Getting Your Home Ready to Sell: A Checklist

The best prep is not about spending a lot. It is about removing anything that distracts buyers from loving your home. Here is the order I tackle it in.

Declutter first

• Clear counters, tops of dressers, and bookshelves
• Pack away personal photos and collections
• Remove extra furniture so rooms feel bigger
• Organize closets, because buyers open them

Clean like it is a deep clean, because it is

• Windows inside and out
• Baseboards, vents, and light fixtures
• Grout and showers
• Carpets, if you have them

Small repairs

• Fix dripping faucets, running toilets, and sticky doors
• Replace burned out bulbs and use consistent warm bulbs throughout
• Patch nail holes and touch up paint

Paint where it counts

Fresh paint in a soft, warm neutral is one of the highest return projects you can do. Focus on main living areas and any bold colors.

Curb appeal

• Mow, edge, and add fresh mulch
• Power wash the driveway and walkway
• Paint or refresh the front door
• Add a couple of potted plants by the entry

Before photos

Photos are your first showing. Book them after everything else is done, on a day with good light.

Staging

Even a few well placed pieces can help buyers understand a room. If your home is vacant, staging can make a big difference in how buyers picture living there.

A little prep goes a long way. If you are thinking about listing, I'll walk through your home and tell you exactly what I would do, and what I would skip.