure your home looks enticing and move-in ready for potential buyers. 

10. Price it right

An optimal list price is key to the timely sale of your house. If it’s priced too high, you might not get a lot of activity and this can make potential buyers wonder if there is something wrong with the property. 

Your agent will run a comparative market analysis to help you list your home at a price that's backed by market data and insights. 

The bottom line—rely on your agent's skill and expertise when it comes to pricing your home.

11. If you have a pet, remove them from the home during showings

Believe it or not, there are people who don’t like pets—and you also want to ensure yours are safe. For these reasons, you’ll want to plan on taking your pets somewhere they are comfortable and safe while your home is being shown. 

12. Keep your emotions in check

Of course, you’re emotional about your home. We all are. But when it comes time to sell it, being objective is crucial. The sooner you can begin to emotionally disassociate from your home, the faster you'll be able to make clear, well-informed decisions. 

Envisioning your future home and the happy memories you will make there will help make this emotional transition easier. 

13. Accommodate the buyer and be flexible

While your home is listed, getting yourself in a flexible and accommodating mindset will help you negotiate better, minimize stress, and get through the selling process quickly. Work with your agent to block off showing times that you know won’t work for you, but do your best to always be show-ready and eager to get potential buyers through the door.

14. Hire a reputable and successful real estate agent

Choosing the right real estate agent is the most important tip for selling your home as it impacts every step in the process. 

Not only can a professional Indianapolis real estate agent help you sell faster and help you command a more competitive price, they can also make the overall experience easier, more efficient, and less stressful.

The home selling process can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. I can help you manage all the ins and outs of the selling process so you can feel confident about your decision to list. If you’re curious what your home is worth, or what projects you should prioritize now while you’re waiting to list, let’s talk. You can always give me a call, or send me an email and I’ll get back to you in no time.

Thanks for reading!