You sell a home you're still living in by clearing out about half of what's in it before photos, setting up a quick daily routine so it's ready for showings on short notice, and planning ahead for pets, kids and work schedules. The goal is a clean, warm home a buyer can picture living in, not a museum.
"It's a lot of work to maintain a home and keep it ready for showings and open houses when I'm still living in it, and it adds another level of stress." Sellers tell me some version of that all the time, and they're right, so here's what makes it more manageable.
What should you do before the photos?
Walk through your home the way a buyer would and start with the clutter. Clear countertops down to two or three items, take out about half of what's in your closets and cabinets so buyers don't think storage is tight, and move out any bulky furniture that makes a room feel small. Put away personal photos and collections, too, so buyers can picture their own life there, and then look at the front of the house, because it's the first thing buyers see online and in person.
Where does all the extra stuff go?
Pack what you won't need for a few months and store it in the basement, the garage, a spare room or a storage unit, or better yet, give it away. The Honest Junk Company is a good option for donating housewares, and everything you let go of now is one less box to move later.
How do you keep the house ready for showings and open houses?
Make it a quick daily routine instead of a big project. Keep a basket handy for gathering stray items, make the beds, wipe the counters and corral the toys each morning, and have a plan for where pets go during showings. Open houses are a little easier because you know the date ahead of time, so plan to be out for a few hours and take the pets with you. How often showings happen depends on your neighborhood and price range, so we talk about what to expect before your home goes live.
Do you need to stage your home?
You don't always need professional staging, because a few throws and pillows, some plants or fresh flowers, and taking one or two pieces of furniture out of a crowded room are often enough to make it feel open and inviting. If a room is empty or hard to picture, staging can help, and I'll tell you honestly whether it's worth the money for your home.
My Seller's Guide walks through every step of a Chicago sale, and if you're selling during a divorce, my Divorce page explains how I work as a neutral for both of you. I'm Megan Sullivan, a real estate broker and REALTOR® with Compass and a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE®) in Chicago, and when you're ready, book a call with me.
Megan Sullivan is a Chicago real estate broker and REALTOR® with Compass who has lived on the North Side for more than 25 years. She holds the ABR® and RENE credentials and helps buyers and sellers in Roscoe Village, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, North Center, Lincoln Square and Ravenswood. She is also a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE®) and founder of The Divorce Collab.
Every home and market is different, so treat this as general guidance rather than a plan for your specific home.
