The two-week prep plan

What’s on the list

1. 1

   Days 1–2: get thirty percent of your stuff out. A home with fewer objects looks bigger and photographs better.

2. 2

   Days 1–2: take down the family photos, the diplomas, anything deeply personal. The buyer needs room to picture their own life in there.

3. 3

   Days 3–4: fix the small visible things — squeaky doors, loose outlets, bathroom caulk, and get every bulb to the same color temperature.

4. 4

   Days 3–4: paint whatever’s scuffed. Fastest improvement there is, and the one that gives back the most per dollar.

5. 5

   Day 5: professional deep clean. Windows, A/C vents, refrigerator, oven — all of it.

6. 6

   Day 6: yard and entry. Trim, fresh mulch, house numbers you can actually read, a clean front door. That first photo decides how many showings you get.

7. 7

   Day 7: pull your documents together — deed, closed permits, warranties, utility bills, and in a condo, the association documents.

8. 8

   Day 8: check open permits with the municipality. One that never got closed will stall your closing at the worst possible moment.

9. 9

   Day 9: decide whether you want a pre-inspection. Finding out before the buyer does hands you control of the negotiation.

10. 10

    Day 10: stage it, even lightly — warm light, neutral bedding, clear countertops.

11. 11

    Day 11: professional photos and video, with the place already prepped. Never shoot before you prep.

12. 12

    Day 12: price it off recent, verified comparable sales in your area. Not off what you need to walk away with.

13. 13

    Days 13–14: set the showing plan. Hours, what happens with the pets and the kids, and where you go while it’s being shown. A seller in the house makes buyers uncomfortable.

14. 14

    The whole way through: never hide a material defect. Beyond the legal exposure, it’s the single most reliable way to lose a deal at inspection.

Your situation doesn’t fit a checklist? Message Jordan or book 15 minutes.