It can be an exciting and overwhelming process when listing your home for sale. There is so much to take care of to get your home in the right condition for buyers to see. Whether your local real estate market is strong, and you are competing against many other homes, or you are the only home on your street for sale, there are a few key steps you should take to maximize the value of your property. Here are the top 5 things you should do before you list your home for sale.

Before doing anything, take a minute to walk through your entire home. Look at what things a buyer might notice such as stains on the carpet, rooms that need to be painted, holes in the wall, or pealed paint. While it can be difficult to notice these things as this is the home you have lived in, it is important to notice every little detail. You may need to have a friend come over or hire someone to do a walk-thru with you.

After you have done a walk-thru and seen what needs to be fixed, start the repair phase. Fix all of the cracks in the wall, repaint rooms that need to be painted, clean the carpets, and repair any hardwood floors that need done. The two areas that you need to really focus on is the kitchen and bathrooms, as these are the areas that buyers tend to scrutinize the most. After repairing everything that needs to be repaired, do a thorough house cleaning to make everything look new.

While this may sound ridiculous, homes sell better when the buyer can actually picture themselves in your home. What this means is take down pictures off of the walls that have your family in it and any other special belongings that buyers may not associate with. This does not mean you have to move out before you list your home. But try to make it so the buyer can actually visualize themselves in your home.

Believe it or not, rooms look bigger the emptier they are. Try to arrange your furniture to create as much open space as possible. And if you need to, remove extra furniture to create more space. The larger the house looks, the more willing people will be to pay for it.

The final thing you should do before you list your home for sale is do a home inspection. Doing a home inspection yourself instead of having the buyer do it has a number of advantages. First, it will prevent a buyer from putting a home inspection condition in their offer. Second, it will allow you to fix anything that a buyer may use to reduce your offer.