If you're thinking about selling in the next few months (or years if you're really a planner), it can be hard to know where to start with getting your home ready. Timing is everything when preparing your property for the market, and knowing which tasks to tackle early versus which to save for later can make all the difference in your experience.
Here are some strategic tips to help you create a timeline that maximizes impact while minimizing stress:
Start These Projects Early
1. Consult your favorite realtor for specific advice
We'll come up with a plan, timeline and budget for improvements and talk through decisions about when to do what. This initial consultation helps you prioritize projects based on your specific home, neighborhood, and target listing date, ensuring you invest your time and money where it matters most.
2. Have the main parts of your home professionally serviced
Focus on critical systems like your roof and HVAC. This professional maintenance accomplishes two important goals: you'll get valuable information on the condition and, ideally, a clean bill of health which will be important for the next owner. Well-documented maintenance history can significantly reduce buyer anxiety during negotiations.
3. Check your home inspection report from your purchase
Is there anything on there that is unaddressed that will come up for the next buyer? The market conditions may not be the same and it's easier to get repairs done in advance. This proactive approach helps prevent "history repeating itself" during your buyer's inspection and gives you control over addressing issues on your timeline.
4. Start parting with things you won't want to move
This is probably the biggest and most important step for most people. It's an area where it's really hard to hire someone else to do it, although professional organizers can help if you need someone. We tend to accumulate over time in our homes and the more storage you have the more you likely have that you don't know about. Less stuff is going to make moving easier, and staging easier if you end up staying in your home during the listing period.
5. Outdoor areas/landscaping
A yard clean up is useful any time of the year but if you plan to do more large scale planting or landscaping, you'll want to time this with the season that is best for the project. We can schedule an exterior photo shoot for whenever the outside of your home is looking its best, even if it's months before you plan to list your home for sale.
Things That Should Wait Until Closer to Listing
1. Painting
It's much faster and easier to do once a home is vacant or if you're going to be living in your home during the listing, it's best to leave less time for it to get damaged. Fresh paint maintains its pristine appearance when done closer to showings, and professionals can typically complete an entire home in just days once it's empty.
2. Deep Cleaning
Professional services like carpet cleaning, window washing, and detailed cleaning deliver maximum impact when completed just before photography and showings. The results diminish over time, especially in an occupied home.
3. Final Staging
While decluttering early creates the foundation, the finishing touches should happen right before listing. This includes furniture arrangement, artwork placement, and seasonal accents appropriate to your listing timeframe.
By strategically timing your home preparation tasks, you'll create a smoother selling process, potentially save money, and maximize the impact of your preparation efforts. Remember, the goal isn't just to get the highest possible price—it's also to create a low-stress transition to your next chapter.
Have questions about preparing your specific property?
Reach out anytime to discuss your timeline and create a customized preparation plan.