How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Unlock the secrets to prepare your home for sale with simple steps that attract buyers and increase your home’s value.
There are three things you should do before selling your home:

Have a professional inspect your home.
Make any needed repairs and updates.
Improve your home’s look, both inside and outside.

Table of Contents

Have Your Home Inspected

A home inspector is a professional trained to examine the interior and exterior of a home to uncover problems such as broken appliances or faulty plumbing. Though your buyer will hire an inspector to inspect your home later in selling, you should commission your inspection immediately. That way, you can make repairs or upgrades before showing your home to potential buyers. Clearing up problems before you list can prevent your sale from hitting a snag when the buyer conducts their inspection. There are two types of inspections you should think about getting:

Interior and exterior inspection: This checks things like the foundation, insulation, kitchen, bathroom, plumbing, heating, cooling, electricity, walls, roof, and gutters. It usually takes two to three hours and costs around $325, depending on the size and location of your home.

Pest-control inspection: This looks for signs of pests or mold and usually costs between $75 and $150

How to Find and Select a Home Inspector

Learn how to prepare your home for sale with expert advice on staging, repairs, and more to ensure a successful sale.

Hire an independent inspector who isn’t connected to your real estate agent. A good inspector can save you money later and should:

Be a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Have insurance to cover mistakes made during the inspection.
Give you a detailed written report.
Allow you to attend the inspection.
Provide references and have happy clients.

Make Necessary Repairs and Upgrades

The home inspection may reveal problems you’ll need to resolve by making repairs or upgrades. Many sellers err by refusing to make investments in their homes because they no longer intend to live there. This shortsighted view can be costly because the buyer (or their inspector) will most likely uncover the problems you were reluctant to fix and charge you for them anyway.

Many sellers have to lower their prices during negotiations if buyers find repair or upgrade needs in the inspection. Here are two tips for making repairs and upgrades before selling:

If you can afford it, do the repairs and upgrades before listing your home. This can help avoid problems later, making your home look more modern and appealing to buyers.
Some agents suggest offering buyers credit for repairs or upgrades instead of doing them yourself.

That way, buyers can decide who does the work, what upgrades to make, etc.

If you don’t have the money to make repairs and upgrades, Disclose major problems to potential buyers immediately and reduce your asking price to accommodate the expense of resolving those problems. For instance, if your home needs a new $3,000 furnace, your asking price should be $3,000 less than comparable homes in your area.

Improve Your Home’s Appearance

You can take a few steps to improve your home’s appearance before you begin showing it to potential buyers. These improvements can sometimes allow you to ask for a higher price.

Improve your home’s curb appeal: Spend a little time and money on fixing up the outside of your home. This helps make a great first impression on buyers. You can improve curb appeal by painting the exterior, keeping the lawn and garden neat, and cleaning the windows, driveway, and sidewalks.

Replace carpet and paint: If you’re improving the inside of your home before selling, it’s a good idea to have the walls painted and carpets replaced. These updates make your home look newer and will likely leave a positive impression on buyers.

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