Seller's Preparation Guide

What to do before the sign goes in the yard. Walk the home with your agent first, then work the list.

Declutter and depersonalize

• Decide whether you need a dumpster or a storage unit. Most homes need more clearing out than the owner thinks. Plan on a weekend or two.
• Clear counters, closets, and surfaces. Buyers open closets and picture their own things, so half-empty space reads as larger. Aim for lived-in but barely.
• Take down the personal photos and the very personal decor. You want buyers imagining their life here, not studying yours.

Clean and repair

• Deep clean top to bottom. Plan for a serious clean or a one-time pro service, because clean photographs and shows far better than tidy-but-grimy. Kitchens and bathrooms matter most.
• Fix the small visible things. A dripping faucet, sticky door, burnt-out bulbs, scuffed switch plates: each is small, but together they whisper deferred maintenance.
• Touch up or repaint where it shows. Fresh neutral paint is one of the highest-return moves you can make, and tired or bold colors cost you.
• Handle the repairs worth handling, and skip the ones that are not. Some fixes pay you back and some never do. This is exactly what the pre-listing walk-through is for.

Curb appeal

• Tidy the yard and make the entry inviting. Trim, mulch, sweep, and freshen the front door, because the first impression happens before anyone steps inside, online and at the curb.

Get ready to list

• Gather your documents. Pull recent utility costs, appliance manuals, warranties, and any HOA info, because buyers and their agents will ask.
• Get ready for the seller's disclosure. In Michigan you will note the home's known conditions, and the honest path protects you later.
• Stage the key rooms and be photo-ready before the photographer arrives. The living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom carry the listing. Photos are the first showing for almost every buyer.