Proper, thoughtful preparation can shorten your home’s time on the market and boost your final sale price. Hiring the right professionals and paying for high-impact upgrades can further enhance these benefits. But who should you hire? What should you fix? How do you best go about getting a house ready to sell?
In this guide, we’ll walk step by step, room by room, inside and outside. We’ll help you determine repairs to address, contractors to hire, upgrades to make, and more.
Why preparation pays off
We all know that first impressions matter. The same concept applies when selling your home. If prospective buyers come by to view the place and the yard is unkempt, they might form a bias in seconds that persists throughout their visit. That’s why it’s important to pay extra attention to first impressions by preparing well, particularly when it comes to curb appeal and clean, inviting interiors.
Well-prepared homes have a higher perceived value, and they’ll subsequently sell faster and for a higher price.[1] Preparing a house doesn’t need to cost tens of thousands of dollars, either.
As broker Alexandra Gupta from the Corcoran Group says, “Even small repairs can make a big difference in the perceived value of a home.” Prioritize preparation work that will appeal to the largest group of buyers: the most noticeable repairs, renovations, and cleaning.
Start with the right real estate team
Foundational to a smooth and successful sale is having the right team by your side, and this starts with (and is centered around) an experienced listing agent. A good real estate agent will help you set your pricing strategy, handle contracts, manage appointments, and otherwise guide you along the way.
Other important professionals to consider working with include:
- Real estate attorney: In some states, a licensed attorney is mandatory for closing transactions. They can help with reviewing documents and offering legal advice in every state.
- Home stager: These professionals can help with staging a home by offering recommendations on how to make your space as widely appealing as possible.
- Photographer: A quality photographer will help you capture your home’s best features, and photos are essential for capturing buyers’ interest online.
- Contractors and handymen: They can help you identify issues, make repairs, deep clean rooms, tidy up the yard, paint, remove trash, and more.
Looking for an experienced real estate agent? Try a service like Clever to connect with top-rated brokers who can help you throughout the process and get you the best possible offers, all for a discounted pre-negotiated commission. Get started with a short quiz.
Outside appeal: Making a strong first impression
Prospective buyers often form their opinions of a property before they step through the front door. You want the home to immediately signal to those walking up the sidewalk or pulling into the driveway that the property is well-maintained. To get ahead of possible concerns, here’s what to focus on:
- Landscape: Trim the hedges, mow the lawn, pull out weeds, and address other potential issues in the yard and around the property.
- Update the entryway: Fix loose steps or railings on the front porch, replace missing or worn house numbers, address broken porch lights and doorbells.
- Refresh the exterior: Pressure-wash the sides of the house, clean windows (inside and out), paint if needed, clean the gutter, and step 10-20 yards away from the house to see if anything on the roof (such as cracked tiles) needs repairing.
- Declutter: Pick up any toys or garden tools strewn about the yard, rewind the hose, and tidy up areas such as the grill, fire pit, pool, and driveway.
One neat idea when getting your house ready to sell is to pay attention to seasonal curb appeal. Depending on the season, adjust what you might address.
For example, plant some bulbs to flower during the springtime, keep the lawn mowed over the summer, rake the yard during autumn, and ensure your snow is shoveled from walkways in the winter. This will help ensure you capture the buyer’s attention in a positive way from the very start.
Interior prep: Clean, decluttered, and neutral
Now for the inside. The goal here is to help potential buyers envision themselves living in the home comfortably, conveniently, and with pleasure.
Declutter
This is the first step in preparing the house for sale.
Clean out your closets of the things you can do without for the next few months (seasonal clothes and other non-essentiallys) and put them into storage or in your new home.
Do the same with excess furniture. A few pieces help with staging, but most homes will want to store at least one or two furniture items per room before taking listing photos.
Empty pantries, cupboards, and other larger storage areas of their contents, at least to a point where the buyer can get a sense of the space they’d be working with.
