See what I can afford 
Ownership costs new vs. used 
Get my credit score 
Calculate my mortgage 
Get pre-approved 
Prep my home for sale 
Homeowners insurance 
Get offers on my home Prep Home for Sale
When it comes to selling your home, a lot work happens behind the scenes before the “for sale” sign goes up. While you may bring in a real estate agent to handle the details, you and are still responsible for a lot of the heavy lifting involved in getting your house ready to sell — especially if you want to get the most out of the sale. A home in tip-top shape will command the best offers.
Find trusted local pros for any home project.
How do I prepare my home for listing?
Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work on making your home sale-worthy. Zero in on the most necessary repairs and renovations. Address any glaring issues, such as dirty bathroom tiles, worn-out carpets, or dated kitchen cabinets. Repair the leaky faucet, the creaky door, and the broken window frame, and give your home a deep cleaning so it’s sparkling and odor-free. Prospective buyers are going to be curious about closet space, depth of cupboards and the spaciousness of each room. Help them visualize how they would fit into your home by decluttering so they have a clean slate to work with. Freshen your exterior with some landscaping, a fresh coat of paint, and a tidy yard.
With Home Advisor, you can see which renovations could improve the value of your home, and search for professionals that can get the job done.
Sprucing up your home’s exterior will bolster curb appeal and give potential buyers a great first impression. Small touches such as planting colorful flowers along the entryway and mowing your lawn can make a big impact. Other touch-ups include trimming hedges; cleaning doors, light fixtures and windows; power washing where possible; and placing a large and pretty welcome mat at the front door. Ensure that the home’s exterior is welcoming and well-kept, as people are naturally drawn to beautiful, inviting outdoor living spaces and landscaping while house-hunting. Use black mulch in flowerbeds, as red mulch is too bright and detracts from the home.
Frequently asked questions
Homeowners trying to decide on the right price for their home can refer to resources, such as a Comparative Market Analysis report, which provides a comprehensive look at how much similar homes have recently sold for in their neighborhood, along with online home value estimators, and listings and sale prices for similar homes in their area.
No, some homeowners decide to sell their home without an agent – however this means they’re responsible for the home-selling process from creating and posting a listing, marketing their home, preparing for open houses and viewings, and negotiating on price.
Before viewings and open house events, deep clean your home so it’s sparkling clean and stage each room, making sure to put away any personal belongings. Don’t forget about curb appeal – tidy up the outside of your home by mowing the lawn, repainting the fence, and tending to your garden.
At closing, both buyer and seller sign the final paperwork documents, which is when you’ll officially hand over the title to the property while your buyer’s payment is processed. Your title company will take the funds to cover off transaction costs and commission, and the remainder is credited straight to your account or in a check.
