Get Your House Ready to Sell in the TriangleWash, Paint, Clean

The short answer

Declutter first, then make small repairs, then power wash the exterior, then paint, and clean last, right before the listing photos. Cleaning before painting means cleaning twice. Painting before washing means paint over dirt. In the Triangle, plan about four to six weeks from the first box packed to the photographer at the door.

A timeline that works

Step 1: Declutter before anything else

Every item you pack now is one less thing to clean around, paint around and photograph. Buyers want to picture their own life in the home, and full counters, crowded closets and family photos make that harder.

• Clear kitchen counters down to one or two items.
• Empty closets by about a third so they look roomy.
• Remove extra chairs, side tables and rugs to open up floor space.
• Store personal photos, collections and kids artwork.

Small fixes buyers notice

Buyers and inspectors notice small problems and assume there are bigger ones behind them. Most of these take an afternoon:

• Replace burned-out bulbs and use the same color of light in every room.
• Tighten loose cabinet handles, doorknobs and towel bars.
• Fix dripping faucets and running toilets.
• Re-caulk around tubs, showers and the kitchen sink where caulk is stained or cracked.
• Patch nail holes and dings before painting, so the new coat covers them.
• Replace torn window screens and worn doormats.

Step 2: Curb appeal starts with a wash

The outside of a Triangle home collects a lot: yellow pollen in spring, mildew and green algae on the shaded sides, red clay along the bottom of the siding and dark stains on the driveway. A proper wash makes the house look years younger and costs far less than any renovation.

• Siding: soft wash to remove mildew and algae without damaging the surface.
• Driveway and walkways: pressure washing for clay, oil and leaf stains.
• Porch, deck and fence: lower pressure for wood so the grain is not damaged.
• Front steps and entry: the spot every buyer stands on while the agent opens the door.

Our power washing service uses the right pressure for each surface. Washing also has to come before exterior painting, so new paint bonds to a clean surface.

Step 3: Paint where buyers look

Fresh paint is one of the best returns before selling, but you do not have to paint everything. Focus on what shows in photos and what buyers touch.

• Front door and trim. A freshly painted front door changes the first impression for very little cost.
• Worn exterior areas. Peeling trim, faded siding on the sunny side and bare wood on sills.
• Bold or dated interior colors. Soft, light neutrals photograph well and let buyers imagine their own style.
• Scuffed walls and ceilings. Hallways, kids rooms and ceilings with water stains.
• Kitchen cabinets. Dated wood cabinets can be painted instead of replaced. Our guide on painting or replacing kitchen cabinets explains when it makes sense.

Our house painting team preps carefully, protects floors and furniture, and cleans up when the job is done, so the home is ready for the final clean.

Step 4: The listing clean

A listing clean is a detailed deep clean timed right before the photographer comes. It is different from a regular visit because buyers look closely at things you stopped noticing years ago.

• Kitchen: cabinet fronts degreased, inside the oven and microwave, stovetop, backsplash and a shining sink.
• Bathrooms: soap scum and grout buildup removed, fixtures and mirrors detailed.
• Baseboards, door frames and switches: buyers touch and see these on every walk-through.
• Windows and tracks: clean glass lets in more light, which matters in photos.
• Ceiling fans and vents: dust here shows up in close-up shots.
• Smell: a truly clean home smells like nothing at all. Heavy air fresheners make buyers wonder what they are covering.

Step 5: Keep it showing-ready

Once the listing is live, the home has to look like the photos every time an agent opens the door, often with an hour of notice. If you are still living in the home, a quick reset before showings and open houses keeps the kitchen, bathrooms and floors ready. Some sellers book weekly recurring cleaning while the home is on the market, then switch back after closing.

And after the sale

When the last box is out, the home still needs a final clean before closing or before the new owners get the keys. A move-out clean covers what furniture was hiding: inside cabinets and drawers, closets, appliances and the floors along the walls. Our move out cleaning checklist covers what to expect, and we can plan the visit around your closing date.

One team for the whole project

Coordinating a power washer, a painter and a cleaner on a tight listing schedule is stressful. Because Lara Maids does all three, we can schedule them back to back in the right order: wash, paint, clean. Realtors and property managers also work with us directly on listing and move-out cleans.

We help sellers in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville, Durham and nearby towns. See all the areas we serve, call (919) 601-3676 or request your free quote online.