Don’t forget to organize your garage, sunroom, shed, and any spare rooms, as these spaces will be part of the selling point for open house visitors.
Depersonalize
The less prospective buyers can see of your life lived at the place, the more easily they can picture their future there.
Tasteful abstract art and other non-personal items can stay, but make sure to remove photos of family and friends. Box up trophies, souvenirs, and memorabilia, and store everything in a safe place so you have it ready for your new home.
Deep clean
Once you’ve decluttered and depersonalized, you’ll be in a great spot to tackle the next step.
Move the remaining furniture around so you can vacuum, sweep, or mop the entire floor. Get into the cracks, nooks, and hard-to-reach places.
Look up, too — wipe the tops of bookshelves, remove ceiling cobwebs, and make light fixtures sparkle.
Remove smudges and grime from windows and walls, and place a particular focus on spaces where hygiene is paramount, such as bathrooms and the kitchen.
If a deep cleaning of the entire property sounds too daunting or time-consuming, look into hiring a professional — the cost here will pay for itself when you can sell faster and for more money.
“Declutter like your in-laws are visiting and deep clean like your life depends on it. First impressions are everything, and buyers need to walk in and feel like it’s already home,” says Private Real Estate Collection founder and CEO Heather Herr.
Neutralize
A neutral home will appeal to the widest pool of buyers. Think fresh coats of neutral paint, like eggshell white or beige, in the rooms currently painted yellow or burgundy.
Scents, too, should be pleasant, subtle, and neutral (light vanilla is a good choice).
Go natural if you can, with fresh flowers and open windows as opposed to artificial scents from aerosol sprays or incense. If you have pets, you may also want to power-wash the carpets and any upholstered furniture.
Repair
Take care of small improvements that make a big difference, such as leaky faucets, loose doorknobs, and squeaky doors. Patch holes in drywall and replace broken or outdated appliances that will be transferred along with the sale.
Finally, don’t forget the lighting. Well-lit spaces feel bigger and more inviting, whereas darker rooms or areas with a lot of shadow don’t feel quite as cozy or welcoming.
Room-by-room strategy
A. Kitchen
Deep clean and declutter all surfaces, appliances, and storage areas.
Organize spaces where you’ll need to continue storing food, such as the pantry and refrigerator.
A well-used kitchen tends to get sticky over time, so pay attention to walls and splashboards, especially around the stove.
Box up and store any dishes, utensils, small appliances, and cookware that you won't need for the remainder of your stay.
If you have a pet food area, clean in and around it.
Empty the trash can and recycling bin before guests are due to arrive, and air out the space if you can.
B. Bathrooms
Do a top-to-bottom deep clean here as well, and watch out for issues like mold as you go through it.
Declutter around the sink and inside cabinets to the bare minimum.
Consider purchasing a new, neutral bathroom rug and fresh towels to make the space feel more inviting.
Replace shower curtains, especially if they’re starting to look worn.
Check the exhaust vent for dust and tiles for dirty grout, as well.
After hygiene and cleanliness are sorted, you’ll want to be sure everything is smelling fresh — but remember to lean toward natural and neutral scents.
Wipe down mirrors and even walls, as the high-humidity environment often attracts dust.
Before you move on, check the functionality of everything, from the lights to the faucets to how well the sink drains, and make repairs or adjustments.
C. Living spaces
Spaces such as the living room, dining room, and den tend to be high-traffic areas during open houses, so be sure to consider this fact when arranging any furniture you’re not putting into storage.
Remove knick-knacks and personal photos, and declutter bookshelves, end tables, and mantles.
Tuck away unsightly cables and cords.
A small investment in a new area rug and neutral throw pillows can help make these spaces more inviting to guests without overdoing it.
D. Bedrooms
In sleep areas, after the deep clean, depersonalization, and decluttering, pay attention to the textiles, such as curtains, bedspreads, and area rugs.
Replace with lighter and more neutral tones if too dark or colorful, and draw back the curtains to let as much natural light in as possible.
