11 Things to Do Before Listing Your Home That Are Worth the Effort

A few months from now, or maybe sooner, you plan to sell your house. And you can think of a million things to do before listing your home that might lead to a better offer: swap out the damaged laminate for tile, repaint certain rooms to match the rest of the house, fix the landscaping. The more you think about it, the more the mental to-dos mount.

It’s important to know which projects are worth tackling and what to leave as-is. We’re here to help you prioritize the big stuff with these recommendations for impactful pre-listing tasks that will resonate with buyers and ensure a smooth home sale process.

1. Purge the house of clutter

As early as a few months before you list, start decluttering your home. When you think about your kids’ toys and art projects, old bathroom toiletries, and stacks of mail, you might realize you’ve been holding onto many items that could be re-homed or discarded. Decluttering these can help you get your house ready for the market.

A tidy house presents well in listing photos and in person, and entices buyers to make a strong offer. According to HomeLight’s Summer 2023 Top Agent Insights report, decluttering and deep cleaning adds an average of $20,000 in resale value to a home.

“Buyers are usually looking forward to a new lifestyle, not just new walls and doors,” says Kendall Rodesiler, top real estate agent in Toledo, Ohio. “So, if we show them a lifestyle that just feels like clutter and chaos, they’re not going to be interested.”