Seller checklist
Selling a House Before the Holidays: 7-Step Checklist
Selling in late fall means shorter days, falling leaves and a busy calendar. This checklist helps your home look its best and keeps showings easy.
The checklist
- Choose your list date with your agent. Ask how long homes near you have been taking to sell this fall, then plan back from your goal date.
- Fix small repairs: dripping faucets, burned-out bulbs, sticky doors and loose handles.
- Rake leaves and clean the gutters. Clear walkways so the path to the door is easy and safe.
- Keep fall decor light and simple. A wreath or a few pumpkins is enough; buyers should see the home, not the decorations.
- Turn on porch and entry lights for showings. It gets dark early, so check outdoor bulbs and timers.
- Plan showings around your holiday events. Tell your agent which days are off-limits and keep a quick tidy-up routine for short-notice visits.
- Ask your agent for this month's local numbers: recent list prices, days on market and how many homes are for sale near you.
Before the listing photos
- Take photos before heavy holiday decorations go up.
- Open the blinds and turn on all lights for daytime photos.
- Put away personal items and family photos for a cleaner look.
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General information, not legal or financial advice.