How to Get Your House Ready to Sell in 30 Days: A Day-By-Day Checklist

Day 2: Determine if you want to list your home on the market or sell it for cash

If you’re on a really tight deadline, consider selling “as-is” to a house-buying company. When you sell your home to a cash buyer, you skip the lengthy process required to list your home, which involves repairs, renovations, staging, and open houses. On the other hand, that convenience often comes at a cost: house-buying companies usually pay below full market value.

To quickly evaluate your options, you can request a cash offer on your home with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. HomeLight provides a no-obligation cash offer to buy your home, typically for at least 90% of your home’s market value.

Simple Sale will also display estimates of how much you’d make selling your home to a cash buyer side-by-side with how much you’d possibly make selling your house on the open market with the help of a top agent. This helps you make an informed decision.

Day 3: Interview at least three real estate agents

If you decide to list on the market, you’ll want to hire a top real estate agent to achieve your 30-day listing mission. Reach out to your network for referrals and compare local agents online with HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool.

We analyze 27 million real estate transactions to compare agents based on years of experience, transaction volume, average price point, speed of sale, specialties, and client reviews to match you with top agents suited to sell your home.

Quick 15-minute phone interviews are a great way to start. Share your goal of listing your home in 30 days so the agent can recommend the most relevant selling strategies.

“We’re really in tune with our clients. We want to know your goal so we can help you achieve it,” Hudson comments.

Day 4: Hire the agent you’re most confident in

Compare your candidates and choose the agent who you feel is the best match. You’ll want to hire an agent who is:

• Quick to communicate and accommodate your needs
• Highly experienced in selling homes in your neighborhood or county
• Knowledgeable and able to answer your questions thoroughly
• Able to provide actionable suggestions on how to sell your home fast

If it’s a toss-up between two stellar agents, go with your gut. You’ll want to partner with the agent with whom you feel the strongest personal connection.

Day 5: Conduct an initial walkthrough

Once you’ve decided to sell with a real estate agent and hire one, it’s time for them to see your home in person. During the walkthrough, your agent will suggest repairs, staging, and other preparations that will help attract buyers in your particular market. Make a to-do list that you’ll revisit in a couple of days.

“We don’t want clients to prep before we come through. We want to see the house in its raw form so that we can save them time, energy, and money,” explains Hudson. “A lot of times, sellers think, based on home shows, that they should do this or that. We don’t want them spending a dollar unless they are getting $5 in return.”

Day 6: Settle on a list price

After identifying the issues, repairs, and upgrades that impact your home’s value, you can set a fair and competitive price. Precise pricing is essential to pulling off a fast sale. If you overprice your home, it’s likely to sit on the market, growing less desirable to buyers.

To determine your home’s market value, your agent will conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA) comparing your home’s features, size, condition, and more to similar homes that recently sold in your area.

Once your agent narrows in on the market value, they will work with you to set a listing price guided by market trends.

Day 7: Create a budget for updates

Next, create a budget for all of the items on your to-do list from day five. To get you started, here is a rundown of some common home improvements and their average price tags:

• Professional cleaning service: Be prepared to spend between $75 and $600, depending on the size of your home.
• Lawn care and landscaping: Budget $300 for small landscaping projects and up to $4,000 for larger-scale projects, such as sod installation.
• Home staging services: Some agents, including Hudson and Schoepher, offer staging as a service covered by their commission. Otherwise, you can hire a professional stager for between $1,500 and $10,000, depending on the size and style of your home.
• New light fixtures: When updating lighting fixtures, choose affordable, transitional styles that appeal to the majority of buyers. You can find affordable fixtures at retailers like Home Depot and Wayfair for around $100.
• New cabinet hardware: As with lighting fixtures, there are plenty of cabinet hardware options with a modest price tag of $5 and up.
• Fresh paint: The cost of interior painting depends on the size of the room. If you hire a pro, expect to pay between $2 and $6 per square foot or $1,000 to $3,000 for a 500-square-foot home. If you do it yourself, you’ll pay between $200 and $300 for supplies.

Day 8: Make arrangements with contractors and other professionals

Vet and hire reputable contractors for hire-out jobs on your to-do list. Start by asking your agent if they can refer you to trusted professionals in their network. You can also compare reviews and hire professionals on websites such as Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, Angi, and Fixr.

Week 2: Prepare the interior of your home

Both Schoepfer and Hudson agree that cleaning, decluttering, and home staging are some of the most impactful pre-listing activities. Dedicate Week Two to getting your home ready for listing photos and in-person showings.

Day 9: Declutter your entire home

Decluttering your home before you take photos and conduct showings could ultimately increase your home’s value by up to 3%-5%.

