Start with the next chapter
Write down your preferred moving window, how much disruption you can tolerate, and what needs to happen before you leave. A home that is already vacant calls for a different preparation plan from one you are living in with a busy household. Put those constraints on the table at the first conversation.
Look at the house as a visitor
Begin at the street and follow the route a visitor would take. Is the entrance easy to find? Do doors open comfortably? Does furniture make the rooms feel smaller than they are? Note unfinished maintenance, crowded surfaces, uneven lighting, and anything that makes it difficult to understand how a room works.
Make three lists, not one enormous project
Separate work into maintenance to investigate, presentation to improve, and projects to discuss before committing. Cleaning, clearing surfaces, and thoughtful furniture placement are different decisions from replacing a roof or remodeling a kitchen. Ask for a plan that accounts for likely buyers, the property’s condition, your budget, and your timing.
Gather the details early
Collect the records you already have: repair invoices, warranties, plans, permits, and information about improvements. Keep questions about the home in a single list so they can be addressed with the right people. Preparation should make the property easier to understand, not disguise its condition.
A manageable place to begin
Photograph each room for your own planning, choose the three most useful next steps, and discuss the order with Sarah. A considered preparation plan helps you avoid spending a month perfecting something that did not need changing.