You plan to sell your home in a few months, or even sooner. You can imagine a thousand things you could do to improve the offer on your house before it is listed: replace the laminate flooring with tile, paint certain rooms in a color that matches the rest of the home, or fix the landscaping. As you continue to think about the situation, the more mental tasks will pile up.

It is important to know what projects to tackle and which to leave alone. These recommendations will help you to prioritize important pre-listing tasks. They’ll resonate with buyers, and ensure that the home sale goes smoothly.

1. Get rid of the clutter in your home

Declutter your home as early as possible before listing. You may be surprised to find that you have been keeping many things you could either rehome or discard. You can prepare your home for sale by decluttering.

A neat house looks good in photos, both online and in person. It also encourages buyers to submit a strong bid. Decluttering a house and doing a deep clean can add an average of $20,000 to its resale price, according to research.

2. Deep Clean Forgotten Areas

If you intend to live in the house you are selling, as most sellers will do, you should get into a regular routine of cleaning and quick tidy-ups to prepare it for buyers.

These tasks will be much easier if deep cleaning is one of the first things you do before listing your house.

Take a look at other areas in the house that haven’t received a thorough cleaning for ages and clean them now.

3. Tackle neglected maintenance

Your real estate agent will help you determine if major repairs are necessary, such as replacing an old roof that is 25 years old. This decision should be based on the budget. You can start small by making repairs to your home before the buyers arrive.

4. Collect repair and renovation records

You may have records of repairs, upgrades and renovations, including HVAC and fireplace services. Gather them now so you can show your real estate agent and appraiser.

You can make your house more appealing by proving that you have already invested the money and time to keep your home in good working order or to upgrade it.

5. Hire a stellar real estate agent

Hiring an agent should be your first priority when preparing to sell a home. This is even more important if you are selling a luxury property. The best time to contact a realtor depends on your desire to sell quickly and the state of your house. However, contacting a Realtor three months before you plan to sell your home will allow your agent to properly prepare it for sale.

Many companies offer free matching services to help you find the best real estate agents and Realtors. Select your agent carefully, no matter how you choose to do so. According to our internal data, the top 5% real estate agents can sell homes at up to 10% more than the average.

6. Consider a pre-sale inspection

You may not be aware of hidden problems in your home even if you are familiar with it. Consider ordering a pre-listing home inspection before listing your house so that you don’t get a shock after accepting an offer.

A home inspection can cost anywhere between $500 and $900, depending on the local real estate market. It also depends on how big your house is, as well as the experience of your inspector. But it will give you peace-of-mind if there are any major problems or deferred maintenance.

You can ask your agent to sell your house as-is if you do not have the funds upfront to pay for repairs. Or, request a cash offer instead.

7. Get a preliminary title analysis

The preliminary title report (or “prelim”) is a summary that informs you as the seller if you have any outstanding issues with your property. This will help you to decide whether or not you should put your home on the market. It’s also a precautionary document.

You won’t be allowed to close the sale of the house until the lien is cleared. This could be due to unpaid taxes, HOA or child support fees, other lenders, or any other reason.

It can be a long process to resolve title issues, so you should start digging as soon a possible.

The preliminary title search will also reveal any restrictions on the use of the property, including the types and number of vehicles that are allowed. This information is valuable to an agent before they list your property.

8. Do light, selective remodeling

It’s not news that buyers prefer turnkey homes, or homes that are ready to move in. Agents may suggest light renovation projects. The majority of buyers have already done this work in order to prepare their home for sale. They don’t want to be thrown into yet another round of chores.

However, don’t go overboard. Ask your agent if you should replace the crown molding in your living room, based on the price of your home, the area, and similar sales.

9. Enhance your curb appeal

According to 92% of the top real estate agents, curb appeal is a key factor in resale. Of course, landscaping can get expensive, so just focus on the essentials and things that don’t cost much.

10. Estimate your net proceeds

Selling a house is expensive, so you should have a rough idea of the costs before listing your property.

It’s not possible to know the exact amount you will receive until you get your estimated settlement statement with an itemized breakdown. Follow these steps to get an idea of the costs and payout.

• Get a home value estimate. Start with an online tool.
• Check your agent’s CMA to get a better idea of the fair market value of your house. Fair market value is defined as what an average buyer would pay in today’s marketplace.
• Subtract the current mortgage balance from the sales price.
• Remember that your estimate could change depending on the outcome of negotiations with the buyer or any unexpected costs.

11. Plan your next move

It could take longer to buy your next home due to the low housing inventory. So, you should plan ahead and decide where you want to live.

It takes time to plan your next steps, but knowing what lies ahead — just like how you prepare your home for sale — can reduce stress.

Pre-listing tasks that are important

Before you put your home on the market, there are many things to consider and do. Not every project is worthwhile in terms of time, money, or effort. Focus on the most important tasks: decluttering and deep cleaning, addressing maintenance issues, improving curb appeal, and hiring an experienced real estate agent to guide you.