“Empty the spaces that make you money,” advises Hudson. “I call them the money areas: the main living area, kitchen, front of the home, master bedroom, and bath. We’re looking for clean lines and minimal distractions.”

Trash, donate, or recycle things you don’t need, and then pack up items that you won’t need until you’re in your new home. Hudson recommends storing these boxes in the garage for the listing period, stating that a box-filled garage is not going to make you a penny more or a penny less.

“If the garage is full, take one spare bedroom, the least attractive spare bedroom, and pack that with the contents. People know that you’re moving anyway, so it’s not going to hurt you,” Hudson adds.

Day 10: Depersonalize your home

Remove personal items that may alienate potential buyers, such as family photos, novelty collections, religious decorations, and sports team regalia. By depersonalizing every room, you boost the buyers’ ability to envision themselves living in the home.

Day 11: Replace old lighting fixtures

Old lighting fixtures date your home as fast as popcorn ceilings. For an instant refresh, update worn and dated lighting fixtures, especially those in common areas, such as the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

For broad buyer appeal, opt for transitional-style fixtures that balance contemporary and traditional design. Unless you have previous electrical experience with lighting, hire a licensed electrician to complete this task.

Day 12: Swap outdated hardware

Update dingy hardware, including cabinet knobs, door handles, hinges, and towel racks. Choose neutral designs with a black or brushed chrome finish, like these:

• Franklin Brass Soft-Iron Cabinet Bar, around $30 from Amazon
• Harmon Classic Bronze Round Cabinet Knobs, around $3 from Home Depot
• Amerock Cup Pulls in Antique Silver, around $3 from Lowe’s

For a quick swap out, choose hardware that fits the existing holes in your cabinets.

Day 13: Tackle DIY repairs throughout your home

Leaky faucet? It’s time to tighten things up and put the drip drop to a quick stop. Dedicate Day 13 to tackling small repairs so buyers trust that your home is in excellent condition. Here is a list of some easy yet essential repairs:

• Clean tile grout using a homemade cleaner with baking soda, dish soap, and vinegar.
• Bleach or remove moldy caulk in showers and bathtubs, recaulking where necessary.
• Replace worn screens and weather stripping.
• Lubricate squeaky hinges and sticky drawers with a spray-dry lubricant, such as WD-40.
• Touch up scratches on stained wood with a wood repair marker.
• Tighten or replace protruding nails on the decking and railing.
• Fill in picture holes on your walls with spackling and a putty knife.
• Spruce up your mailbox, ensuring that the post is straight and the box is free of rust and dirt.

Day 14: Freshen up the paint

While your daughter adores her bubblegum bedroom, your buyers see pink walls as a problem to fix. Light neutral colors are best when selling a house because they make spaces feel bigger, brighter, and more inviting. They also appeal to a wider range of buyers by creating a blank canvas that helps them visualize their own style and decor.

But if you want something bolder that still appeals to modern homebuyers, consider the top color trends Fixr reported: warm neutrals, dark, earthy greens, deep jewel tones, and rustic browns, grays, and taupes. You may also explore the leading paint companies’ curated colors of the year:

• Truffle by Stainmaster
• Raku by C2
• Hammered Black by Krylon
• Quietude by  HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
• Rumors by Behr
• Elderton by Graham & Brown
• Mochi by Little Greene
• Purple Basil by Glidden

To see additional neutral color options, you can explore some of Home Depot’s gray selections online.

Day 15: Stage your home to boost value and marketability

Staging helps your home feel warm and inviting, making it easier for buyers to picture themselves living there. That emotional connection can lead to faster offers and a higher sale price. Depending on your budget, you can hire a professional stager or partner with your agent to stage your home following some of these top home staging tips:

1. Remove unnecessary furniture
2. Showcase your closet and storage space
3. Let the natural light in to make the space feel larger
4. Emphasize focal points, such as large windows or a fireplace
5. Define each space
6. Add inviting touches, like throw pillows and fresh flowers

Week 3: Enhance your curb appeal

Now that you’ve refreshed the inside of your home, it’s time to dial up your curb appeal. About 48% of real estate agents agree that enhancing curb appeal is one of the strongest selling points in their respective markets. A boost in curb appeal can deliver a considerable return on your investment.

Day 22: Stage a backyard entertaining area

Backyard entertaining spaces are an in-demand feature with buyers, offering a great setting for relaxation and social gatherings. Stage your outdoor space as you would your interior: declutter junk and personal items, arrange neutral-colored furniture, and add pops of color with smaller accessories.

