A home that is well prepared for market almost always performs better than one that is not. This is not a controversial statement, but the degree to which preparation matters is frequently underestimated. The difference between a home that photographs beautifully and one that merely photographs adequately can be the difference between a buyer requesting a viewing and scrolling past.
The most important thing a seller can do is take an objective look at their property as a buyer would see it for the first time. This is harder than it sounds. When you have lived somewhere for years, you stop seeing it. The garden gate that sticks, the hallway that has accumulated things over time, the bathroom that is clean but dated: these are invisible to the owner and immediately visible to the buyer.
When you have lived somewhere for years, you stop seeing it.
We always recommend a period of preparation before a property is photographed, and we are happy to walk through a home with a seller and be honest about what would make a material difference. Some of it is simple: clearing surfaces, improving lighting, addressing the entrance. Some of it involves more considered decisions about whether a particular room would benefit from repainting or whether worn carpets should be replaced before marketing begins.
What we never recommend is spending significant money on improvements that buyers will want to redo themselves. A kitchen that a seller installs at considerable expense six months before going to market is unlikely to achieve a pound-for-pound return. The goal is to present the home at its best, not to second-guess what a buyer's taste will be.