If you’re keeping textiles, perform a sniff test to ensure they’re not smelling stale or otherwise in need of washing.
Make the beds and organize the closets and dressers to minimize the amount of clothing and other personal items.
If you have multiple bedrooms, consider staging one or two of them as flexible spaces – for example, as a nursery, playroom, or a home office. This way, prospective buyers can more easily see the versatility of the rooms and imagine other uses and contexts.
“Selling a home today is about creating a connection and telling the story of the property and lifestyle one can expect. When buyers can picture themselves living there, they’re more likely to make an offer—and often at a better price,” shares Robert O’Connor from SERHANT.
E. Bonus spaces
While they may not seem as important, don’t neglect all the other areas, such as basements, offices, garages, sheds, workshops, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and so on.
Different families will have different needs and ideas for these spaces, so it’s just as important they are welcoming, well-lit, well-organized, and clean.
Emphasize the utility of these spaces by contextualizing them as a game room or a home office.
What to fix — and what not to
Prioritize repairs that will offer the best return on investment rather than unnecessary upgrades and inconsequential fixes.
Often, these tasks are cosmetic rather than functional, such as patching walls or replacing light fixtures and faucets. You don’t want to hide anything from potential buyers, but there are things that most are likely to overlook and others that will cause them to run for the hills.
Be sure to address any potential deal breakers, such as a sagging ceiling or broken central heating — prospective buyers may feel issues like these might signal neglect and other headaches for them down the road.
If you’re unsure what to prioritize or whether to make any repairs at all, a pre-listing inspection may be the best way to go. This can help surface issues early, allowing you to get ahead of any concerns viewers are likely to raise.
Preparing for showings
Getting a “show-ready” home takes time, and it’s essential that you take that time to do it thoroughly and without burning out.
Once you do have your home in a state you are proud to show it off, daily maintenance is key. Don’t let issues pile back up to where another deep clean is necessary. Put away clothes neatly and food carefully where they belong, and clean any messes as they happen.
Before any showing or open house, air out all the rooms. Draw back the curtains, open the blinds, and turn on the lamps to reduce shadows, opting for natural light when possible.
Fresh flowers can be both welcoming and help to let off a pleasant smell.
If you have pets, arrange for them to be elsewhere if possible to help minimize noise, odors, and commotion. Don’t forget to warn guests about pets in the home in case there are pet-related allergies.
For last-minute arrangements, prioritize the dirty over the messy — think cleaning after a meal prep or vacuuming up some dust bunnies first before sorting the mail.
Do a quick walkthrough and be on the lookout for any odors and out-of-place decor.
Make sure the thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature.
To reduce anxiety during this stressful time, set viewing hours that are convenient to your schedule.
Communicate this schedule to your agent to be sure you’re all on the same page. Remember that buyers often prefer owners to be elsewhere as they view the property, so have a plan and location in mind for showing times.
Going live: Listing & marketing prep
After you get your house ready to sell, past all the decluttering, deep cleaning, and depersonalization, it’s in a perfect state to photograph.
While most smartphones these days can essentially rival cameras for photo quality, you may still want to hire a professional photographer to ensure everything looks as even, well-lit, and enticing as possible.
Separately, work with your real estate agent to craft a compelling listing that draws in potential buyers. Consider adding virtual tours or 3D walkthroughs for those who may be on the fence as to whether they ought to view in person or not.
Final thoughts: The smart way to get ready to sell
The key to success as you ready your home to sell is thoughtful preparation. Focus on things that will yield the best return on investment and maximize your time.
However, it’s important to prioritize the details — don’t skimp on the organization and cleanliness.
When it makes sense, lean on the support of professionals to handle big or lengthy tasks and to give you advice. Remember that costs now, when done right, will often pay dividends just months down the road.
Ready to sell your now sale-ready house? Get matched with a top agent through Clever and get expert help from day one – for a pre-negotiated reduced commission. Take a quick quiz to get started finding an agent!