What Should I Do First If I'm Thinking About Selling?

Find out your number first: what your home might sell for, and what you would walk away with after the payoff and costs. Then decide roughly where you would go, and walk the house with a checklist before you fix or pack anything.

I am Delia Bayna, a REALTOR with eXp Realty in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is the order I walk my sellers through, and it keeps people from doing the expensive steps first.

Many people start by renting a dumpster, calling a painter, or pricing a new kitchen. Those can all come later, and some of them never need to happen.

The first step is information. Get an estimate of what your home might sell for, based on recent sales near you. Then ask for a net estimate: the sale price minus your mortgage payoff and the costs of selling. That second number tells you what you can afford next.

Start with a Salt Lake City home value estimate, and read what it actually costs to sell a home in Utah so the costs do not surprise you.

Selling a home can also have tax effects, especially if you have owned it a long time or it was ever a rental. I am not a tax advisor. Ask a CPA before you list, while there is still time to plan.

You do not need an address yet. You need a direction: a smaller house, a condo, a one-level home, somewhere closer to family, or renting for a while. Each one changes the plan.

Look at a few places before you list, even if you are not ready to buy. Seeing what a one-level home or a condo actually costs in the part of town you want makes the whole plan feel more real.

The biggest worry I hear from sellers is selling and having nowhere to go. There are several ways to avoid that gap, from selling first and renting for a short time to closing both on the same day. I lay them out in how to buy and sell at the same time.

Before you spend a dollar on repairs, walk the house with a checklist. In Salt Lake City, that walk starts outside: the roof, the gutters, where the downspouts drain, and the window wells. Then the water heater, which Utah inspectors check for earthquake straps every time.

Inside, go room by room. Look at it the way a buyer's inspector will, and write everything down.

Then sort the list into three piles: small things you can fix cheaply, bigger things to get a written bid on, and things to leave alone. Not every repair pays you back. Some are better handled with a credit or in the price. My guide to getting ready for a home inspection walks through the order.

If you have lived in your home a long time, the belongings are often harder than the house. Start with a room you do not use, like a spare bedroom, and go one room at a time.

If your home has a basement, it may be where decades of holiday boxes and snow gear ended up. Basements and garages tend to take the longest to clear, so they are good places to start early.

Give everything one of four places: keep, give to family, donate, or sell. Ask your family what they want before anything leaves the house. It saves hard feelings later.

You do not need a deadline to begin. My free downsizing guide breaks the stuff into steps.

When you are ready to talk to agents, ask each one how often you will hear from them, and how they will explain your options. You want someone who explains things until they make sense to you.

My answer to the first question: I call and email every client every Friday until the house is sold, whether there is news or not. I spent eighteen years as a teacher, and I still believe people make better decisions when they understand what is happening. See how I approach selling a home in Salt Lake City, and downsizing if you are moving to something smaller.

What is the first thing to do when you're thinking about selling your house?

Find out your number: what the home might sell for and what you would walk away with after your mortgage payoff and selling costs. Everything else depends on it.

Should I make repairs before I talk to a REALTOR?

Usually not. Walk the house with a checklist first, then decide what to fix, what to price in, and what to leave. Some repairs do not pay you back.

How far ahead should I start planning to sell?

Earlier is easier. Starting a few months ahead gives you time to sort, get bids, and plan your next place without a deadline.

Do I need to clear out the whole house before I list?

No. The house needs to be clean and uncluttered enough for buyers to see it. Some sellers move the last of their things in the final weeks before closing.

This article is general information and is not tax or legal advice. Talk to a CPA about the tax side of your sale.