How to use it

Work it once, properly.

Tick the boxes as you go; this page remembers them on your phone or computer until you clear them. Nothing on this list is optional on the day it matters. Work it once properly and the rest of the process gets easier.

If something feels like too much, call Erin or Annette. We have people for that, and the list of them is at the bottom of the page.

01 · Property prep

Room by room, before the lens

Work through this list methodically, a room at a time, in the week before the shoot.

Kitchen

0 of 6

Clear all countertops completelyLeave one styled vignette only: flowers, a cutting board, olive oil. Everything else goes in cabinets or off-site.
Clean and organize inside cabinets and pantryBuyers open doors. Neat shelves signal a well-maintained home. Half-empty reads as spacious.
Deep clean appliances inside and outStainless steel should be streak-free. Oven interiors matter during inspections.
Remove everything from the refrigerator doorMagnets, photos, artwork, grocery lists. All of it.
Hide dish soap, sponges, and drying racksTuck under the sink before every showing.
Replace burned-out bulbs and maximize lightingEvery fixture working. Under-cabinet lights on. Bright kitchens sell.

Living areas

0 of 6

Edit furniture down to essential piecesRooms look larger with less. Remove anything that crowds walkways or blocks sightlines to windows.
Remove personal photos and family memorabiliaBuyers need to picture themselves here, not your family. Store it all off-site.
Style bookshelves and mantels simplyEdit to one-third capacity. Group by color or size. One object per shelf grouping.
Stow all remotes, chargers, and cordsTuck into drawers or baskets. Cord clutter photographs terribly.
Fluff and arrange throw pillows and blanketsTwo or three pillows per sofa, one folded throw. Symmetrical, minimal.
Clear entryways and mudrooms of shoes, coats, and bagsThe entry is the first interior impression. A cluttered mudroom tells buyers the house lacks storage.

Bedrooms

0 of 4

Make beds with fresh, smoothed linensWhite or neutral tones photograph best. Add two decorative pillows and a folded throw at the foot.
Clear nightstands to one item eachA lamp and one small object. Everything else goes in the drawer.
Empty and organize closets to 60% capacityBuyers evaluate closet size. Packed closets read as too small. Color-coordinate what stays.
Remove exercise equipment and office setupsIf the bedroom doubles as a gym, the buyer sees a room too small for its purpose.

Bathrooms

0 of 5

Clear all counters completelyNo toothbrushes, products, or soap dispensers visible. One styled item only: a small plant or candle.
Hang fresh, matching white towelsRolled or folded neatly. White reads as clean and hotel-quality.
Deep clean grout, glass, and fixturesShine every surface. Re-caulk if discolored. Costs $30, adds thousands in perception.
Toilet lids down, alwaysEvery photo, every showing, no exceptions.
Replace shower curtains if stained or datedA $20 white waffle-weave curtain changes the entire room.

Exterior, garage and utility

0 of 9

Mow the lawn within 48 hours of photos and showingsFresh-cut edges frame the house. Mulch beds should be edged and topped off.
Power-wash driveway, walkways, and sidingSingle highest-return prep task. Often under $300 and it transforms the approach.
Clean and arrange outdoor furniture, clean the grillCushions on, pillows placed. Grill wiped down, cover off if it looks good, on if it does not. Empty beats shabby.
Paint or stain the front door if neededFirst physical impression. A fresh coat costs $50 and a Saturday morning.
Remove all vehicles from the driveway for photosNothing in the driveway. Nothing on the street in front of the home.
Mailbox empty, no packages visibleEvery detail counts in photos. An overstuffed mailbox signals vacancy.
Clean garage floor and organize storageSweep or hose down. Stack bins neatly against walls. Buyers evaluate garage functionality.
Clear laundry rooms of all clutterNo clothes, detergent bottles, or ironing boards visible. Clean surfaces only.
Tidy mechanical spaces and label the HVAC filter with its last change date

04 · Who can do this for you

You do not have to do any of it yourself

These are the people we send our own sellers to. Call them directly, or call Ray and he will arrange it. If you need a specialist who is not on this list, Ray knows someone.

Staging

Linden Creek

864-214-4193

Interior design

Kerry Howard, Howard House Interiors

(404) 234-5902 · kerry@howardhouseinteriors.com

Cleaning

Harris Cleaning LLC

864-884-6345 · harris.cleaningllc@gmail.com

Cleaning

Lusso Cleaning

Marla · 828-226-7081

Professional organizer

Wood & Wicker

Celeste Oddo · 704-937-5746

Moving

Swamp Rabbit Moving

(864) 999-4410 · swamprabbitmoving.com

Pressure washing, painting, landscaping, handyman, plumbing

Ray Mack, DHG Vendor Concierge

(864) 546-0189 · ray@damianhallgroup.com

Ray Mack is our Vendor Concierge. Scheduling, access, and follow-up are handled by us if you would rather not manage it.

The printed version

The same list, on paper

The Property Prep Checklist is the companion to the Seller's Field Guide: the four lists above, with a page for notes, quotes and dates. Print it and keep it on the fridge.

Download the PDF Back to the Field Guide

Selling?

Start with a conversation.

The prep sheet is one page of the Field Guide. The rest is how we launch, how we price and what the fee covers, written down before you ask.

Request a private consultation

Before the camera.

Work it once, properly.

Room by room, before the lens

Kitchen

Living areas

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Exterior, garage and utility

The forty-eight hours that matter most

The day before

The morning of the shoot

Run this before every single one

Before the first showing

Every showing

You do not have to do any of it yourself

The same list, on paper

Start with a conversation.

A private conversation about your move

The Quiet List