🛠 Prep (P1) – Set the Stage to Sell Confidently

Most homeowners underestimate just how important the prep phase is when selling their home. The truth? The right prep not only makes your house more appealing—it can also mean the difference between no offers and multiple offers.

At The Ready Group, we live by the 4 P’s of a Successful Sale:

🛠️ Prep | 🎯 Presentation | 📍 Positioning | 📣 Promotion

Prep is the foundation for the other 3.  Here are 7 powerful ways to prep your home for a faster, more profitable sale (starting with big picture, then going granular) —and how we can take the stress off your shoulders while you do it.

1. Start With a Strategy, Not a To-Do List 🧠

Random prep wastes time and money. Our process begins with a detailed walk-through to help you focus only on what matters to buyers.

✅ What to fix
✅ What to skip
✅ What adds real value (and what doesn’t)

🎯 Pro Tip: Most of our clients get a custom prep plan with full project management—often with no money out of pocket.

👉 Let us create a plan for you

2. Declutter and Depersonalize (But Keep the Warmth) 📦

Buyers need to see themselves in the home—not your calendar, family portraits, or overflowing closets.

🛋️ Remove about 30–50% of your visible items
📚 Clear off countertops and shelves
🧸 Pack away personal items and niche décor

🎯 Presentation Backdrop: A decluttered space makes staging more effective—and photography pop.

👉 Ask how we help with decluttering and pre-packing

3. Neutralize Odors and Bold Colors 👃

Smells and strong colors are deal-killers. You may not even notice them—but buyers will.

🚫 No plug-ins or candles (buyers think you're hiding something)
🎨 Repaint bold or dark walls in soft, neutral tones
🧼 Clean carpets and upholstery

🎯 Promotion Backdrop: A clean-smelling, fresh-looking home gets more showing requests.

👉 Need help coordinating cleaners and painters? We’ve got it covered

4. Make Simple Repairs 🔧

Small issues give buyers the impression the home isn’t well maintained—even if it is.

🔨 Fix leaky faucets, sticky doors, broken blinds
🔌 Update burnt-out bulbs and crooked outlet covers
🪟 Touch up trim and scuffed paint

🎯 Positioning Backdrop: A well-prepped home justifies strong pricing and creates trust in buyers.

👉 Our handyman concierge can knock this out for you

5. Amp Up the Curb Appeal 🌿

First impressions start from the street. You want buyers excited before they step through the door.

🚪 Clean the front door (and maybe add a fresh coat of paint)
🌼 Add potted plants or simple landscaping touches
🧹 Power wash the porch, walkway, and driveway

🎯 Presentation Backdrop: Curb appeal sets the tone for their entire showing.

👉 Ask how we can boost your curb appeal without the headache

6. Prep for a Camera-Ready Launch 📸

Buyers scroll before they schedule. Your prep needs to translate through a screen.

🧽 Wipe down every reflective surface
💡 Maximize light—clean windows, open blinds, swap bulbs
📦 Hide cords, trash cans, and clutter before media day

🎯 Promotion Backdrop: Great prep makes your photos, videos, and marketing explode off the page.

👉 See how we launch homes like a pro—media day is our Super Bowl

7. Don’t Go It Alone 🙌

Here’s the truth: You don’t have to prep your home alone. In fact, our clients often hand the entire process off to us.

🧰 Full project management
💰 No money out of pocket options
📋 Clear prep plan with concierge support
🛋️ Designer-led staging
📸 Professional media production
🚀 Strategic launch with high-powered marketing

🎯 Our prep system feeds directly into how we present, position, and promote your home.

👉 Let’s build your prep plan today

Your Complete Pre-Listing Prep Checklist

GENERAL PREP:

• Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean countertops, clean windows)

• Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON

• Replace all burned out light bulbs

• Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent or ALL compact fluorescent)

• Turn all ceiling fans OFF

• Turn all TVs OFF

• Turn all computer screens OFF

• Open blinds/window treatments to let in outside light

• If a window has a view, raise blinds completely for unobstructed view

• Remove personal photographs (or replace with neutral landscapes/objects)

• Make all beds

• Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring

• Place all shoes/jackets in closets

• Remove exterior flags that may blow in the wind

EXTERIOR:

Front Exterior:

• Close garage doors

• Remove cars from driveway and front of home

• Remove trash cans from front of house

• Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)

• Remove empty planters

• Sweep cobwebs from eaves and door frames

• Hide visible water hoses

• Remove toys, sports equipment, basketball/soccer goals, etc.

Back Yard / Decks / Docks:

• Clean porch, tidy outdoor tables/chairs/cushions

• Use fresh (not faded) cushions/pillows

• Clear kid’s toys, balls, frisbees

• Clean pool; remove pool vacuum hose if possible

• Hide pool cleaning supplies

• Turn on pool fountains/water features

• Remove visible hoses and trash cans

• Clean docked boats/jet skis

• Neatly store fishing gear

• Light fire pits for evening photography

INTERIOR:

Kitchen:

• Clear countertops completely (no knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.)

• Leave out only one small appliance

• Clear fridge exterior of magnets/papers/photos

• Hide garbage cans in pantry/closet

• Remove dishes from sink; load into dishwasher

• Clean stainless steel and granite surfaces

Dining Room:

• Clear and polish table

• Use decorative place setting if available

• Add single centerpiece (flowers or similar)

• Straighten chairs evenly

• Remove booster/high chairs

Living Room & Family Room:

• Remove stacks of magazines/papers/mail

• Declutter fireplace mantel/hearth (max 5 items)

• Clean fireplace interior; repaint if needed

• Do not block fireplace with furniture

• Fluff and arrange pillows

• Remove kid’s toys

Bedrooms:

Owner’s Suite:

• Make bed with decorative pillows/shams

• Press linens and bed skirts

• Clear nightstands of personal items

• Store charging cables

• Remove clutter from dressers

• Remove family photos from walls

• Clean under bed

Kid Rooms & Secondary Rooms:

• Remove names from walls

• Remove stickers/posters

• Remove diaper genies

• Clean under bed

Bathrooms:

• Clear countertops of all personal items

• Put toilet seats down

• Close closet doors

• Remove shampoos/soaps/loofahs from showers/tubs

• Remove dirty towels; display only fresh towels

• Remove floor mats

Pets:

• Remove all pets during showings/photos

• Place food/water bowls in pantry/closet

• Hide pet beds/toys

• Lint roll furniture to remove pet hair

• Clean yard of pet waste/toys

Final Thought: Prep = Profit

When it comes to selling your home, Prep is Profit. Done right, it leads to better photos, more showings, stronger offers—and a smoother close.

Want help making sure your home hits the market fully prepped and positioned to win?

✅ We’ll create your plan.
✅ We’ll manage the process.
✅ We’ll even front the cost if needed.