Start with a plan, not a shopping list.
Before ordering flooring, remodeling a bathroom, or hiring painters, sort the preparation list into three groups.
1. Needs attention
Known safety, maintenance, or condition concerns that should be evaluated.
2. Improves presentation
Cleaning, decluttering, lighting, landscaping, and thoughtful touch-ups.
3. Needs a closer look
Larger projects whose cost and timing should be weighed against the seller’s goals and competing homes.
Ask before approving a project
“What problem will this expense solve for the sale?”
A renovation does not guarantee that the seller will recover its cost. The preparation plan should fit the property, budget, timeline, and likely buyer audience.