
DO
Clear Out & Clean Up
You want house-hunters to
imagine your house as their
own, so clear out the clutter.
Remove excess home décor,
pack up the collectibles, put
away the kids’ toys, and
eliminate pet evidence. You’ll also want to clean everything, from the baseboards to the ceilings and every spot in between. In addition, keep the house at a comfortable room temperature.
Update & Upkeep
Impress house-hunters with simple yet visually appealing updates. Inside, consider swapping out old light fixtures, painting dark walls lighter, and replacing dingy carpets. Outside, keep up with your yard work: trim bushes and trees, keep the grass cut or the driveway shoveled, and plant flowers or add greenery for a flattering first impression.
Organize & Categorize
Everything has a place. Arrange furnishings to complement the size, traffic flow and natural light of the room. If you’re not sure, consult a professional stager. You’ll also want to organize all of your paperwork: inspection reports, property disclosures, appliance manuals, etc. Then, categorize them in an easy-to-access binder for quick reference.
Respect & Respond
You may be partial to your home, but not everyone will be. Respect professionals’ (appraiser, inspector, stager, etc.) opinions on what changes can be made to make your home appeal to more people. Don’t be offended by a low offer; respond to the buyer and let them know the offer was too low but that you are serious about accepting a better one.


DON’T
Fall Behind
Selling your house is hard work. Don’t slack, stay up-to-date on your responsibilities. Keep your home clean and the yard well-maintained throughout the process. Once you find a buyer, don’t fall behind on bills; keep paying your mortgage and utility bills on time so you don’t have extra costs to cover at closing.
Get Ahead
It takes time to sell a house in today’s market.
Don’t try to get ahead of the trend and enter into negotiations with buyers who aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage. Don’t price your home excessively, listen to your agent and price it according to market conditions. Pricing it too high can keep it on the market and make it appear unattractive, flawed or stale.
Hide or Hover
Your house needs to be available, you do not. Don’t make your house unavailable for showings by requesting a day’s notice or not answering the phone or email. Your home needs to be ready when buyers are. Don’t hover around during showings. Buyers like their space and may feel awkward or uncomfortable sharing their thoughts with you present.
Do it All or Leave it All
Working with a real estate agent can be invaluable. Why try to do it all when you can hire a professional agent with the experience and expertise to do it for you? However, when you hire a real estate agent, don’t leave it all up to them. You’ll have a number
of personal responsibilities to manage to help make your home selling experience successful.
