4 Steps I Took Before Putting my House on the Market

I listed my house for sale not too long ago. Before I moved forward with putting the property up on the MLS so people looking to buy a home could find it, I took four important steps to get ready. Here's what they were.

1. Comparing the price and condition to recently sold homes

The first thing I did before listing my house for sale was take a deep dive into what my competition looked like. I wanted to see how my house stacked up in terms of others that recently sold in the area. This helped me determine if I needed to make any changes and also what price to list my property at.

I didn't want to have the most expensive house in the neighborhood for obvious reasons, nor did I want to leave money on the table. Instead, I decided to set the price at a competitive rate that was right around the average price that comparable homes sold for.

I also didn't want to over-improve my house or have it viewed as a fixer-upper, so I took a look at what upgrades and changes my neighbors had done and decided to make similar moves, like replacing the carpet in the bedroom with some nice (but inexpensive) tile.

2. Decluttering and depersonalizing the house

The next thing I did was declutter and depersonalize the house as much as possible. I've sold homes before and have received bad feedback from potential buyers if there was too much stuff in the closets or the kitchen. It makes people think there's insufficient storage.

I also know that if there's too much personal stuff around, it is harder for potential buyers to imagine themselves actually living in the property. And it can be more difficult to show off a home's best features.

Since I knew I would be moving anyway, I boxed up a lot of our personal items, along with our kids' toys, and put it all into the storage unit I would be moving the rest of our stuff into once the sale had finalized.

3. Improving the curb appeal

Next, I decided to make my house look as inviting as possible from the outside. That's because I know how much the first impression matters. I got some new mulch and planted a few nice colorful blooming flowers, and I also got a bright rug for my front porch. These made the house stand out from others in the neighborhood that looked similar and set the tone for the showing by letting buyers see right away that I'd taken a little extra care.

4. Considering where I'd live next

Finally, I did some research into where I would go next. I know that the market where I am looking to buy a home is still relatively competitive, although it has slowed down from last year. I wanted to be sure I would be able to afford to get a mortgage and pay for a house in my desired area. After all, the last thing I wanted was to sell my current home and discover I was priced out of living where I wanted because of rising property values.

By taking these steps, I ensured I was really ready to sell and maximized my chances of finding the right buyer who was willing to pay a fair price.