Start here
- Decide what your sale needs to make possible before choosing a launch date.
- Prioritize preparation around the actual property, rather than a generic renovation list.
- Gather information early so pricing, presentation, and your move can be discussed together.
Begin with timing and priorities.
Think about your ideal move, any next purchase, and the practical steps between now and handing over the keys. Decide what matters most to you, whether that is a particular timeline, the details of a transition, or room to prepare.
- Are you coordinating a purchase, a move out of the area, or time away from the property?
- Which dates are fixed, and where do you have flexibility?
- Who needs to be part of decisions about the sale, preparation, and access for showings?
Walk through with fresh eyes.
Look at light, storage, small maintenance needs, and how people move through each space. Make a practical list before committing to projects. Ask which improvements make sense for your specific home instead of assuming a major renovation is necessary.
- Separate routine cleaning and maintenance from larger projects that need an individual discussion.
- Consider entry areas, light, room function, storage, and the routes visitors will take through the home.
- Before spending on improvements, ask how the scope, expense, and timing relate to your particular sale.
Gather the useful details.
Collect records you already have for repairs, maintenance, improvements, warranties, and any association documents. Keep questions about condition or required disclosures for the appropriate professionals. Organized information helps support a smoother conversation.
- Create a folder for repair and improvement records, warranties, manuals, and available property documents.
- List questions about past work, condition, permits, or association responsibilities for the relevant professionals.
- Keep sensitive account and identity documents separate from information intended for public marketing.
Treat pricing as a property-specific decision.
An asking price should reflect the home, its condition, relevant comparable properties, and the market at the time you are ready. Online estimates can be a starting point for questions, but they do not replace a current, individual review.
- Be ready to discuss the home’s current condition, recent changes, and features that affect comparison with other properties.
- Ask which comparable properties are relevant and why; a nearby address alone does not make a useful comparison.
- Discuss how you will review the response to the home once it is introduced to the market.
Build a plan for presentation and communication.
Discuss photography, preparation, showing arrangements, and how you want to receive updates. Talk with Erika about the steps that fit your circumstances and how to get ready for the decisions ahead.
- Talk through photography readiness, showing access, pets, belongings, and your preferred communication method.
- Make a realistic list of what needs to happen before the home is ready to be presented.
- Discuss how offers and the steps after acceptance will be communicated, including questions you want explained in advance.
Keep it practical
Bring to a first selling conversation
- The property address and your preferred timing
- A list of recent maintenance and improvements
- Your questions about condition or preparation
- Any documents you already have organized
- Details of a next purchase or coordinated move
This guide is a general planning resource. Property details and individual circumstances vary. For questions about a specific transaction, consult the relevant real estate, lending, legal, inspection, or other qualified professionals.