Reality Check: 9 Things to Expect When Selling Your Home

Buying your first home was full of surprises. But now that you’re a seasoned homeowner, you’ll know what to expect when selling your home — right? You’ll simply show the house to a few buyers, pick the best offer, wait for closing, and pocket some cash.

Not quite. As it turns out, selling can be tough — overwhelming, even. The home sale process involves a long list of steps, and your execution of each one impacts your final sale price.

As with most things in life, preparation is the key to a successful home sale. The more you know upfront, the better you’ll handle the responsibilities and emotions that crop up along the way. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of what to expect when selling your home.

For expert insight, we spoke with Kurt Thompson, a top real estate agent and former president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors®. With 27 years of experience under his belt, Thompson shared a few gems about navigating the home sale journey.

1. Decluttering takes time — but it’s an essential step

One of the first (and most important) steps to getting your home ready for sale is decluttering.

“Sellers don’t always understand the condition that their property should be in bringing onto the market,” says Thompson. “It’s very common for me to hear from my sellers, ‘Oh, my gosh! I didn’t realize I needed to do that to get my property ready.’”

Staging helps sell homes, according to 67% of agents surveyed by HomeLight. Even if you don’t get professional help in staging, you can improve how your property looks by clearing off flat spaces like your kitchen counter. You want homebuyers’ eyes on your Italian marble countertops, not your Starbucks mug collection.

Decluttering doesn’t just keep discerning homebuyers’ eyes from wandering; it helps make rooms appear bigger — a major selling point for buyers seeking more space.

To keep your stress level in check, give yourself plenty of time by decluttering well in advance of your sale. Depending on how much you own, you could spend an entire weekend, or even several weekends, turning your home into a clean slate.

And don’t forget clutter in your front and back yards: 58% of agents surveyed by HomeLight said outdoor improvements are critical. So tuck away the gnome collection and garbage bins before potential homebuyers drive up.

While decluttering is a sizable project, you’ll reap the rewards of your effort. Decluttering increases your home’s value. Plus you’ll be a step ahead of moving if you pack your spare belongings into boxes in the process.