Two months before listing, it’s time to put some of your initial plans into action and expand on any preliminary research you’ve done. 

Address repairs

Do you have repair projects you’ve been putting off? Now is the time to cross them off the to-do list. Spend a weekend fixing the leaky faucet, repairing the broken fence or patching holes. 

As you do this work, you’ll be in good company. According to the Zillow Group Report, the average seller makes 2.2 renovations or improvements to prepare to sell, and 79% of sellers make at least one home improvement. Only 21% of sellers list their home as-is. 

 

Declutter and donate

Starting the decluttering process now will save you from the last-minute scramble of getting rid of stuff right before listing. Donate or purge anything you no longer need. You might even consider renting temporary storage space to set aside things you won’t need until after you’ve moved. 

Since it’s early on, you don’t have to get rid of everything just yet. Simply prioritize and sort what you want to keep, store, toss or donate. You can even get some boxes and packing materials to start packing up items you won’t need before you move, like seasonal items. 

 

Create a marketing plan

If you plan to list your home on the open market, it’s time to get a marketing plan in place — whether you’re working with an agent or going FSBO. If you’re selling with an agent, you can help them by spreading the word on social networks, at work, and to family and friends. 

If you’re selling FSBO, you’ll have to build your own marketing strategy. Prepare to write a listing description, hire a photographer, advertise your listing, get your home listed on Zillow and Trulia, and make a plan for how you’re going to handle showings.   

 

Get paperwork in order

When it comes time to sell, you’ll need copies of permits for past renovation work, home warranty documentation, land surveys, tax bills and utility bills. Assemble these in advance so you don’t have to go digging around right as you’re preparing to list.One of the most important pieces of information you’ll need is your mortgage payoff amount. While the final amount will change a bit by the time you’re ready to close, getting an estimated payoff amount — including remaining loan balance, applicable interest and prorated property taxes — can help you determine how much you’ll profit when you sell. 

How to get your house ready to sell: 30 days before. When you’re one month from listing, it’s time to reassess the market. You should also take care of any last cosmetic upgrades and get your home staged so it’ll be ready for photos and showings. 

 

Set a listing price

You or your agent should run the comps about 30 days before listing to gauge your home’s current market value and set an appropriate listing price. Pricing your home too high could lead to a stale listing and a price reduction. In April 2019, almost 15% of all homes listed for sale nationwide had at least one price cut.

 

Start the staging process

At 30 days out, you should be finished with your decluttering process. Pack up lesser-used items, do a final pass at donating unused items, recycle or dispose of worn-out belongings, and move excess things to an off-site storage unit. With a blank canvas, staging your home is much easier. 

Go room by room and eliminate unnecessary furniture taking up valuable space. And avoid the temptation to cram things in a closet — buyers look for homes with ample storage space, and full closets can make it look like your home doesn’t have enough room. Aim to only use about 50% of your available closet space. PaintPainting your home a month before listing is the perfect time — the walls will still look freshly painted when your home goes on the market, and you’ve already done some of the packing and moving, so you won’t scratch or damage newly painted walls. Painting a home’s interior is one of the most common pre-listing tasks. According to the Zillow Group Report, 36% of sellers paint the interior before selling. When painting to sell, it’s best to choose a light neutral tone. We found that homes with light-taupe living rooms sell for $2,793 more than expected. 

 

Create curb appeal

The exterior of your home is the first thing buyers see, both online in listing photos and when they see your home in person. Poor curb appeal can even cause a potential buyer to decide it’s not worth coming inside. Given the high stakes, it’s no wonder that 29% of sellers landscape before listing their homes for sale. Improving curb appeal can be as easy as planting some flowers, edging the lawn, painting the front door, changing outdated hardware or light fixtures, and adding accent lighting. 

How to get your house ready to sell: 2 weeks before

 

Do a deep clean

Have your carpets professionally cleaned. And in addition to your regular weekly cleaning, you should clean windows and screens, disinfect bathrooms and polish kitchen appliances. 

Don’t forget — you’ll need to clean regularly the whole time your home is on the market, so this isn’t a one-time task. Don’t pack cleaning products in boxes yet, but make sure you can easily tuck them away after you’ve used them each time.

Hire a professional photographer

Whether you’re selling with an agent or on your own, professional photographs are a must in today’s market. Check to see if your photographer can also capture a virtual 3D house tour to give your listing a boost in online views. Before your appointment, make sure rooms are sparsely furnished, depersonalized, bright, welcoming and photo-ready. 

 

Plan for showings

Think through the logistics of private showings. Will you allow lockbox tours? How much notice does your agent need to give you for a showing? Where will you go during showings? (It’s best that the homeowner isn’t present.) Where will you store valuables like jewelry, documents and medications during showings?

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All info and more can be found at https://www.zillow.com/sellers-guide/getting-house-ready-to-sell/