A House Selling Checklist for a Smoother Sale and Next Move
My free Stress-Free Seller’s Checklist takes you from pricing to closing day, step by step.
A step-by-step checklist for selling your house
Know your home’s value
Get a comparative market analysis (CMA) so you know what your home is worth today. Pricing right from the start shapes everything that follows.
Declutter and depersonalize
Remove personal photos, extra furniture and clutter. Buyers need to picture themselves living in your space.
Make strategic repairs
Focus on high-impact, low-cost work: fresh neutral paint, updated fixtures, working appliances and curb appeal. Skip the major renovation. I will tell you what is worth fixing.
Stage for success
Professional staging or simple rearranging, the goal is the same: show your home’s best features and make buyers feel at home.
Professional photography
Buyers usually see your home online first. Strong photos earn the showing.
Price and list strategically
I recommend a competitive price from recent sales, you decide, and your listing goes live on the MLS with professional marketing.
Review offers and negotiate
I weigh every offer on price, terms, contingencies and the buyer’s financing strength. Like a dog with a bone, I go hard for my clients.
Close with confidence
From accepted offer to closing day, I keep inspections, the appraisal, title work and deadlines on track. You know what is happening at every step.
How to price your home before you list it
Pricing your home starts with what buyers have actually paid. My comparative market analysis looks at recent sales, active listings, market trends and the features that set your home apart.
Price too high and the listing sits. Price too low and you leave money on the table. The aim is a price that draws strong offers. Want a number now? Ask for a free home value report.
What to do before you put your house on the market
Walk it with me
I do a pre-listing walkthrough and tell you which repairs give the best return, and which to skip.
Fix what buyers notice
Neutral paint, leaky faucets, dated light fixtures, systems that work, and a tidy front yard.
Clean and clear
Declutter, depersonalize and deep clean. For a vacant home, staging makes a real difference.
Plan the photos
Book photography once the home is ready, so the listing shows it at its best on day one.
What local home sellers say about working with me
“Marilyn is awesome. She put my home on the market and I received an Offer in less than 24 hours. The best thing about her work, I was offered $10K over Sales Price! She pitched in to do whatever was required to help me get my home photography and viewing ready.”
Louise R. • Mesquite, TX
“Her efforts resulted in our property being listed and sold within eight (8) hours of being on the open market. Ms. Tarver walked us through every step of the process, made recommendations that would expedite the sale which put us in the best position to showcase our home online.”
Zebbie L. • Frisco, TX
“She has been steadfast and unrelenting in her approach to selling my home; constantly networking and asking for feedback to ensure my home sells. I locked myself out of my home on a Sunday evening, and Marilyn came over right away and utilized the Realtor key to let me in. Now that is SERVICE!”
Laura R. • Mesquite, TX
Each result above is one client’s own outcome. It is not a promise of price, timing or terms for your move.
How I coordinate your home sale and next purchase
Many sellers are buying next, whether that is a move up, a move closer to family or a smaller home. I plan both sides together, with the aim that the sale and the purchase line up and you are not paying for two homes or living out of boxes.
Downsizing does not mean downgrading. I set the pace with you, and I stay reachable from the first call to the closing table.
Questions about selling your home
How long will it take to sell my home?
No agent can honestly promise a date. It depends on your price, your home’s condition and the market the week you list.
What I control is the preparation: a price built from recent comparable sales, a home that is show-ready before the first photo, and marketing that starts the day you list. One client’s home sold within eight hours of reaching the open market, and a Mesquite seller had an offer in under 24 hours. Those are their results, not a guarantee of yours.
Do I really need a REALTOR to sell my home?
You can sell on your own. An agent earns the fee with pricing strategy, professional marketing, negotiation and the paperwork, and by handling the details that can make or break a sale.
For a Mesquite seller that meant an offer in under 24 hours at $10,000 over the sales price. Every sale is different, and I will show you the numbers for yours before you decide.
Get your free house selling checklist
Leave your details and I will send you the Stress-Free Seller’s Checklist.
Call or Text
(469) 396-5226
[email protected]
Service Areas
Sunnyvale • Forney • Mesquite • Dallas County
Updated