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Selling a home can be a big task, especially if you’re doing it for the first time.
You may be planning on listing your home for sale later this year, but that doesn’t mean you should put off starting the process until then. There are several steps you can take now that will help you prepare to sell your home at the end of the year.
Also check out the five types of homes that are easiest to sell.
1. Repair and Update
Paul Epperly, President 2025 Greater Forth Worth Association of Realtorssuggests making minor repairs and applying some fresh paint to your home to get it ready to sell. “When you put a new coat of paint on your home or fix and clean items that look worn, it allows buyers to imagine themselves in the home and not think it will need a lot of work from day one,” he explained.
You can also make other cost-effective updates to enhance the look of your home, such as upgrading light fixtures and light switch covers.
2. Get a pre-inspection
Discovering hidden issues during the sale of your home can be stressful and costly, but you may be able to avoid that situation by identifying the issues now.
Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO and Broker eco fine propertiesIt is recommended to start with a pre-inspection, which may reveal issues that may complicate the sale of your home. “You just want to find the ugliness,” Lichtenstein said. “Fix them at your cost, rather than have the buyer cancel them or instruct you to make the repairs with the most expensive bid.”
3. Connect with a realtor or real estate agent
This is also a good time to connect with a realtor or real estate agent who can help you identify projects and upgrades to work on before listing. They can also discuss your budget, planned down payment, and plans for selling your home.
An experienced real estate professional can help you prepare and answer any questions you may already have.
4. Clean your house
Decluttering takes time and effort, so focus on decluttering now. “Once you’re under contract you’re going to have to clean out your closet,” Lichtenstein explained. “Do it now and make it more detailed and attractive.”
Lichtenstein also recommends making strategic purchases that can enhance the look of your home. For example, if you plan to buy a new bedspread after moving, buy it now.
5. Check Permits
According to Lichtenstein, permitting can be an unexpected issue that could lead to a decline in sales. If you disclose outstanding permits when you sell your home, that sale could potentially fail. “You don’t want to be at the closing table and a buyer wants to walk away or the HOA doesn’t approve because of open permits,” he explained.
Contact your town or city’s building department to verify there are no open permits on your property. If so, find out what you’ll need to do to get those permits approved.
6. Consider replacing the roof
You may also consider replacing the roof of your home.
Lichtenstein said he’s seeing roofing issues come up again and again. “In Florida, roofers often must be less than 15 years old to qualify for insurance, and thus, a mortgage,” he said.
7. Get Preapproval
If you’re planning to buy a new home after selling, you need to be prepared. “Now is the time to get pre-approved for a mortgage, which will give you a realistic budget for your home search and help solidify your offer,” Epperle said.
He also suggests checking your credit score, so you have time to dispute any errors you find. And don’t forget to work on preparing your down payment and gathering the documentation your lender will need.
“Homes can be listed and sold within a matter of days, and buyers who haven’t prepared their financing or don’t understand the market often struggle to keep up,” Epperley said.