Buyers see your home online before they see it in person. Photos and showings depend on the same preparation.
Good home prep before listing makes both easier. Here is a practical checklist.
Start With Decluttering and Deep Cleaning
In its 2025 Profile of Home Staging, the National Association of Realtors reports that sellers’
agents recommended decluttering (91 percent), cleaning the entire home (88 percent) and improving curb appeal (77 percent).
Clear counters, remove extra furniture and pack personal items such as family photos. Buyers should see space, not your belongings. Storage helps, so use a spare closet or a small storage unit for extra items so the home looks spacious, not empty.
Deep cleaning covers more than counters. Wash windows, scrub grout, clean baseboards and shampoo carpets where needed.
Focus on the Rooms Buyers Notice Most
The same report says buyers named the living room, the primary bedroom and the kitchen as the most important rooms to stage. Start there, with fresh paint, working lights and tidy surfaces that help the photos and the showing.
In the kitchen, clear the counters and put away small appliances. In bathrooms, set out fresh towels and remove personal products.
Prepare the Exterior
The first photo is often the front of the house. Mow, edge and trim the bushes, then clear the walkway. Sweep the porch and wash the front door, since a clean entry sets the tone before anyone steps inside.
Check the light fixtures, house numbers and mailbox. Small touches look sharp in photos.
Plan the Photo Day and Showings
Photo day goes smoothly when the house is ready the night before. Open the blinds, turn on every light and hide trash cans, pet items and loose cords. Turn off ceiling fans and the television, and move cars out of the driveway.
Showings need a routine too. Keep a short list: lights on, counters clear, pets out of the way, and the home smelling fresh.
A pre-listing home prep realtor can create a room-by-room list based on your home. That list keeps the work focused on changes buyers will notice.
In the capital region, a pre-listing home prep realtor in Harrisburg, PA, can tailor that list to local buyers.
Connect Preparation to Your Marketing
Preparation works best as part of a plan. A home marketing plan realtor connects photos, online listings and showings so each step supports the next. Ask your agent what the photographer will need so you can plan ahead.
A home selling strategy also sets the timeline. Start several weeks before photo day so repairs and cleaning are finished first. After photos, keep the home camera-ready, since buyers who see the listing online expect the same home when they walk in.
A real estate agent can suggest which tasks to skip, since not every home needs a full makeover. A home marketing plan realtor in Harrisburg, PA, can then match the photos and the online listing to the plan.
Get Help From Smith Top Team Realtors
At Smith Top Team Realtors, we help sellers decide what to fix, declutter and clean before photos are taken. Learn more about our home preparation services.
Ready to start? Please contact us, and we will help you plan your next step.
