Before your home goes on the market

Your pre-listing checklist.

Before spending on updates, let’s walk your home and look at nearby competition. Use the checklist to get organized; you don’t need a finished house or completed checklist for our first visit.

Call Harry · (469) 515-1939 Send your address and moving plans →

Harry Hasnat · REAL Broker · Dallas–Fort Worth

(469) 515-1939 · Harry@HarrysHomeGuide.com
HarrysHomeGuide.com/seller-pre-listing-checklist/

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Do first · no spending required

1. Put the move in order.

Your address and an idea of when you’d like to move are enough to start our conversation. Here’s what happens during our first walkthrough.

Write down your preferred moving window and anything that needs to line up with it, such as another purchase or a temporary place to stay. Make a short list of known condition concerns, unfinished projects and work you’re considering. If the home was listed before, gather the old listing, photographs and any showing feedback you kept. Talk with Harry about the home and arrange a walkthrough before committing to major preparation work.

A new kitchen, replacement flooring or a bathroom remodel deserves a property-specific discussion. We can weigh the cost, disruption and timing against the homes a buyer could choose instead. Read what to fix before selling for the decisions behind the checklist.

Gather what you have · before the listing details are written

2. Give the improvements their paperwork.

Photographs show the rooms. Records help explain the work behind them. Put available documents in one folder and note the questions we need to resolve.

Gather invoices and reports for roof, HVAC, foundation, drainage, plumbing, electrical and pool work, as applicable. Find available service records and warranty terms, including transfer information; use documented dates when describing replacements. Locate plans, permits and other records for additions, converted spaces or substantial alterations. Find any existing survey and tell Harry about changes since it was prepared, such as a fence, pool, addition or outbuilding. Gather applicable HOA or condo documents, current assessment information and contacts for the association or manager. Review the Seller’s Disclosure Notice and any other notices that apply to your sale with Harry; bring your condition notes and questions.

An existing survey may need updating or replacement; we’ll confirm what is acceptable for the transaction. If the home was built before 1978, bring available lead-paint records and ask which disclosures apply. The TREC Seller’s Disclosure Notice is an official starting point.

Low-cost preparation · start with what you already own

3. Let the rooms show.

The living room, kitchen, main bedroom and outdoor areas are a useful place to begin. A sofa hiding the fireplace or a counter covered with appliances can make a room harder to understand.

Pack surplus furniture, extra decor and items you won’t need before moving; keep everyday essentials easy to reach. Clear kitchen and bathroom counters, bedside tables and the main entry, leaving only a few useful items. Clean floors, counters, fixtures, mirrors and accessible window glass; pay attention to the rooms buyers will see first. Arrange furniture so people can walk through comfortably and see the fireplace, windows and doors. Replace burned-out bulbs and keep bulb colors consistent within a room where practical. Tidy the entry, weed visible beds, trim plants blocking the approach and arrange patio furniture to show the outdoor space.

Skip buying a houseful of new furniture or replacing every finish by default. We can look at presentation with what you have, then discuss any changes worth considering.

Safety and condition · investigate before covering up

4. Separate repairs from decorating.

A stain, leak or movement concern needs a different conversation from choosing paint. Tell me what you’ve noticed so we can identify the right next step.

Note active leaks, recurring stains, drainage issues or other unresolved concerns, and gather any previous evaluations. Clear trip hazards and check the steps, walkways, doors and lighting people will use during a showing. Check existing smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms according to their instructions, including batteries where applicable. Before authorizing substantial work, discuss the scope, written estimate and any permit questions with Harry and the appropriate qualified professional.

Permit requirements depend on the work and the property’s jurisdiction. We’ll identify the relevant city resources rather than assume one set of rules covers all of DFW.

Before the photography visit

5. Prepare the frame, room by room.

I personally photograph homes with the sale in mind, choosing the angles and sequence for the listing. Your preparation gives the photographs a clearer view of the home’s layout and details.

Take a quick phone picture from each room’s doorway; check for blocked paths, crowded surfaces and distractions. Put away papers, medicines, valuables and personal photographs you prefer to keep out of the listing images. Stow visible bins, hampers, chargers, loose cables, pet bowls and everyday bathroom products. Make the beds, straighten dining chairs, reset cushions and do a final check of mirrors and glass. Move vehicles out of the front view and clear outdoor toys, hoses and tools from the areas being photographed. Confirm the photography time and access with Harry, arrange for pets and flag any areas that need special handling.

Leave the final light, shade and camera decisions to our photography visit. For examples of how rooms and outdoor spaces can be presented, explore the sold homes portfolio.

Before the listing goes live

6. Make showing days manageable.

The goal is a routine you can keep up while you’re still living in the home.

Agree on showing availability, notice preferences and any scheduling limits with Harry. Confirm the agreed access arrangements, including gates, building entry or alarm instructions when relevant. Plan where pets will be during appointments and how you’ll handle requests on a busy day. Choose a quick reset routine: clear counters, empty visible bins, straighten the main rooms and check the entry. Confirm how you’ll receive updates and discuss recurring showing feedback with Harry.

Your home, your next move

Let’s choose the work that makes sense.

Call with your address and moving plans. We can review nearby sales and competing listings, walk the home together and discuss preparation before you commit to spending.

These steps are written mainly for single-family homes. Condo and townhome sellers can use the same preparation steps and bring the applicable association information.

Explore the selling process →

Talk with Harry.

Call Harry · (469) 515-1939

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