15 Things I Would Do Before Listing My Own Home
If I were putting my own home on the market tomorrow, I wouldn't start by buying a bunch of new furniture or remodeling the kitchen.
I'd start by looking at my house the way a buyer is going to see it.
That's harder than it sounds.
We stop seeing the pile by the door. We don't notice the scuffed baseboard we've walked past 700 times. We know why the dining room has become the Amazon-return staging area, but buyers don't.
After more than a decade in real estate and walking through thousands of homes, I've learned that preparing a house for market is usually less about adding and more about editing.
Here are the 15 things I would do before listing my own home, including a few products I would actually use to make the job easier.
1. I Would Walk Through My House Like a Buyer
Before touching anything, I'd leave the house, come back through the front door and pretend I had never seen it before.
What do I notice in the first 10 seconds?
That's my 10-Second Front Door Challenge.
I'd look at the front door, porch, smell, lighting, entryway and first sightline into the house.
Those first few seconds matter.
2. I Would Remove More Than I Think I Need To
I'm not talking about making your house sterile.
I'm talking about giving buyers enough visual breathing room to see the house instead of your stuff.
Counters, bathroom vanities, nightstands, bookshelves and kitchen islands would all get edited.
And no, moving everything into the garage isn't necessarily the solution. Buyers want to see that too.
3. I Would Attack the Closets
Buyers open closets.
A stuffed closet doesn't say:
“Wow, they have a lot of clothes.”
It says:
“This house doesn't have enough storage.”
I'd remove off-season clothing and anything I wasn't going to use before moving.
🏆 BEST OVERALL: Matching Slim Hangers
What I use: HOUSE DAY Black Velvet Hangers 60 Pack, Premium Non Slip Clothes Hangers
Why I like it: Matching slim hangers instantly make a closet look more organized and can create noticeably more usable hanging space. They're inexpensive, easy, and photograph far better than a collection of wire, plastic, and department-store hangers accumulated over 20 years.
Who should skip it: If you're moving within days and the closet is already sparse and organized, don't create another project.
See My Pick → [Amazon affiliate link]
4. I Would Declutter the Kitchen Counters
The coffee maker can probably stay.
The air fryer, toaster, blender, knife block, paper towel holder, vitamin collection, utensil crock, mail basket and three decorative signs probably don't all need to.
Counter space sells kitchens.
I'd leave enough to make the kitchen feel lived in, but not so much that buyers wonder where they'll prepare dinner.
5. I Would Deep Clean Things We Usually Ignore
Baseboards.
Doors around the handles.
Light switches.
Cabinet fronts.
Bathroom grout.
Inside appliances.
Window tracks.
The area around the toilet nobody wants to discuss.
Clean doesn't necessarily make buyers offer more money, but dirty gives them reasons to start mentally deducting money.
💲 BEST BUDGET BUY: Detail Cleaning Brush Set
What I use: [14Pcs Small Crevice Cleaning Brush Set, Groove Gap Cleaning Tool]
Why I like it: A small detail brush reaches the places a rag doesn't, especially around faucets, window tracks, grout and trim. This is one of those inexpensive products that can make a surprisingly visible difference.
Who should skip it: If you're hiring a professional deep-cleaning company that handles detailed work, let them handle it.
See My Pick → [Amazon affiliate link]
6. I Would Fix the Little Broken Things
Loose doorknob.
Burned-out bulb.
Cabinet door that doesn't close.
Dripping faucet.
Missing switch plate.
That drawer you have to lift, pull left and whisper encouraging words to before it'll open.
Fix it.
Little neglected items make buyers wonder what bigger things have also been neglected.
7. I Would Make Every Room's Purpose Obvious
If you have to explain:
“Technically this is the dining room, but right now it's my office, Peloton room, gift-wrapping station and where we're storing Grandma's china…”
we have work to do.
Every room should tell a buyer what it is within seconds.
8. I Would Get Serious About Lighting
I'd open curtains and blinds, clean the windows and replace burned-out bulbs.
I'd also watch for mismatched bulb temperatures.
One icy-blue bulb next to two warm-yellow bulbs can make a room feel strange, even when buyers can't identify why.
👍 EASIEST TO USE: Consistent LED Light Bulbs
What I use: [Stepless Dimmable A19 E26 LED Edison Bulbs, 60 Watt Equivalent 5000K]
Why I like it: This is one of the simplest improvements on the entire list. Consistent lighting makes rooms feel cleaner, brighter, and more cohesive, especially in listing photography.
Who should skip it: Don't replace perfectly good matching bulbs throughout an already well-lit home just to replace them.
See My Pick → [Amazon affiliate link]
9. I Would Deal With Odors, Not Cover Them Up
Pets. Cooking. Smoke. Basements. Teenage bedrooms.
