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Homeseller Checklist

Use this handy checklist to help you get organized and stay on track when you're planning to sell your home.

Find a real estate agent

  • Choose an agent. An agent can help you price your home, list it for sale, run open houses and showings, negotiate with buyers, manage paperwork, and more.
  • Choose for sale by owner. When you sell a home yourself, you’ll need to do the work that agents typically do. This, however, could save you money on commissions.

Prepare your home for sale

  • Remodel and repair. Making repairs and updates could help you sell your home faster and for more money. Consider getting a presale home inspection to help you plan.
  • Declutter, clean, and stage. A thorough cleanout and cleanup are essential to help your home show well to buyers. Consider staging your home for sale, too.
  • Take professional photos. Many homebuyers begin their search online these days. Good-quality photos of your home can help you stand out.

Choose the right price

  • Research comparables. Look at the prices of homes that have sold recently and are similar to yours. Real estate agents typically have access to these comps.
  • Consider repairs and renovations. Important repairs, recent renovations, fresh paint, and new carpets can all help you set a higher price.
  • Look at market conditions. The number of houses for sale in your neighborhood, interest rates, and the time of year can all influence the sale price.

Review offers and negotiate

  • Price. The price a buyer is willing to pay is often the most important consideration when you're reviewing bids, but it’s not the only one.
  • Contingencies. Bids can include home sale, financing, appraisal, and home inspection contingencies. Consider contingencies, as well as the price.
  • Prequalifications. You’ll want buyers to demonstrate that they can get approved for a mortgage and afford the down payment and closing costs.
  • Accept an offer. Once you’ve reviewed offers and negotiated, you’ll need to accept an offer with the price and contingencies that are right for you.

Get ready to close

  • Pay closing costs. You may need to pay agent commissions, transfer taxes, title transfer costs, title insurance costs, escrow fees, and other related expenses.
  • Gather documents. You may need the purchase contract, mortgage documents, property title report, HOA documents, property deed, tax and insurance information, and other documents.
  • Finalize your moving plans. You’ll need to move out before you can close. Include moving costs in your estimate of how much selling your home will cost.

FAQs

  • Many sellers work with a real estate agent to help them sell their home. You’ll need to prepare your home for sale by making necessary repairs, cleaning it thoroughly, and getting it ready for open houses and showings.

    You’ll need to choose a sale price, review offers, negotiate with buyers, accept an offer, and close the sale of your home.

    The checklist on this page can help you plan the sale of your home and keep you on track to reach your goals. Learn more by reading our article about how to sell a home.

  • Choosing a sale price for your home can be difficult. You don’t want to price it too low and leave money on the table, but you don’t want to price it too high and make it harder to find buyers. Try following these steps:

    1. Look at automated valuation models. These models use a database of home sales and statistical models to suggest prices for your home. Your agent may have a model. You can also use online tools that help you estimate your home's value.
    2. Research comparables. Real estate comparables, or “comps,” look at the location, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and age and condition of your home, compared to similar homes that have sold recently within your community. The sale price of these comparable homes can help you set the price of yours.
    3. Consider the specifics of your home. If you’ve made significant efforts to refresh and update your home, this work may help you set a higher price.
    4. Evaluate the market. When there’s either a buyers’ or sellers’ market in your community, this can influence the price you choose. Interest rates and the time of year can also affect the sale price.
    5. Decide how fast you'd like to sell. When you want to sell your home quickly, a lower price can help. When you can wait, you might choose a higher price. Learn more about pricing your home

  • When you sell a home, consider the costs of repairs, real estate agent commissions, closing costs, transfer taxes, moving expenses, and more. These costs can vary significantly from seller to seller. Learn more about the cost of selling a home.

    Also, remember that you’ll need to pay off any mortgage you have on your home when you sell it. Keep your mortgage payoff amount in mind when you're making plans.

  • Real estate agents can help you set a sale price for your home, as well as get it listed on websites and databases. Real estate agents can manage open houses and showings, review offers and negotiate, manage appraisals, disclosures, and other paperwork, and help you close the sale. Freedom Homes can connect you with a top real estate agent in your area.

    When you sell your own home, you’ll need to do the work a real estate agent would do for you. Keep in mind that you’ll typically save just half of the costs for agent commissions. That’s because sellers usually pay the buyer’s agent commissions. Learn more about selling your own home.