There’s a lot to consider when putting your home on the market. Last month I wrote about the critical importance of pricing — not too high, not too low. This month, let’s dig into another challenge: finding the right balance between timing the market and ensuring your home is showing its absolute best.
Ideally, you’d have both — perfect timing and a perfectly presented home. But in the real world, circumstances don’t always line up so neatly. That’s why smart decision-making becomes essential.
Why Presentation Matters So Much
One of the first steps in our process with every listing is a pre-listing staging consultation. Our superstar photographer, Angela — who also happens to be a Certified Staging Professional — provides this consultation free to every client.
And here’s the key: this often happens weeks or even months before the listing date. Why? Because preparation takes time. With Angela’s guidance, many of our clients are blown away by the transformation of their home from “decent” to “spectacular.”
Most of the recommendations are straightforward:
- Declutter and depersonalize.
- Rearrange furniture and artwork for better flow.
- Add the finishing touch — a deep clean, right down to the baseboards and light fixtures.
This isn’t about aesthetics alone. It’s buyer psychology. When buyers walk into a sparkling clean, beautifully organized home, it triggers a powerful response: “This feels right. Let’s write an offer.” That emotional connection is exactly what we want to create.
But Timing Can’t Be Ignored
Here’s the flip side: preparation takes time, but markets don’t always wait. What if conditions are deteriorating?
For example, imagine you take an extra month getting your home “perfect.” You might succeed in adding $10,000 in perceived value — but if the market drops in that same period, you could easily lose $15,000 or more. Suddenly, your hard work has backfired.
This is where having a skilled, experienced, and honest agent makes all the difference. Sometimes the smartest move is to hit the market sooner, even if your home is only 90% ready. Other times, the extra preparation pays off. The key is knowing which path will give you the best outcome.
The Bottom Line
Selling your home is a balancing act. Presentation matters enormously — but so does timing. The art is in knowing where to draw the line, and that’s where expert advice is invaluable. My role is to guide you through those decisions, so you don’t leave money on the table or miss the moment entirely.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about being “perfect.” It’s about having the correct strategy.