Create an area for gatherings over good meals with a matching dining set or arrange a lounge area with an upholstered outdoor sectional and coffee table. Place an area rug under the furniture for a soft, inviting feel. Lastly, add charm with table decorations, like lanterns and pre-potted plants.

Week 4: Tackle any final listing preparations

You’re on the home stretch now, nearing your goal to list your house in 30 days. It’s time to finish some final preparations and create your property listing.

Day 23: Deep clean the whole house

Schoepher and Hudson stress the importance of deep cleaning your home regardless of whether you have a 30-day deadline to sell. For a truly deep clean, follow HomeLight’s comprehensive cleaning checklist, simplified below:

If you prefer to leave the cleaning to the pros, hire a reliable cleaning service to tackle the job. Read company reviews to narrow down your options, then personally vet your finalists with the following questions:

• Do you have any professional training or certifications from the Cleaning Management Institute?
• What scope of services does your company offer?
• How much time do you estimate it will take to clean my home?
• What type of cleaning products do you use?

Day 24: Schedule a pre-listing home inspection

Traditionally, a home inspection takes place after a buyer has made an offer on your house. Once the buyer receives the home inspection report, they will often try to negotiate a lower price based on needed or upcoming fixes.

If you want a fast sale, you can schedule a pre-listing home inspection so you can provide buyers with the inspection’s findings before they make an offer. This way, buyers know what they’re walking into before they make an offer, speeding up the closing process. Check with your agent to see if they think a pre-listing inspection will be helpful.

Day 25: Prepare your home for the listing photographer

As you prepare to sell your home in 30 days, you need stunning, professional listing photos to attract buyers online. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), all buyers used the Internet in their home search process in 2023, with 41% saying that the most valuable content on websites was photos.

Ask your real estate agent if they include professional listing photos in their services or if they can recommend a top photographer at an additional cost. Hudson explains how her team helps sellers prepare for the listing photos: “We have a photo prep list that we send to our clients. We don’t just walk through and tell them what to do. We give them the resources to get it done.”

Follow these real estate photography tips to ensure a smooth photoshoot:

• Walk through your home with the photographer to address any issues beforehand.
• Write a short list of all the photos you and your agent would like to include in the listing.
• Schedule the photo shoot for a sunny day if possible, especially for the exterior shots.
• Remove any small or breakable objects that might get bumped during the process.
• Replace mismatched light bulbs to match the brightness and warmth of surrounding bulbs.

Day 26: Assist the photographer during the photoshoot if needed

On the day of the photoshoot, tuck away all personal items, including the kids’ toys and pet accessories. If you’re at home while the photographer is working, you can help out as needed. If not, your agent may join the photographer to ensure that they complete the entire shot list.

Day 27: Fill out the required seller paperwork

Depending on the state you live in, you must fill out several documents when selling your home. Ask your real estate agent to provide you with the necessary paperwork and ask if they need any additional property information from you to complete the listing. Here are a few tasks that you may need to complete on this day:

• Complete your seller disclosure forms, disclosing any known property issues.
• Provide your agent with the age and condition of key structural features, including the HVAC system and the roof.
• Email your agent a list of any additional home features, local entertainment, and community benefits that you feel may bolster the listing description.
• Track down digital copies of your property survey and floor plan to include in the listing.

Day 28: Provide your agent with your availability for showings

Once you list your home, buyers will begin to schedule showings. You can expect most buyers to request showings on the weekends or after 5 p.m. on weekdays, so try to make these times available. Remember, your family and pets need to be out of the house for the duration of these showings, so plan accordingly.

Day 29: Tie up any loose ends

Does the new bistro set on the porch need a couple of throw pillows? Did your little one scuff up the baseboard in the kitchen? Are you and your agent clear about how to prep the home before each showing? Now is the time to address all last-minute details.

Day 30: List your home on the market

Congratulations on making it to Day 30! It’s time for your real estate agent to list your home on the market. They will upload your listing description and photos to the multiple listing service (MLS), the online database where real estate agents can view your home and share it with their buyer clients.

Once your listing is live, all you need to do is keep your home tidy for upcoming showings and wait for offers to come in. Pat yourself on the back for completing your 30-day listing sprint.

Ready to sell your home?

Selling a house in just 30 days can feel overwhelming, especially with the pressure to prepare quickly. The key is staying organized and making every day count, from staging to pricing, ensuring your home stands out. Don’t navigate this challenge alone. Partner with an experienced agent to guide you through the process and maximize your chances of a successful sale.

If you need help finding a top-rated real estate agent in your area, try HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.

Header Image Source: (Erik Mclean / Unsplash)