Get your house ready for photos and showings. Start with what to clean and clear, what a professional should check, and which projects you can skip. A free walkthrough with a Worthington agent gives you a short preparation game plan.
This is the same game plan you leave with after a walkthrough with a Worthington agent.
List 01
Do before photos
Deep clean every room, including glass and baseboards.
Clear counters, shelves and floors, and pack what you won’t need before you move.
Put away family photos and personal items.
Open the blinds and replace dim or dead bulbs.
Clean and wash fabrics to remove odors at the source, and keep the AC running to control humidity.
Fix small things that are broken, like a dripping faucet, a sticking door or a missing outlet cover.
List 02
Have a professional check it
Water stains, soft spots or a musty smell.
Roof, AC or water heater concerns, such as leaks or weak cooling.
Electrical or plumbing problems you have noticed.
Seawall, dock or pool equipment problems.
This is preparation advice, not an inspection. Your agent can tell you which items need a qualified professional before you list. Seawalls, docks and pool equipment may need their own specialists.
List 03
Usually safe to skip
Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom right before you list.
Buying new furniture or decor just for the photos.
Upgrades chosen for your own taste.
Paint, new flooring and a professional stager make sense in some houses and not in others. Ask your agent before you spend.
Your house will have its own priorities. A Worthington agent can help you put them in order.
Three things per room. Open the rooms your house has.
Kitchen
Buyers look closely here. Open counter space and clean appliances do most of the work.
Leave only a few things on the counters.
Clear the front of the refrigerator and the tops of the cabinets.
Deep clean the oven, microwave, refrigerator and sink.
Living and family rooms
Buyers want to see the size of the room and how they could arrange it.
Take out extra furniture so walking paths are open.
Put away toys, games and everyday clutter.
Open the blinds and turn on lamps for even light.
Bedrooms
The bed sets the scale. Clear floors make the rest of the space easy to judge.
Make the beds with clean, simple linens.
Store bulky and personal items out of sight.
Thin out closets so the storage shows.
Bathrooms
Buyers look at grout, caulk, fixtures and any sign of moisture.
Clean the grout, glass and fixtures until they shine.
Put away personal products and set out clean towels.
Run the fan, and point out any sign of moisture to your agent.
Entry and outside
The front of the house is the first photo and the first impression in person.
Sweep the walkway, wipe down the front door and check the porch light.
Mow, edge and tidy the planting beds.
Move trash bins, hoses and toys out of view.
Lanai, pool and garage
In Southwest Florida, buyers pay close attention to outdoor living space.
Clean the lanai screens and outdoor furniture, and keep the pool water clear.
Arrange the outdoor seating so it feels like a room.
Clear enough garage floor to show that a car fits.
Your Options
Stage it yourself, hire a stager, or stage it virtually
There is no single right answer. It depends on the house, whether you still live there, and the price range.
In the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 83% of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for buyers to picture a property as their future home.
Do it yourself
Many lived-in houses can be prepared with this guide and the furniture you already own. The main cost is your time.
Hire a stager
A professional stager rearranges your furniture or brings in their own, along with decor. Costs vary, so ask your agent whether it makes sense for your house.
Stage it virtually
For a vacant house, furniture is added to the listing photos digitally, so buyers can picture how each room could be used. We add furniture digitally and don’t change or hide anything about the house itself. We label those photos, and buyers see the rooms empty when they visit.
Vacant
Virtually staged
Showing Day
A quick reset before each showing
Once the work is done, run through this list each time a buyer is on the way.
Open the blinds and curtains.
Turn on the lights in every room.
Turn off TVs and computer screens.
Clear the kitchen and bathroom counters.
Empty the trash cans you can see.
Straighten beds, pillows and towels.
Set a comfortable temperature.
Take pets with you, and put away their bowls, beds and toys.
Lock away cash, jewelry, medications and personal papers.
Move cars out of the driveway when you can.
Selling your home?
Leave with a preparation game plan.
Walk through your house with a Worthington agent and leave with a short list: what to do before photos, what may need a qualified professional’s assessment, and what you can skip. The walkthrough is free.
Kitchen
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Entry and outside
Lanai, pool and garage
