8 Habits Of Successful Home Sellers

Selling a home is complex, whether you're doing it for the first time or have some experience with a prior sale. As with any complex process, it really helps to look at the habits of people who have navigated the process successfully in the past. While every home and market is unique, the basics — from prepping your home to keeping it ready to show — remain the same. Start your next home sale on the right foot with our guide to eight habits of successful home sellers.

1. Clean Your Home from Top to Bottom
   A clean home is an absolute must if you want to catch the attention of serious buyers, so start by doing a deep cleaning of the home from top to bottom. That includes the hidden corners, areas behind furniture, and lesser-used rooms of the home. Think spring cleaning on overdrive for every inch of your home.
   
   
2. De-cluttered Closets Make Buyers Swoon
   Storage space is a big priority for most buyers, no matter the size of the home. That means they want to see spacious, organized closets and storage areas. Donate unneeded items, rent a storage unit if needed, and consider a garage sale to clear clutter while raising some cash for your move.
   
   
3. Keep Up with Curb Appeal
   Buyers begin evaluating a home as soon as they arrive at the curb, so you want the outdoor areas of your home to be clean, attractive, and well-maintained. Stay on top of landscaping maintenance, keep your yard clutter-free, and make sure your home's entrance is looking its best.
   
   
4. Make Maintenance a Priority
   You don't want buyers to perceive the home as a "fixer-upper," so maintenance is a must. A pre-listing inspection can help identify any maintenance issues and allow you to address them before buyers arrive.
   
   
5. Tidy Up Daily to Stay Show-Ready
   All of the work that you have invested in cleaning, de-cluttering, and boosting curb appeal needs to be maintained over time so that the home is always ready to be shown to potential buyers. Make sure to tidy up daily, clean floors often, keep clutter at bay, clean up after pets, and freshen fabrics as needed.
   
   
6. Spread the Word Every Week
   The right real estate agent will help you promote your home online to the wider community of buyers, but you can also do plenty within your own personal network. Be sure to mention regularly on social media that the home is for sale, and mention it in person to friends who may help spread the word.
   
   
7. Respond to Offers Promptly
   With all of the effort put into preparing and promoting the home, it's likely that offers will follow. Buyers don't like to wait too long for a response, so be sure to respond promptly to serious offers.
   
   
8. Sit Down with Your Real Estate Agent
   No matter where you are in the process, your real estate agent should be your most valuable source of guidance and insight. Make it a priority to meet with or talk to your agent regularly to discuss strategy, find answers to key questions, and learn everything you can about the current real estate market.

Successful home sellers are willing to work through the process daily and look for every opportunity to present their homes in the best possible light. Behind most successful home sellers, you'll also find a successful real estate agent who provides marketing, guidance, and market analysis for the seller.

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