10 Things to Do Before You Put Mom’s House on the Market

The deed. Any trust documents. Power of attorney. The most recent mortgage or home equity statement, even if you think it’s paid off. Property tax bills.

Paperwork problems are the ones that stall a closing. They’re also the easiest to solve when you find them early.

Who actually has the authority to sign? Who needs to be kept in the loop? Who has opinions but no authority?

Get this sorted before the first offer arrives, not after.

Yes, I’m biased. But this is the step that prevents the expensive mistakes: the unnecessary renovation, the dumpster full of things that would have sold, the months of work nobody needed to do.

Photos, letters, jewelry, the things that matter. Do this first and do it together if you can. Everything gets easier once the irreplaceable things are safe.

Estate sale companies sell things you would never guess have value. Old tools. Costume jewelry. Kitchenware. Let a professional look before you start hauling.

Estate sale, donation, clean-out, or some combination. The right answer depends on how much is there, what it is, and how much time you have.

Short. Safety problems, active leaks, and things that would scare a buyer or fail an inspection. Not a new kitchen.

A house with no heat in a Michigan winter is a house with burst pipes. And let the insurance company know if the house is going to sit empty. Vacant homes can be treated differently.

After the house is empty, a deep clean and a tidy yard do more for the sale price than most repairs. It’s the cheapest money you’ll spend.

When does Mom move? When does the house go on the market? Who is doing what, by when? Write it down. A plan everyone can see prevents most family arguments.