Hi friends! We recently sold our home, and because selling is a big decision many people are facing this year, I invited our family friend and realtor Kelly Aufhammer (who helped us sell our Seattle home) to share practical tips for preparing a house for sale.
PS. The photos in this post are the real estate photos from our home. We’ll share a future post with more images and explain the staging choices we made while mostly using the furniture and accessories we already owned.
Welcome Kelly and her husband Will to The Inspired Room!
Thinking about selling can feel overwhelming. We’re Kelly and Will Aufhammer, and we help homeowners in the Seattle area prepare properties for the market to get the best possible results. The Inspired Room’s style—lived-in but beautiful—paired with a focused preparation plan helped us get an outstanding outcome for Melissa’s house: it was on the market six days, received multiple offers, and sold for 25% over the list price.
There are many elements to a successful sale. Here are seven practical tips to prep your home to sell:
Whether you plan to sell in the next few months or a few years from now, these steps will help position your home to attract buyers and achieve a strong result.
1. Talk with a Realtor: Many homeowners hesitate to meet with an agent because their house isn’t perfect yet. A skilled realtor will create a tailored strategy and coordinate the preparation from start to finish, regardless of the current condition. They can schedule trusted vendors early—many are booked weeks or months out—so involve your agent as soon as you start considering a sale.
2. De-personalize: Removing personal photos and overly personal decor helps buyers imagine themselves living in the home. If you plan to live in the house while it’s listed, depersonalizing reduces the sense that visitors are intruding and makes it easier for them to picture their own lives in the space.
3. Declutter: Selling means you’ll eventually pack and move, so start now. Sort closets, donate or discard items you no longer need, and pack nonessentials into boxes stored in the garage. Buyers expect to see a lived-in home, and a packed garage is common and acceptable.
4. Deep Clean: A thorough clean makes a significant difference. Lingering odors, dusty baseboards, and grimy countertops can immediately turn buyers off. A spotless home removes a common objection and helps buyers focus on the space rather than cleanliness issues.
5. Update Light Fixtures: Replacing dated fixtures is an affordable way to modernize rooms and improve overall appeal. Retailers like Amazon and Wayfair offer many budget-friendly options. Your realtor can advise on finishes and styles that create a cohesive look throughout the home.
6. Professional Photos: Most buyers first encounter homes online, so high-quality photography is essential. Poor images often cause buyers to skip a listing. Ask your realtor to help you hire a professional photographer—great photos attract more interest and show your home at its best.
7. Staging: In many markets, staged homes—vacant or staged with furniture—present better and often sell for more. Hire a reputable stager; inexpensive or poorly executed staging can harm a sale. Your realtor can coordinate staging services to ensure the home looks appealing and cohesive.
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Melissa here—thanks Kelly! This advice was invaluable. Our sale exceeded our expectations, and our approach to homeownership has always balanced creating a peaceful, livable home with making smart maintenance and aesthetic investments that offer a return when the time comes to sell.
Even with careful preparation, a successful sale often requires a strategic realtor to manage the many details of a real estate transaction. Buyers can be demanding and market competition varies, so having a professional team to guide decisions and handle logistics makes a big difference.
Best of luck if you’re preparing to sell your home soon!
Kelly and Will Aufhammer are realtors based in Seattle, Washington.
