5 Things to Do Before You Sell Your House

Things You Can Do Now to Get Your Home Ready for Sale

Question: What steps should you take to prepare your home for sale in the Kansas City market?

Snippet Answer: By starting early with strategic planning and home‑preparation—decluttering, deep cleaning, boosting curb appeal, doing minor repairs and getting the right professional by your side—you position your home to attract buyers, sell more quickly and command a stronger offer.

Partnering with Your Listing Strategist from Day One

As your REALTOR®, I step in as your strategist and sounding board before we even list your home. We’ll talk through your timing, goals, and budget, and I’ll help you:

• Evaluate your local market in the Kansas City region (Leavenworth, Platte, Wyandotte & Johnson counties).

• Review comparable recent sales and guide you in setting a realistic target price.

• Create a tailored “pre‑listing action plan” so you’re not caught scrambling at the last minute.

According to the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® (KCRAR), partnering with a REALTOR® early means you’ll better understand how to prepare your home and possibly shorten time on market.

I’ll be your resource every step of the way, helping you determine what improvements offer the best return and when to list.

Declutter & Deep Clean: Your Home’s “First Impression” Foundation

One of the highest‑leverage moves you can make early is to clear out clutter and give your home a serious clean.

• Go through each room and remove personal items, excess furniture, bulky décor and anything that distracts a buyer from imagining their life in the space.

• Schedule a deep‑clean: baseboards, windows, ceiling fans, tile grout, etc. A spotless condition signals quality and care.

• As we walk your home together, I’ll help you identify “hotspot areas” (closets, basement, garage) that most buyers will inspect; we’ll target those early.

Boost Curb Appeal & Exterior Presentation

In our Kansas City‑area neighborhoods, the exterior is your chance to make a powerful entrance. Here’s what to focus on:

• Spruce up landscaping: trim shrubs, clean up leaves, plant seasonal color. Even modest updates help.

• Refresh your front door, entry lighting, and porch/driveway appearance. A strong front‑door moment creates positive buyer energy.

• Make sure your home’s exterior condition aligns with what buyers expect – siding, roofline, gutters, and clean walks all matter.

When I walk through your home with you, we’ll consider what you can do in the coming weeks versus what might wait until after listing.

Strategic Minor Repairs + Neutral Cosmetic Updates

You don’t need to renovate every inch—but addressing some visible issues and choosing neutral finishes can help you command a stronger offer.

• Fix minor issues: leaky faucets, stuck doors, loose tiles. These may raise fewer buyer objections.

• Consider fresh, neutral paint in high‑traffic areas and ensure lighting is adequate and inviting.

• I’ll guide you on cost‑vs‑value: We’ll evaluate potential updates and decide which ones are smart investments, and which ones you can consciously skip.

Staging & Photography: Highlighting Your Home’s Best Features

Once your home is cleaned, decluttered, and well‑repaired, we’ll prepare it for listing visuals:

• Arrange furniture and décor so rooms feel spacious and flow naturally. Highlight unique features of your home (e.g., open concept, built‑ins, natural light).

• Utilize high‑quality photography (and possibly video/virtual tour) to capture your home in its best light. Listings with professional visuals tend to perform better online.

• As your listing strategist, I’ll coordinate scheduling and ensure your home looks its best on listing day.

Timeline & Key Milestones

Now

• Meet with your real estate strategist to clarify goals and timeline

• Begin decluttering and deep cleaning

• Walk through the home to identify priority areas

2–4 Weeks Before Listing

• Complete minor repairs and neutral cosmetic updates

• Refresh exterior and boost curb appeal

• Start light staging and depersonalizing rooms

1 Week Before Listing

• Schedule professional cleaning

• Finalize home staging

• Capture professional photography and video

• Review pricing strategy and go-to-market plan

Listing Day

• Home goes live on the MLS and major platforms

• Prepare for showings with lights on, home tidy, and marketing in full swing

Final Takeaway

Preparing your home to sell isn’t just about making it look pretty—it’s about making smart strategic moves early, so when you’re ready to list, you’re ahead of the pack. As your listing strategist and sounding board, I’ll help you navigate decisions, prioritize work, and execute a timeline that aligns with your goals in the Kansas City marketplace.

Ready to take the next step? Follow my YouTube channel—Living in Kansas City—for insider tips on preparing your home, understanding our local market, and making your next move with confidence. Let’s connect and get your home ready to shine.