Capt.Cook Real Estate

Preparing to Sell Your Home

Once you decide to sell your home, you might have questions about how to prepare it for listing and viewing by potential buyers. An agent who is a REALTOR® can guide you through this process. Here are some common considerations as you prepare your home to sell:

How do I find the right agent to sell my home?

You should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. To guide this process, NAR has a dedicated resource with questions to consider when selecting a seller’s agent. When you work with an agent who is a REALTOR®, you are working with a professional guided by ethical duties under the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, including the pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients.

Do I need to have my home inspected before putting it up for sale?

No, a pre-sale inspection is not required. However, an inspection can be used to identify potential issues in your home that you can consider repairing before showing your home to potential buyers and use as a differentiator for your property. If you choose to conduct a pre-sale inspection, an inspector will assess your home’s condition, including its structure, exterior, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, interiors, ventilation / insulation, and fireplaces. It may also include tests for problems that can affect human health like mold, radon gas, lead paint, and asbestos. Sometimes buyers may also conduct their own inspection as a contingency in their purchase agreement. If you uncover possible issues that may appear during a buyer’s inspection, you will have time to make any necessary changes that could impact your home’s asking price. You should also talk to your agent about disclosure requirements in your state if a pre-sale inspection uncovers an issue.

What should I do if something in my home needs to be fixed or replaced soon?

If something in your home requires a significant repair—such as a roof, a system such as HVAC, or an appliance like a dishwasher or washer / dryer—you should determine how much the repair will cost, even if you do not plan to fix it before selling the home. These estimates will help sellers determine the costs that buyers might take into consideration when negotiating a purchase agreement.

Am I required to make any cosmetic updates to my home before putting it up for sale?

No, but you may want to clean the windows, carpets, lighting fixtures, and walls, and store away clutter before showing your home to potential buyers. Sellers may also look for ways to improve “curb appeal”—how the home looks to a potential buyer when viewed from the street—by updating aspects such as landscaping, the front entrance, and paint jobs. These steps may help improve the home’s appearance in photos, which can play an important role in attracting potential buyers.

Do I need to provide information about appliances that will stay in the home after it’s sold?

You should locate warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer / dryer, dishwasher, and any other appliances or systems that will stay in the house with a new buyer. It is recommended that you find these items now to avoid any lost paperwork causing an issue with a potential buyer when you reach the time of finalizing, or “closing,” the transaction.

What does it mean to stage my home?

Staging is the process of cleaning a home and temporarily filling it with furniture and decorations that may help buyers better see themselves living in the home. While it is not required, some sellers may work with a stager to focus on certain key areas of their home that are important to buyers. Some agents may also include staging in the services they provide you.

Practices may vary based on state and local law. Consult your real estate professional and/or an attorney for details about state law where you are purchasing a home. Please visit facts.realtor for more information and resources.

Make Your Home Weather Resistant


From the scorching summer heat to the bitter cold of winter snowstorms, it is essential to make your home weather resistant no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. An added benefit is that weatherproofing prevents mold and mildew from growing, which can have a negative impact on your health. Here are some practical tips that even a newbie homeowner can do to make the exterior of their home weather resistant right now:

Inspect the roof

Your roof is your home's first line of defense against the elements. It is important to inspect your roof regularly to check for any damaged or missing shingles. These should be replaced immediately. In regions that receive heavy snowfall, make sure your roof is well insulated and strong enough to stand up to the weight of heavy snow. As an extra layer of protection, apply a weather-resistant coating or sealant to protect the roof. When inspecting your roof, don't forget to check the gutters. Gutters and downspouts need to be cleaned and kept free of debris to prevent water damage. Repair or replace any damaged parts.

Check the siding

Checking your home's siding is another crucial step. Wood siding is especially susceptible to rot. Start by looking for holes in areas prone to rot from water exposure. You can even tap on the wood to see whether there are any soft spots. Vinyl siding does a good job of diverting rain from reaching the water barrier below it. However, it is not watertight and is vulnerable to nicks and chips sustained by w**d trimmers and rocks thrown by snowblowers and lawnmowers. While small physical damage does not impair its performance, it does impact curb appeal and should be replaced.

Seal doors and windows

Seal all doors and windows tightly for protection against the elements. There shouldn't be any gaps that let in drafts. The simple solution is to use weather stripping to keep the cold air, rain, wind, snow or hail from getting in. In the summer, weather stripping prevents the cool air-conditioned air from escaping. If your budget allows it, upgrade to energy-efficient doors and windows for better insulation.

Improve the landscaping

Planting windbreaks such as evergreen trees and shrubs can protect your home against high winds. By properly grading the landscaping around your property, you can divert water away from your home's foundation to prevent flooding and erosion.

You need to properly insulate the exterior walls to prevent weather-related damage. Fiberglass, cellulose, rock and foam are the most common materials used in energy-efficient insulation, which will not only protect your home but save you money on electric bills.

If your home has poured-foundation walls, consider installing an interior drainage system to prevent moisture from causing damage. However, first applying a waterproof coating to the foundation is a less expensive option to try before going the drainage route.

Creating a weather-resistant home requires being a proactive homeowner. You want to keep a regular maintenance schedule to coincide with the requirements of each season. As the adage goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Contact us for more tips on how to keep a well-maintained home that will see you safely through all weather conditions.

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