What Should I Do Before I List My Home in New Jersey?

Before I talk price with a seller, I ask one thing. Have you called your township?

Not about paint. Not about staging. About permits.

The short answer: Four things, in this order. Check for open permits with your township. Declutter and clean. Mulch and tidy the yard. Paint. That's it. You don't need to overthink your home to sell it. Less is more, every time.

1. Call your township about open permits

In my experience, this is the number one thing that delays closings, and it has nothing to do with how beautiful your house is. It's about what's on file for your own home.

New Jersey has no single statewide rule for this. Each town sets its own. Some towns require a certificate before you can sell, often called a certificate of continued occupancy, and some won't issue it while a permit is still open. Examples of towns that say this on their own websites include Camden and Deptford. Your town's rules may be different.

So call the construction or building office in your town and ask three things:

1. What open and closed permits are on file for my address? Can I get the full list?
2. Do I need a certificate or inspection to sell?
3. How long does it take, and what does it cost?

If you find an open permit, it can take time to close it. That's why you call before you list, not after you're under contract.

And it's not always the big stuff. We've seen sellers get flagged for a fire pit built without permission, pavers laid without a permit, and a finished basement with no permits. Small projects count. It's far better to know before you list than to find out three days before closing.

2. Declutter and clean

Pack up what you don't use. Clear counters. Take down most of what's on the walls. Make the whole house look clean and smell clean.

I'm not the only one who says it. In NAR's 2025 survey, sellers' agents most often recommended decluttering (91%) and cleaning the entire home (88%) before listing. That survey had about 1,266 responses, so take the exact numbers as a guide.

A packed-up, clear, fresh house helps buyers picture themselves in it.

3. Curb appeal is cleaning up, not adding stuff

Mulch goes a long way. Trim back the trees and bushes. Cut the grass. That's most of it. In the same survey, 77% of sellers' agents recommended improving curb appeal.

You'd be amazed at what a clean yard does before anyone even walks in.

4. Paint goes a long way

Fresh paint is the most common recommendation Realtors make for sellers. In NAR's 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, 50% of Realtors recommended painting the entire home before listing, and 41% recommended painting a single room.

You don't need a renovation. You need clean walls.

What you don't need

A new kitchen. New floors. A project that takes months. Call me before you spend a dollar. Sometimes the answer is nothing.

Quick answers

How early should I start? Call the township first, at least a few weeks before you plan to list, because permit work can take time.

What if I find an open permit? Ask the building office what it needs to close it. Your attorney and contractor can help.

Do I need to renovate before selling? Usually not. Ask your agent before you spend money.

Do I need a certificate to sell in my town? Many New Jersey towns require one, but rules differ by town. Ask your township.

Wondering what your home is worth before you start? Request a free home value, or read about selling with our team.

We live here. We work here. We serve here. Let's talk real estate. Call or text 609.469.4121 / 949.230.5508 or email melina@melinabradley.com.

About the author: I'm Melina Bradley, an Atlantic Highlands resident, a military spouse and an active, award-winning Realtor with the Melina Bradley Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty West Monmouth. We serve Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean Counties, including Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keyport, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown, Millstone, Old Bridge, Red Bank, Shrewsbury and Monroe.

Sources: NAR home staging report, 2025 and NAR 2025 Remodeling Impact Report.

I'm not an attorney. Check with your township and your attorney about your specific home. Equal Housing Opportunity.