Listing your home for sale before doing the necessary preparation can be a costly mistake. Sellers who put their homes on the market before making essential repairs usually wait longer for the home to sell, and it usually sells for less.

Some sellers reduce the sales price to compensate for less-than-attractive conditions or credit the buyers at the closing for needed repairs. This approach is only attractive to buyers who are looking for a bargain and have the time and skills to fix up a property. Most buyers can't visualize a home's potential, have little remodeling experience, and are turned off by the thought of such a project.

The first time your home is seen by the public is the best chance you have to sell your home. You should wait until your home looks its best before showing it to anyone except your Realtor. Your agent can tell you how to prepare your property for the market and will happily promote your attractive and well-maintained home to buyers and other Realtors. You may want to sign a listing agreement a week or two before you are ready to show so your Realtor can place ads and begin marketing, but don’t open it to the public until it shows well.

Realtors are often asked, "What is the best way to show and sell a home?" Almost every Realtor can tell you a story about meeting with a prospective seller who has just completed a lot of work to prepare their home for the market. It can be difficult for a Realtor to tell the seller that their renovations were not the most effective changes to market their home.

If you are considering making any improvements prior to selling your home, the best advice is to consult with your Realtor before you make any changes. An experienced Realtor can provide you with information that can help you decide what kind of improvements will set the stage for a sale. Whether it is paint and wallpaper, remodeling the bathrooms, or updating the kitchen, your Realtor can guide you toward "neutral" choices that can assist the buyer's imagination.

When you are getting ready to sell your home, look for renovations that will cost a small amount in relationship to the increase they will have on the value and salability of your home. Your Realtor can help you decide if you should go ahead with the changes you are considering.