Prep and repairs
Walk the property, then fix what has to work before you spend on finish.
Walk the house before you hire anyone
A slow walk with a notepad shows what to fix, what to tell buyers, and what to leave alone.
Fix function before you spend on finish
Repair leaks, heat, and latches before you buy paint.
Replace cracked caulk before photo day
Cracked caulk shows up in close photos. Replace it while the repair list is still short.
Deep-clean after the dusty work, not before
Clean after the dusty repairs, not before.
Test the alarms before you list
Press each smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm, and replace any battery that fails.
Clear the gutters before showings
Empty the gutters and check that downspouts send water away from the foundation.
Tighten loose hardware before the first visit
Snug the hinges, handles, and cabinet pulls that rattle when someone opens a door.
Trace a stain to its source
Find the leak that made the stain, then repair that before you paint over the mark.
Run the heat and the cooling before showings
Turn each system on, listen for a short cycle, and change a dirty filter.