Parting with your house can stir a mix of emotions—from nostalgia to anxiety—but navigating the journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Getting well-acquainted with every phase of the sale, from prepping the property to sealing the deal, sets you up for a hassle-free experience. To guide you through this venture, we’ve crafted a comprehensive rundown of must-do tasks for sellers to tackle before, during, and after closing, so you’ll know exactly what lies ahead.
Pre-Listing Essentials: 5 Crucial Moves
- Recruit a savvy real estate professional
- Boost your home’s exterior charm
- Clear out clutter and refresh inside spaces
- Hide away personal mementos
- Contemplate expert staging
Recruit a savvy real estate professional
Before setting your home on the market, securing an agent who truly understands your local scene and brings seasoned expertise is paramount. Don’t rush this step—research and interview until you find someone who will adeptly shepherd you through each twist and turn of the selling process.
Boost your home’s exterior charm
Since your property’s first impression hits buyers at the curb, investing some elbow grease into landscaping and outdoor tidiness pays dividends. You don’t need a big budget; small touches make a big splash:
- Slap on fresh paint on your front door
- Power wash windows and façade
- Mow the lawn and tidy up greenery
- Swap out or refresh the mailbox
Clear out clutter and refresh inside spaces
While you might be comfortable in a controlled chaos, potential buyers crave a neat and airy feel. Tackle tidying with intent—sort belongings, donate what’s surplus, and resist merely shoving stuff away. Since buyers will pry open closets, basements, and attics to gauge storage, consider renting a storage unit as a temporary hideaway for your extras. Cosmetic touch-ups—like patching peeling paint—also add polish without a full renovation.
Hide away personal mementos
Personal touches can distract or unintentionally alienate buyers. Pack away items that carry heavy religious, political, or familial associations to help visitors envision the space as their own canvas. Valuables and sensitive papers—think financial docs or cherished jewelry—should also be tucked safely out of sight.
Contemplate expert staging
If design isn’t your forte, bringing in a pro to artfully arrange your interiors can make a huge difference. Sometimes your agent might have a go-to stylist to recommend, smoothing the path to an inviting, buyer-friendly vibe.
While Your Home Is Listed: 3 Smart Strategies
- Maintain open lines with your agent
- Stay adaptable throughout negotiations
- Keep your home showroom clean
Maintain open lines with your agent
Once your home hits the market and showings roll in, keeping in sync with your agent is crucial. Be upfront about your goals and expectations. If you’ve already vacated the property, you might miss out on some showing notices, but your agent should keep you informed on how many folks are peeking in, the interest level, and any offers on the table.
Stay adaptable throughout negotiations
Homes rarely fly off the shelf overnight. If your place lingers longer than expected, lean on your agent’s insights. Being open to tweaking your asking price or trying fresh marketing angles can make a solid difference in drawing buyer attention.
Keep your home showroom clean
If you’re still calling the house home, staying on top of cleanliness is non-negotiable. Buyers can pop in with little notice, and a messy space makes it tough for them to imagine themselves living there. Plus, as Gray points out, a well-kept home cuts down on buyer demands for last-minute repairs.
Post-Offer Acceptance: 3 Steps to Stay Ahead
- Finalize signing on the purchase agreement
- Meet any contingencies laid out
- Begin the packing process
Finalize signing on the purchase agreement
Once you accept an offer, signing the purchase agreement locks in the terms—a binding document that both sides endorse to define the sale’s conditions. Your agent and the buyer’s counterpart will comb through the contract to ensure all essential clauses and contingencies are included. It’s wise to review everything thoroughly, perhaps with a legal expert, to dodge any surprises.
Meet any contingencies laid out
Buyers often attach conditions to their offer, like repairing a dishwasher or addressing water damage. Your purchase agreement will specify these contingencies, and you must resolve them to keep the deal on track. Should these requirements go unmet, buyers typically have the legal right to walk away.
Begin the packing process
Still living under the same roof? Time to roll up your sleeves and start boxing up your belongings. Since closings usually take 30 to 60 days unless the deal’s all-cash, you have a decent window to get organized before handing over the keys.
Before Closing: 4 Tasks to Tackle
- Gather all pertinent paperwork
- Book a professional cleaning service
- Coordinate the final walk-through
- Disconnect and shut off utilities
Gather all pertinent paperwork
Get ready by collecting key documents—operating instructions for smart home gadgets or security setups, for example. Buyers might also request less obvious paperwork such as surveys, inspection findings, water quality analyses, or radon test results. “Sellers are generally expected to provide all relevant documents,” notes Gray. Coordinate with your agent to have these ready well ahead of closing.
Book a professional cleaning service
Once the last of your things are packed and out, hiring a cleaning crew can seal the deal. Sellers are usually obliged to deliver the property in a “broom clean” state—think sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and even defrosting and wiping out the fridge. “Buyers typically expect a professionally cleaned home, carpets included,” says Gray. Aim to schedule this a few days before closing.
Coordinate the final walk-through
Buyers usually conduct a final inspection right before closing to confirm the house’s condition matches promises—checking repairs, testing appliances, opening doors, and so on. Although you don’t need to be there, ensuring the home is prepped and spotless is your responsibility.
Disconnect and shut off utilities
After you’ve moved to your new digs, remember to turn off utilities like gas, water, electricity, internet, and cable. If the home will sit empty for a stretch, terminating or transferring these services prevents unnecessary charges. The incoming owners will then set up accounts under their names.
On average, homes in the U.S. spend about 65 days on the market, though this figure fluctuates widely based on region, condition, and pricing strategies.
Deciding to sell your home is monumental, often accompanied by a drawn-out timeline. Even in a thriving market, a swift sale isn’t guaranteed. Factors such as your property’s upkeep, neighborhood trends, and how competitively you price will influence outcomes.
By staying informed, maintaining good communication with your agent, embracing necessary changes, and exercising patience, you’ll put yourself in the best position for a smooth, successful sale. Methodically checking off these tasks transforms what might feel like a maze into a clear-cut path forward.
