Getting Your Vacaville Home Ready for Photos and Showings

Most buyers shop for homes online, and they decide which ones to visit from the photos. If you're selling in Vacaville, that makes photo day one of the most important days of the sale. I'm Adriana Cueva, a REALTOR® with Realty ONE Group FOX, and I pay for professional photography on my listings, so I want your home to look as good as it can when the photographer arrives.

The same preparation helps at showings, so you only have to do it once. Here's the checklist I share with my sellers.

• Paint the front door. Check the paint on the exterior, the steps, the patio and the railings, too.
• Add flowers to the porch. Planters with vibrant flowers make a home look warm and welcoming.
• Update faded exterior lights. Check the door handle and lockset while you're at it.
• Pressure wash the driveway and walkway. Oil stains suggest a home that needs work.
• Keep the lawn and garden tidy. A neglected yard makes buyers wonder about the rest of the house.
• Add or replace house numbers. They should be clear from the street. Check the mailbox as well.
• Put down a new welcome mat. Small details make a home feel more inviting.

Deep clean the whole house and touch up the paint on walls, trim and doors. Replace burnt-out bulbs and dust the light fixtures. Clear flat surfaces, because less is more, and put away papers and miscellaneous items. Take down family photos and put away personal items, so buyers can picture the home as theirs.

Clear off the refrigerator too, including magnets, photos and papers. Trim bushes, clean up flower beds and clear yard clutter.

In the kitchen, clear the counters of as many items as you can, put away dishes, and tuck sponges and cleaning items under the sink. In the bathrooms, remove personal items from the counters and the shower, close the toilet lids, remove rugs and hang the towels neatly. Make the beds and put away clothing, toys and valuables. Move pet dishes, toys and kennels out of sight, and mow and edge the lawn.

Two more things. Check for lingering cooking or pet odors, because strong smells put some buyers off. And don't shove things into closets, because curious buyers look in there too.

Not every improvement pays for itself, and I'll tell you which ones are worth your time and money and which aren't. You can see the whole selling sequence in how I sell homes, and what this looks like for a Vacaville home on selling your home in Vacaville. My Home Seller's Guide has the full checklists.

If you're thinking about selling, contact me or call (707) 304-6574, and we'll walk through your home together.