Preparing your home: where to start
Where to start when you get the house ready for photos and visits.
Step 3 of 9
Prepare the property
In this step
Declutter and clean Fix small defects Paint and spruce up the entrance Check before major work
When2 to 6 weeks before listing
Do the small jobs that show the house is well maintained. Think long and hard before major renovations.
Where to start
- Almost free: declutter, deep clean, depersonalize, fix faucets, handles and sticking doors.
- Inexpensive, very visible: neutral paint, light fixtures, front door, flower beds and driveway.
- Check first: home staging, about 1% of the value, plus the professional's fees (Centris).
- Check before spending: kitchen, bathroom, basement. Ask an appraiser or a broker for their opinion.