Start here — the whole house
Do these first; they lift every room and every photo.
- Wash every window, inside and out. Valley dust is real.
- Replace burned-out bulbs and match color temperature room to room.
- Open all blinds and shades to the same height.
- Have carpets and area rugs professionally cleaned.
- Touch up scuffs on baseboards, door frames, and switch plates.
- Fix anything that sticks, squeaks, drips, or won’t latch.
- Air the house out. No plug-ins, no candles, no cover-ups.
Kitchen
- Clear the counters down to two or three things.
- Empty the cabinets by about a third. Buyers open them.
- Take everything off the refrigerator door.
- Degrease the range hood, backsplash, and cabinet fronts.
- Swap tired cabinet hardware — inexpensive, reads as updated.
- Run the disposal and clean the sink drain.
Bathrooms
- Re-caulk tubs, showers, and sink edges wherever it has yellowed.
- Clear the counters. Soap, one plant, nothing else.
- Fresh white towels, folded, used only for showings.
- Clean the shower glass or replace the curtain and liner.
- Deal with hard-water spots on glass and fixtures.
- Empty the medicine cabinet and the space under the sink.
Bedrooms & closets
- Take closets down to about half full and space the hangers evenly.
- Move off-season clothes and shoes offsite.
- One item on each dresser top, maximum.
- Neutral, pressed bedding on every bed.
- Put away family photos and anything that identifies who lives here.
Living areas
- Pull furniture off the walls and leave clear walking paths.
- Remove one piece of furniture from each room. The room reads larger.
- Hide cords, routers, chargers, and remotes.
- Take down about half the wall art. Leave the best pieces.
- Clear the fireplace, hearth, and mantel.
Garage, laundry & storage
- Get the garage floor and walls visible. Rent a unit for the overflow.
- Wipe down the washer and dryer; clear the folding surface.
- Keep the electrical panel clean and easy to reach.
- Nothing stored against the water heater or the furnace.
- Label what stays with the house so nothing is in question later.
Curb & outdoors
- Trim, edge, and add fresh mulch. Overseed the thin patches.
- Pressure-wash the driveway, walkway, and entry.
- Paint or replace the front door; polish or replace the hardware.
- New doormat. Clean the porch light and the house numbers.
- Pool clear, equipment area tidy, cover stored out of sight.
- Trash cans out of view from the street.
The week of photos
The final pass, the day before the camera comes.
- All cars off the driveway and out of the frame.
- Every light on. Every ceiling fan off.
- Toilet lids down; small trash cans out of every room.
- Pet bowls, beds, and boxes put away.
- Fresh flowers or a bowl of green fruit. Nothing more.
