We often receive calls from homeowners who say, “We want to put our house on the market next week—can you come take a look?” While we can certainly pull off a quick timeline (and have done so many times), rushing a home to market is not always the best strategy for maximising your return.

If you want your home to look flawless, attract top-tier buyers, and sell for the highest possible price, preparation is everything. The reality is that getting a home truly “show-ready” takes time, especially if you need to coordinate with contractors or painters.

So, how early should you start? Well, it depends. We recommend starting as early as possible so we have time to evaluate the market and make the best recommendations to help you achieve your goals for the sale. In most cases, that is to net the most money from the sale. In others, it is more about the transaction’s ease for the client or the timing.  So ideally, you should begin the conversation with your real estate agent three to six months (or more!) before your target listing date. Please know that it is NEVER too early to start the conversation.

If you are planning to sell your home, here is a realistic, step-by-step timeline of the preparation process.

Before we proceed, be sure to download Our Complete Guide to Selling Your Home. Whether you’re planning to move to a bigger home or downsize, these tips can create a positive experience from start to finish.

Phase 1: 3-6+ Months Out (The Strategy Session)

The biggest mistake sellers make is guessing what updates buyers want, spending thousands of dollars on renovations, and then calling a Realtor.

Your very first step should be bringing us in for a pre-listing consultation. That’s where we learn about your specific goals and situation so we can develop a plan to help you achieve them. The goals discussion is one of the most important parts of the preparation plan because it informs our whole strategy. We might have an idea that will work better for you at the end of the day than the plan and time frame that you had been thinking about.

In addition to the goal conversation, we will walk through your home with you and tell you exactly what, if anything, needs updating and, more importantly, what you should leave alone. You do not want to spend $20,000 renovating a primary bathroom if a fresh coat of paint and new fixtures would yield the exact same return on investment.

• Example Timeline: If you want to list your home in the vibrant Fall market (typically starting right after Labor Day in September), you might consider scheduling this initial strategy meeting with us in May or June. 

Understanding the process is essential to your strategy, no matter when you decide to sell your house. For more information, read the posts below:

• Do You Have to Move Out When Your Home Is Listed?
• How Much Should I Sell My House For?
• How to Take Real Estate Photos

Phase 2: 2-3 Months Out (The Heavy Lifting)

Once we have our priority list, it’s time to tackle repairs and updates. This phase requires the most buffer time because you are at the mercy of contractor schedules.

Whether you are refinishing hardwood floors, painting the interior a crisp neutral color, or replacing a cracked driveway, you need to account for delays. Contractors get backed up, materials can take weeks to arrive, and weather can push back exterior work.

• How We Help: This is where working with an experienced local team pays off. We have a deep roster of trusted, vetted contractors, painters, and handymen who prioritize our clients. We can help you gather bids, schedule the work, and manage the logistics so you aren’t left waiting for a callback from a random painter you found online.

Phase 3: 1 Month Out (The Purge)

With the structural and cosmetic work wrapping up, it is time to focus on your belongings. You are going to have to pack eventually, so you might as well start now!

• Declutter Ruthlessly: Rent a storage unit or pod. Pack up out-of-season clothing, excess furniture, and anything sitting on your kitchen counters. You want the home to feel as spacious as possible.
• Depersonalize: Remove family photos, diplomas, and highly specific decor. Buyers need to envision their own lives in the space.
• Deep Clean: This is the time for a white-glove cleaning. Wash the windows inside and out, power wash the siding, and make sure the baseboards are spotless.

Phase 4: 1-2 Weeks Out (The Finishing Touches)

The final two weeks are all about presentation. At this point, the messy work is done, and it is time to make the home look like a magazine cover.

• Staging: Depending on your home, this might mean bringing in a professional stager to furnish the whole house or vacant rooms, or it might just involve rearranging your existing furniture to optimize the flow of the space.
• Photography and Media: Once the home is perfectly staged, we bring in our professional photographers and videographers. We need a few days to edit the photos, build the floor plans, and create the custom marketing materials before the listing goes live.

What can you do to create maximum appeal for potential buyers? The posts below might give you some ideas:

• Staging a Home For Sale Ve. Decorating: What’s the Difference?
• Will Smart Features Increase My Home’s Value?

Let’s Build Your Custom Timeline

Every home and every client is different. Depending on the house and the situation, we can move fast or take more time to build the right plan. We have put houses on the market in days- and we have sold homes over a year out!  But generally speaking, giving yourself a few months’ runway is the smartest way to ensure a stress-free, highly profitable sale.

If you are thinking about selling in the next year—even if it is months away—let’s start the conversation now.

Reach out anytime to start the conversation!

Sue Goodhart | sue@thegoodhartgroup.com

Allison Goodhart DuShuttle | allison@thegoodhartgroup.com

Phone: 703-362-3221

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