Not Ready To Sell? Here’s What To Do While You’re Thinking About It

A guide to adding value while you’re still thinking about your next move.

Thinking about selling….but not really thinking about selling? You know the stage where you’re not ready to list, but you’re also suddenly annoyed by every cabinet hinge, light fixture, an oddly textured wall in your house, or not finding enough storage for your holiday decorations?

This one's for you.  Because you don’t need to be fully committed to selling to make smart, value-boosting tweaks. Sometimes the best time to upgrade your home is when you’re still in the “hmmm…maybe?” phase. 

Start with your “annoyance audit”

Here’s a handy Jamie-approved exercise: Walk through your house and write down everything that mildly annoys you. Chances are, those are the exact same things buyers will notice. The list becomes your starter roadmap, no decisions required. 

Focus on high impact, low commitment upgrades. 

You don’t need to renovate your life away. Try: 

• Swapping dated light fixtures

• Repainting trim or walls

• Replacing cabinet hardware

• Updating faucets or showerheads

• Decluttering one room at a time 

These changes cost you hundreds, not thousands, but buyers LOVE them.

Improve your homes photogenic moments

Even if you’re not selling yet, your home should still serve main character energy. Focus on: 

• Entry way

• Kitchen Counters

• Living room seating area

• Outdoor patio or porch

• Main bedroom

These are the spots where buyers emotionally connect.

Go ahead on maintenance (future you will be happy)

While you’re noodling, knock out the things future buyers will be asking you about: 

• HVAC service

• Roof inspection

• Landscaping cleanup

• Recaulking

• Cleaning gutters

• Fixing that one door that reduces to close like a normal door

Make sure to track the dates of service!

Enhance curb appeal without going full HGTV

You don’t need a new front porch, you need: 

• Fresh mulch

• Modern house numbers

• A power wash

• Two planters that say, “I care, but not in an exhausting way”

Start a mini-declutter challenge

Instead of tackling the whole house, try this: Pick one drawer, one shelf, one closet a week. It keeps your home feeling lighter, and quietly gets you market-ready without committing to anything yet. 

And here’s the part most people don’t realize

You don’t have to be ready to sell for us to work together. 

My job isn’t to show up only when you’ve decided to list, it’s to be a partner in your home ownership journey. 

If you need: 

• A trusted plumber for that leaky faucet

• Someone to swap out a light fixture

• A landscaper who actually shows up

• Or a second opinion on whether a project is worth it

I want to help. 

I’m not just here for a sale. I’m here to support you, connect you with great resources, and help you protect (and grow) the value of your home, when you sell this year, next year, or never. 

Bottom Line: If you’re unsure about selling, doing nothing isn’t your only option.

Making small, thoughtful updates while you’re still thinking it through is one of the smartest ways to take care of your home, and your future self.

And if you ever want to talk through what’s worth doing, what’s not, and what can wait?

I’m here.