How to SELL your home for the first time | 7 things you must do before you sell

Selling your home for the first time? This guide walks you step-by-step through the 7 things every first-time home seller must do before listing. In this video, Peter Lindquist and Twin Cities realtor Travis Anderson show you exactly how to prepare your home for sale so you can sell faster and for a higher price — even if you’ve never sold a home before.

We cover the essential prep work every seller should focus on: what to fix, what to update, what NOT to waste money on, how to stage and declutter, and how to see your home through a buyer’s eyes. These simple, cost-effective improvements can dramatically increase your home’s market appeal and help you avoid common mistakes that reduce offers.

🎯 What you’ll learn in this video:
• The 7 must-do steps before you list your home
• What to fix before listing (and what buyers really notice)
• High-ROI updates: paint, flooring, hardware & more
• Why staging, decluttering, and focal points matter
• When NOT to upgrade your home (save your money!)
• How to think like a buyer — not an owner
• Common seller mistakes that can cost thousands

🏡 About this series:
This is Part 1 of our 5-part First-Time Home Seller Series:

Preparing Your Home (this video)

Pricing Your Home & Realtor Fees

The Selling Process & Marketing

Financing Options for Buyers

Final Wrap-Up & Q&A

Whether you're getting ready to sell in 30 days or 6 months, these tips will help you walk into the market confident and prepared.

📱 Contact Peter Lindquist
📞 651-491-5381
✉️ [email protected]

📝 Apply now: https://www.rate.com/LindquistTeam

Eligibility requirements, assistance type, and assistance amounts vary based on program. Talk to your loan officer about what options may be available, as well as the specific borrower, property, and loan type restrictions or requirements that may apply. Not all programs are available in all areas.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Refinancing your mortgage may increase costs over the term of your loan. Restrictions may apply.

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Guaranteed Rate, Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611; Rate.com; 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613; 866-934-7283. For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Lender. Conditions may apply.

📍 Serving first-time sellers in Minnesota? We’ve got you covered.

📞 Contact Peter Lindquist – 651-491-5381, [email protected]
🌐 https://www.rate.com/LindquistTeam

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Time Stamps
00:00 – Why we need to talk about first-time home sellers
00:22 – Overview of the 5-part Home Seller Series
01:36 – Step 1: Viewing your home through a buyer’s eyes
02:45 – Common issues: clutter, wear, and the “lived-in” look
03:07 – What to fix before listing: peeling paint, broken items, loose hardware
04:13 – Paint, flooring, and hardware: biggest bang for your buck
05:54 – Improvements that help push your price higher
07:19 – Maintenance vs. upgrades: what really boosts value?
08:56 – Should I add a pool or make big changes before selling?
09:46 – Decluttering and staging 101: the 3-item rule and depersonalizing