Bobby Saunders guide · Reviewed October 16, 2026

Prepare & Present Your Home

Prepare the property for the buyer decisions it needs to win.

A practical preparation guide for deciding what to repair, simplify, style, photograph, and maintain during a sale.

Inside the guide

A decision tool, not a generic checklist.

  • Walk-through and budget
  • Repair triage
  • Layout and styling
  • Photography preparation
  • Showing routine
  • Do, defer, or skip worksheet

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Preview

What you will work through.

01

Start with a walk-through and a budget

Preparation should begin with condition, likely buyer priorities, the competitive set, and a realistic budget. The goal is not to make every room new; it is to reduce avoidable uncertainty and present the property clearly.

02

Resolve defects before decorating around them

Fresh styling cannot answer concerns about active leaks, nonfunctioning systems, visibly deferred maintenance, or unfinished work. Use qualified contractors when a repair needs professional evaluation.

03

Let the layout do the talking

Remove enough furniture and personal items to make circulation, windows, storage, and architectural features easy to read while keeping the home warm and functional.

04

Prepare for photography

Treat photography day as a deadline. Confirm working lights, clean glass, clear counters, aligned window coverings, prepared exterior spaces, and a safe place for valuables, medications, and private documents.

05

Create a repeatable showing routine

Decide how quickly the home can be reset, what happens with pets and valuables, how lights and temperature are handled, and what minimum notice is practical for the household.

Use the guide on a real move

Turn the resource into a property-specific plan.

The PDF is designed to help you prepare better questions and organize the decisions that belong in a real transaction.

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