Homes have smells.
Do not attack them with six plug-ins and a candle called Vanilla Cinnamon Cookie Explosion.
Find the source.
Clean it.
Neutralize it.
Then keep the house smelling simply clean.
10. I Would Look at My Bedding
Bedrooms occupy a lot of real estate in listing photos.
Busy bedding, piles of decorative pillows and worn linens can make the entire room feel dated.
I'd simplify.
⭐ BEST VISUAL UPGRADE: Crisp Neutral Bedding
What I use: [Amazon Basics Lightweight Breathable Wrinkle-Free Brushed Microfiber 3-Piece Bed Sheet Set with 14-Inch Deep Pockets, Twin, Bright White, Solid]
Why I like it: Simple, light bedding can visually calm an entire bedroom and make listing photos feel brighter. You can also take it with you, so unlike some staging expenses, you're not necessarily spending money solely for the sale.
Who should skip it: If your existing bedding already photographs beautifully, keep your money.
See My Pick → [Amazon affiliate link]
11. I Would Edit My Personal Photos and Collections
You don't have to erase every sign that humans live there.
But 47 family photographs can turn a showing into a tour of your family tree.
I'd keep some personality while reducing anything that distracts buyers from imagining their lives in the house.
12. I Would Check Every Room Through My Phone
This is one of my favorite tricks.
Stand in the doorway and take a picture.
Look at the photograph instead of the room.
Suddenly you'll notice the cord, trash can, crooked artwork, cluttered nightstand, or giant dog crate you've stopped seeing.
Your camera can be brutally helpful.
13. I Would Steam the Things That Need Steaming
Curtains, bedding, table linens and fabric can photograph terribly when they're wrinkled.
This is a small detail, but staging is full of small details.
💎 BEST SPLURGE: A Quality Garment/Multipurpose Steamer
What I use: [DRFLASH 2 in 1 Handheld Garment Steamer and Iron for Clothes Travel Size]
Why I like it: A good steamer is faster than dragging out an ironing board and can be useful for bedding, curtains and clothing long after the listing photos are finished. This is one of those products I wouldn't buy solely to sell a house, but I love when something earns its keep afterward.
Who should skip it: If you'll genuinely never use a steamer again, borrow one or ask whether your stager has one.
See My Pick → [Amazon affiliate link]
14. I Would Spend Money Where Buyers Will Actually Notice It
This is where sellers can get themselves into trouble.
You don't necessarily need new countertops.
You don't necessarily need new flooring.
You definitely don't need to buy every staging product someone recommends on Instagram.
Before spending thousands of dollars preparing your home, I'd want to know:
Will this expense improve the way buyers perceive the property enough to justify the cost?
Sometimes the answer is absolutely yes.
Sometimes it's absolutely not.
That's where having someone who understands your specific market and buyer pool matters.
15. I Would Bring in My Realtor Before I Thought I Needed One
This would actually be one of the first things I'd do.
And no, I'm not saying that simply because I'm a Realtor.
I see homeowners spend money preparing their houses before calling an agent, only to discover they spent $4,000 on something I wouldn't have recommended while ignoring three things I would have addressed.
You don't need your house ready before calling me.
Preparing it is part of the process.
My 5 Picks for Getting a Home Market-Ready
For readers who just want the quick answer, I'd summarize the affiliate recommendations here:
🏆 Best Overall Matching slim closet hangers - https://link.amazon/B0dQS6laQ
💲 Best Budget Buy Detail cleaning brush set - https://link.amazon/B0bWenpQp
👍 Easiest to Use Consistent LED bulbs - https://link.amazon/B04BP5jrF
⭐ Best Visual Upgrade Crisp neutral bedding - https://link.amazon/B0gcLCbdW
💎 Best Splurge Quality multipurpose steamer - https://link.amazon/B0d1Mr7Lv
Before You Buy Anything...
Here's the part I really want sellers to remember:
You may not need to.
Your home doesn't need to look like nobody lives there. It needs to look cared for, spacious, functional, and easy for the next person to imagine living in.
And the preparation I'd recommend for a $300,000 condo isn't necessarily what I'd recommend for a $900,000 home.
Before you fill an Amazon cart or start ripping things out, let's figure out what will actually make a difference.
Thinking About Selling in Central Ohio?
If you're considering selling in Columbus, Lewis Center, Powell, Delaware, Westerville, or elsewhere in Central Ohio, you don't need to wait until your house is “ready” to contact me.
That's when I want to see it.
We can walk through it together and determine what should stay, what should go, what might be worth changing and, just as importantly, what isn't worth spending money on.
Let's Talk About Your Home →
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I believe are worth considering.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
