How to prepare your home for sale
Get your home market-ready with simple ways to fix issues, declutter, deep clean, improve curb appeal, stage key rooms, and let in more light for showings now!
First impressions matter enormously in real estate. Buyers form opinions quickly, often within minutes of arriving at a property. Preparing your home well before it goes on the market can meaningfully affect both how quickly it sells and the price you achieve.
Start With Repairs and Maintenance
Walk through your property with fresh eyes, or ask a trusted friend to do it with you, and note anything that looks worn, broken, or unfinished. Buyers notice deferred maintenance and it raises questions about what else might have been neglected. Common items to address:
- Leaky taps and running toilets
- Cracked or damaged tiles
- Holes or scuffs in walls
- Sticking doors and windows
- Burnt-out light bulbs and broken fixtures
- Worn or peeling caulking in bathrooms and kitchens
Declutter and Depersonalize
Remove excess furniture, personal photos, and anything that makes spaces feel crowded or overly personal. Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living in the space. Less is almost always more when preparing a home for sale.
Deep Clean Everything
A thoroughly clean property signals that it has been well maintained. Pay particular attention to kitchens and bathrooms, windows, baseboards, appliances, and storage areas. If the property has been tenanted, a professional clean before listing is worth the investment.
Address Curb Appeal
The exterior is the first thing buyers see. Tidy the lawn and gardens, clean the driveway and pathways, touch up any peeling paint on the exterior, and make sure the front entrance is welcoming. Small improvements to curb appeal often have an outsized impact on buyer perception.
Consider Staging
Professional staging helps buyers visualize the potential of a space, particularly in vacant properties or those with unusual layouts. At a minimum, arrange furniture to maximize the sense of space and light in each room.
Let in Light
Open blinds and curtains for showings and photography. Well-lit spaces photograph better and feel more inviting in person. Replace any low-wattage bulbs with brighter options in rooms that feel dark.