How to get your house ready to sell: a 30-day plan
By Monika DeRoussel, REALTOR® with eXp Realty. Selling homes in Cincinnati since 2006.
Short answer
Give yourself four weeks. Week one, declutter and decide on a price range. Week two, fix what a buyer's inspector will flag. Week three, deep-clean and stage the main rooms. Week four, schedule professional photos and launch. Skip big renovations unless your agent shows you buyers will pay for them.
Week 1: Declutter and get a price range
- Pack away a third of what's on shelves, counters and closet floors. Buyers are judging space.
- Ask your agent for a price range based on recent nearby sales, before you spend money on anything.
- Make a list of every repair you've been putting off. You'll sort it next week.
Week 2: Fix what an inspector will flag
- Leaky faucets, loose handrails, missing outlet covers and burned-out bulbs. Small items add up on a report.
- Have the furnace and air conditioning serviced and keep the receipt for buyers.
- Skip new kitchens and full bathroom remodels unless your agent shows you comparable sales that prove the payback.
Week 3: Clean, paint and stage
- Deep-clean the kitchen, bathrooms and windows. Touch up paint in high-traffic spots.
- Set up the living room, kitchen and primary bedroom first. Those are the photos buyers click.
- Mow, edge and add fresh mulch out front. The first photo is usually the outside.
Week 4: Photos and launch
- Book a professional photographer, and a drone if you have land or a view.
- Pick a launch day. Thursday or Friday gives buyers a full weekend to see it.
- Plan where you, the kids and the pets will go during showings.
Common questions
Should I renovate before I sell?
Usually not. Small repairs and a deep clean pay off more often than big projects. Ask your agent for recent nearby sales of updated and un-updated homes before you decide.
Do I need a pre-listing inspection?
It's optional. It costs a few hundred dollars and tells you what a buyer's inspector will find, so there are fewer surprises after you accept an offer.
How long does it take to sell?
It depends on price, condition and your neighborhood. Ask your agent for the current days on market for homes like yours.
What's the most important day?
The first weekend on the market. That's when the most buyers see a new listing, so be ready before you launch.
Keep reading
- What happens between an accepted offer and closing dayInspections, appraisal, the loan and the final walk-through, in plain English.
- New construction or resale? Seven questions to ask firstLot, builder, timeline and the costs that don't show up on the brochure.