Prepare your house and your family by knowing the things to do when selling a house. It'll help sell your house quicker and improve with resale value.
34 Important Things to do When Planning to Sell Your Home
![Exterior paint](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/fh01apr_extpai_01-15.jpg?fit=700%2C700)
Make Repairs
Now is the time to fix all of those nagging things that you just lived with. Inside the house, look for things like stained ceilings, missing tile, broken windows and doors, heavily scratched floors and other signs of neglect. Outside, look for broken or missing shingles, patio pavers and tuckpointing. If you have a deck, check for cracks in floor boards and loose railings. Make a list of everything you see and then decide which things you’re going to tackle. A real estate agent can be very helpful in determining what needs to be done and what doesn’t.
![Finish Projects](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH01MAY_CEILFA_01-1.jpg)
Finish Projects
![Create Curb Appeal](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH06JUN_469_50_210.jpg)
Create Curb Appeal
![Declutter](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NNB00_00_017.jpg)
Declutter
![Declutter Some More!](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dfh17jun049_shutterstock_595786370.jpg)
Declutter Some More!
![Think Neutrals](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH09JUN_PAIGEA_01.jpg)
Think Neutrals
![CLEAN!](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FEB_2008_005_T_01-1.jpg)
CLEAN!
![Rearrange Your Furniture](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH06FEB_465_50_098.jpg)
Rearrange Your Furniture
![Buy Fresh Flowers and Plants](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH09APR_497_00_002.jpg)
Buy Fresh Flowers and Plants
![Create a Welcoming Entryway](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FH08MAR_486_50_108-locker-storage.jpg)
Create a Welcoming Entryway
![Choose Low-Maintenance Materials](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_80066764_12.jpg)
Choose Low-Maintenance Materials
![Remove Personal Items](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_595956365_02.jpg)
Remove Personal Items
![Upgrade Lighting](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_554416279_03.jpg)
Upgrade Lighting
![Fix Pet Issues](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_266807555_04.jpg)
Fix Pet Issues
![Update Paint](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_355466180_05.jpg)
Update Paint
![Wash the Exterior](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FH01MAR_02249001.jpg)
Wash the Exterior
![Get a Home Inspection](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_341522738_10.jpg)
Get a Home Inspection
![Brag About Walkability](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/shutterstock_98814356.jpg)
Brag About Walkability
![Add Tech](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_657990076_13.jpg)
Add Tech
![Fix Fencing](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_333857390_14.jpg)
Fix Fencing
![Roof Repairs](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_121558315_15.jpg)
Roof Repairs
![Fix Cracks](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FH15APR_557_06_017.jpg)
Fix Cracks
![Remove Wallpaper](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FH09N0V_503_50_048.jpg)
Remove Wallpaper
![Update Hardware](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FH13FEB_535_10_009-1.jpg)
Update Hardware
![Clean Fabrics](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17sep035_576681397_20.jpg)
Clean Fabrics
![shutterstock_719336251 dogs drinking water bowl pets](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shutterstock_719336251.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Eliminate Pet Smells
Every once in awhile pets get into something they shouldn’t and lumber inside bringing a nasty smell indoors. One way to get rid of those bad smells is AtmosKlear. It can be spritzed directly on the pet!
AtmosKlear has no smell of its own. It doesn’t leave your room (or pet) smelling like flowers, cinnamon or incense. What the odorless formula does is eliminate, not cover up, smells. The formula is an oxidizer. It must contact the odor source in order to work. From pets to tobacco to general household odors to smelly carpet in your car, this stuff works great. It’s biodegradable, nontoxic and, according to the manufacturer, creates no problems for people sensitive to chemical air fresheners.
Bonus tip: Spritz AtmosKlear onto your furnace filter and turn on the furnace fan. You’ll freshen the whole house.
![Organize Closets](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/012017_Home_Staging_10.jpg)
Organize Closets
![Beige Living Room with White Couch traditional home decor ideas](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/shutterstock_7132396.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Simple Decor
It’s a good idea to keep the decor simple when selling a home. Sellers want to allow potential buyers to imagine the possibilities of a house. Distracting decor will turn buyers off from the thought of trying to picture how they can decorate a room.
![](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FH03OCT_03102_050.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Luxuriate the Bathroom
The bathroom can be a highlight of a house and when putting a home on the market, sellers should make it shine. A soaking tub can be the perfect place to unwind for a potential buyer. Make a bathroom feel like a spa.
![](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/shutterstock_538621282-real-estate-home-property-tax.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Prepare the Paperwork
Obviously the better prepared a seller is for a home sale, the easier it will go. That being said, don’t forget to have all the paperwork for the house organized and ready to go. Some of the paperwork that a seller will need includes: deed, homeowners insurance information, loan information, property tax statements, appliance warranties, title report, purchase agreement and any other information regarding the property.
See what goes into property taxes other than your money. It isn’t all for government and schools.
![](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FH071111_001_BYDLTT_05.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Landscaping
Creating curb appeal is one thing but try extending that idea to landscaping, too. Well-manicured landscaping will impress. Check out how athletic tape can make landscaping a ton easier.Â
![dfh6_shutterstock_448109434 kids broom kit](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/dfh6_shutterstock_448109434.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Plan Out Activities for Kids
Selling a house with kids requires a little extra planning because you’ll need activities for them while you’re out of the house. Find some quick getaway places like the library or a park while you have a viewing of the house. Just make sure you get enough notice ahead of time before a viewing.
You’ll need to remove a lot of things prior to a showing but get ahead of the game with these incredible toy storage ideas.
![](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/dfh17jun034_shutterstock_326432891-2-home-buying.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Research Agents
It’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion when trying to find a real estate agent. Many people work with the same agent they did on an earlier deal or use someone recommended by a friend or relative. Make sure to talk to others who have worked with an agent, you might be surprised what you find.
Make sure you avoid doing things like adding a sunroom when selling a house, it could cost you.