On the hunt for a checklist for selling a house? You’ve come to the right place.
As a top Denver Realtor who has set price-per-square-foot records in several local communities, I know a thing or two about selling houses. I’ll be the first to tell you – there’s a lot that goes into it, so a checklist for selling your house can be a very helpful tool.
If you haven’t sold a home before (or it’s been a while), staying on track during your home sale can be challenging. I’m here to help.
I’ve put together an in-depth checklist for selling your house to help you make it through your home selling journey without stress.
Ready to sell your house in Denver, Colorado? Get in touch with me at alana.hankins@compass.com or call 303.907.1500.
The Steps to Selling a House
From deciding you’re ready to list to making your home market-ready, navigating negotiations, closing the deal, and everything in between, selling your home is no small process.
To keep things easy, I’m breaking down my home selling checklist into four parts, covering the planning stages, how to get your house ready to sell, what happens once it hits the market, and the steps that come after selling.
Things to Do Before Selling Your House
Set Your Goals
You’ve decided to sell your house – that’s great! Before you pick up the phone and call a Realtor, take time to really think about what your selling goals are. For example, do you have a certain date that you’d like to be out of your house by? Are you trading your current home for something even bigger, or will you be downsizing? Consider this section a pre-listing checklist for sellers.
Having a clear outline and plan in this early, pre-listing stage will help give you a good idea of what you’re looking to accomplish will help you create an informed and well-thought-out plan for your home sale.
As part of this, consider where you’d like to live next. Buying a house is just as big a process as selling one. This step will help you prepare for that, too.
Find a Realtor
Next, it’s time to find an experienced and knowledgeable Denver Realtor who can help you reach your selling goals. This may sound simple on paper, but it’s important not to underestimate how significant the process of choosing a Realtor will be.
There are a lot of Realtors in Denver, but their degree of experience and expertise will vary drastically. So, instead of calling the first option you come across, it’s important to do your research and choose an agent who understands your needs, and matches your goals.
Preparing Your Home for Sale
Clean, Declutter, & Depersonalize
Every home needs a little bit of preparation before it hits the market, especially if you want to sell for top dollar. So, before you list, you’ll need to start getting your house ready to sell by doing a top-to-bottom deep clean and decluttering of the place. This includes both the inside and outside of your home – curb appeal is key!
Don’t forget to remove any items that are too personal or unique to you. The goal is to create a neutral space that appeals to as many buyers as possible.
Staging Your Home
Once you’ve created a clean slate, it’s time to add the final touches. Staging your home is all about making your house feel fresh and contemporary, allowing buyers to feel wowed when they see it and easily picture themselves living there.
Every Realtor has their own approach to staging, and most will coordinate this process on your behalf. When you interview real estate agents to hire, be sure to ask them about how they approach staging!
Looking for more advice on how to sell your house in Colorado? Explore these related blog posts.
- Selling a House in Colorado: How to Get the Best Price
- How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?
- Why Choose a Local Denver Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home?
When Your House is on the Market
Be Showing Ready at All Times
Once you’ve done all the hard work of cleaning, decluttering, and sprucing up your home, you’ll need to keep the place looking pristine while it’s on the market. You never know when buyers may want to see your home, so it’s a good idea to keep it showing-ready at all times. This is easier said than done, and it takes a lot of work, but it is important.
Keep an Open Schedule
Now that your house is on the market, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for buyers to visit (and hopefully fall in love with) it. The best way to do that is by keeping an open, flexible schedule for showings. If you keep your home clean every day while it’s on the market, this should be fairly easy.
After Your Home is Sold
We’ve gone over some of the things to do before selling your house, now it’s time to look at what happens after the sale.
Selling your home is a major achievement – one you should feel proud and excited about! However, there will still be a few more items on the checklist for selling your house, before you start celebrating.
Fulfill Remaining Terms and Obligations
After you’ve accepted an offer, you may have certain responsibilities or obligations to complete depending on the details or conditions of the sale agreement. For instance, the buyer may have the right to arrange a home inspection or appraisal of the property.
This is also a good time to start organizing all the key information and documents that the buyers will need when they take possession of the home (blueprints, records of renovations or repairs, warranty information, etc.).
Let People Know
With your move-out date on the horizon, don’t forget to notify important people and services about your change of address. Along with family and friends, you’ll want to update your personal information with your employer and essential service providers, such as your doctor, bank, insurance company, utility providers, postal services, and more.
Get Packing
This item on your checklist for selling a home may seem obvious, but it’s never too early to start packing and preparing for moving day – especially if your house has already sold. If you plan on hiring movers, you’ll want to book early so you don’t get stuck without help.
Selling Your House? I Can Help!
Ready to sell your home? I’m here to help. With more than 20 years of experience selling homes in Denver, my innate understanding of local buyers and their expectations is your ticket to a great home sale. On top of managing a smooth and efficient selling process, I’ll also help you get the most money possible.
Looking to make the most of your Denver home sale? Get in touch! Email alana.hankins@compass.com or call 303.907.1500 to reach me.
Book a Meeting with Me
Whether buying or selling a home in the Denver Metro area, my experience, local expertise, and market savvy can help you get the most from your next move. Book a meeting with me to see how.
