Kitchen
- Clear counters to a few essentials
- Organize the pantry and cabinets
- Empty the front of the fridge
- Wipe every appliance, run the disposal
- Degrease the range and hood
Seller Resources · Shakopee · Chaska · Chanhassen
Get your home ready to sell, without overspending.
Melissa Suddath · REALTOR® at eXp Realty
A little prep in the right places sells your home faster and for more. This is the exact checklist I walk my sellers through: an ROI-first plan, a clear pre-listing timeline, and honest guidance on what is worth doing and what to skip.
What this checklist gives you
Prep that pays you back.
ROI-first plan
No unnecessary projects. Spend only where it moves the sale.
Photo & showing ready
A clear plan for the two days that decide your listing.
Room-by-room
Exactly what to do in every space, one room at a time.
A clear timeline
Spread the work out so your home peaks the week it lists.
Start here
The 80/20 prep plan
If you only have a weekend, start here. These five moves give you most of the payoff for the least money and time. Everything after this is refinement.
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1 · Declutter first
Empty the surfaces, thin the closets, and pack away anything you are not using in the next month. Space and light are what actually sell a home, and this step costs you nothing.
Free, highest impact
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2 · Deep clean everything
A spotless home tells buyers it was cared for. Floors, windows, grout, appliances, baseboards, and every surface. When it is in the budget, a one-time professional clean is money well spent.
Buyers feel "cared for"
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3 · Fix the small obvious stuff
The leaky faucet, the sticky door, the cracked outlet cover, the burned-out bulbs. Small visible flaws make buyers wonder what else was ignored, and that costs you at offer time.
Removes objections
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4 · Sharpen the curb
The exterior is your first photo and your first impression. Mow, edge, add fresh mulch, trim the bushes off the windows, and clean up the front entry.
First impression
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5 · Neutralize smells and bold distractions
Pet, smoke, and strong cooking smells send buyers back out the door, and so do very bold paint colors and personal collections. Aim for clean, neutral, and calm.
Keeps buyers inside
Clean, decluttered, and full of light. That is what actually sells a home.The whole point of prep
A simple runway
Your pre-listing timeline
You do not have to do everything at once. Here is the order I use with my sellers so the work is spread out and the home peaks the week it goes live.
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1
2 to 4 weeks before listing
- Declutter and start packing non-essentials
- Complete minor repairs and touch-ups
- Plan your curb-appeal updates
- Book cleaners and any pros you will need
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2
7 to 10 days before
- Deep clean, or schedule a professional clean
- Finish paint touch-ups
- Finalize your staging plan
- Tidy the yard and beds
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3
48 hours before photos
- Clear counters and surfaces
- Put away personal photos and valuables
- Open every blind and turn on every light
- Hide bins, hoses, and toys outside
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4
Showings week
- Keep it "hotel clean" every day
- Beds made, counters clear, floors clean
- Secure valuables and medications
- Have a plan for pets during showings
Room by room
The declutter and clean checklist
Work one room at a time so it never feels overwhelming. Print this page and check the boxes as you go.
Living & dining
- Remove extra furniture so rooms feel larger
- Keep decor neutral and minimal
- Clean the windows and sills
- Steam or spot-clean the upholstery
- Set the table lightly for staging
Bedrooms
- Make every bed with clean, neutral linens
- Clear the nightstands and dressers
- Thin the closets so space reads as storage
- Remove exercise equipment and clutter
Bathrooms
- Clear the counters completely
- Fresh, folded towels
- Re-caulk or refresh stained grout
- Clean the shower glass or hang a fresh curtain
- Put away toiletries and medications
Curb appeal
- Mow, edge, and lay fresh mulch
- Trim bushes back off the windows
- Sweep the walk, clean the front door
- Add a simple planter at the entry
- Store hoses, bins, and toys out of sight
Whole-home last look
- Replace burned-out bulbs, match the color
- Touch up scuffed paint and trim
- Swap furnace filters, wipe the vents
- Set a neutral, comfortable temperature
Want to check the boxes by hand?
Print the full checklist and carry it room to room. It fits cleanly on paper, no clutter.
Spend where it pays
What is actually worth fixing before you list?
The fastest way to lose money before a sale is to over-improve. Before you start a big project, let's talk, because the right answer depends on your price point and what buyers in your neighborhood expect. Here is my general take.
| Project | Before listing? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Declutter & depersonalize | Always | Free, and it makes every room feel bigger and brighter in photos and in person. |
| Deep clean (including carpets) | Almost always | Buyers equate clean with cared-for. Highest return for the money you will spend. |
| Fresh neutral paint on tired or bold rooms | Usually | One of the best dollar-for-dollar updates. Skip a whole-house repaint if walls are already neutral and clean. |
| Minor repairs (faucets, doors, outlet plates) | Yes | Small visible flaws make buyers question everything else. Cheap to fix, expensive to ignore. |
| Curb appeal (mulch, trim, clean entry) | Yes | It is the first photo and the first impression. Low cost, high impact. |
| Pre-listing inspection | Sometimes | Worth it on older homes so surprises do not blow up your timeline later. Ask me first. |
| Major kitchen or bath remodel | Rarely | You seldom recover the cost right before selling. Usually better to price for it and let the buyer choose. |
| New roof or big-ticket systems | Only if failing | If it works, disclose it and price it in. If it is failing, let's talk before you list. |
Not sure which projects are worth it for your home? That is exactly what a walkthrough and a home value review are for.
The agent behind the checklist
Prep is where the sale is won.
I am Melissa Suddath, a full-time REALTOR® at eXp Realty serving Shakopee, Chaska, and Chanhassen. I built this checklist from the exact prep I run with my own sellers, because the homes that show beautifully are the ones that sell fast and for the most money. When we work together, I walk your home with you and turn this into a plan built around your timeline and your budget, not a generic to-do list.
"Melissa was very easy to work with on both a buy and sell. She kept me informed and positively managed the parties during stressful situations." Joyce Elleraas · Bought & sold, Shakopee · Zillow
When a home is priced right and shows beautifully, buyers do not hesitate.Let's get yours ready
Start with your number
Know what your home is worth, first.
Before you lift a paintbrush, get a real figure from an agent who knows your neighborhood. I will run a free home value review on your current home, no obligation, and walk your home with you to build a prep plan that fits your timeline and your budget, not a generic to-do list.
Last updated: June 2026