You start preparing for an open house the moment you decide to sell your home. You identify what repairs and renovations you need to do to get the property market-ready. Then, throughout viewing season, you keep the space tidy—ready for visitors at almost any moment.

It’s smart to make a checklist of everything you must do, moving from the big tasks to the finer ones. And creating a list for each space of your home can help you keep the work organized. 

Here’s how to get your kitchen open-house ready with a list that’ll take you from start to finish. 

1. Repaint

Repainting is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact renovations home sellers can perform. A fresh coat of paint on interiors, like on those kitchen walls splattered with years of cooking residue, has an instant cleansing effect. Repainting also allows you to change the color scheme of the kitchen, which can be part of a wider renovation plan to update the aesthetics of this space.

2. Do some minor renovations

Major kitchen renovations are expensive, and research shows that homeowners don’t recoup so much as half of their investment on this project when they sell. But minor, budget-friendly kitchen renovations can be wise. Here are a few to consider.

• Add or replace the backslash: Replacing that tile from the 1980s with a contemporary model can give your kitchen a major refresh. And putting in tile over a painted drywall backsplash can have an elevating effect. Plus, a new backsplash helps a kitchen look cleaner. 

• Replace the lights: Instead of spending your time cleaning dust and bugs from old kitchen lighting fixtures, replace them with updated, trendy models. Hang a statement light over the kitchen island and swap out aging lights anywhere else it’s simple to do so. Recessed lighting is likely fine as-is. 

• Update the cabinets: You can do a DIY cabinet upgrade by putting a fresh coat of paint on dated cabinets (you may need to sand first depending on the material) and switching out the hardware for modern-looking pulls and handles. 

• Upgrade appliances: Replacing old appliances helps improve the look and functionality of a kitchen. For example, if you have an old white stove that clashes with some newer, stainless steel appliances, upgrading that stove can unify the kitchen’s aesthetics. Opt for energy-efficient appliances, and give a potential buyer an added perk. 

Whatever renovations you do, be sure not to over-customize. The real estate market is full of varying preferences and tastes, and the next homeowner will want to put their own spin on the kitchen. So, keep your design choices as neutral as possible.

3. Deep clean

Take on this task on your own or hire professional help—either way, deep cleaning is a must that makes all the difference in a kitchen. Kitchens get grimy. Cooking grease, crumbs, and spills accumulate in the insides of cabinets, closets, and drawers, on surfaces, and in the nooks and crannies.

Remove everything from cabinets, shelves, and surfaces and wipe them clean. It’s also a good idea to wipe down the items you removed before putting them back so they don’t continue to dirty the spaces you’ve just tidied. Dust off the top of cabinets, appliances, and lighting fixtures. And deep clean the floors, sweeping or vacuuming before mopping to perfection. If you have tile floors, you may want to consider using a steam cleaner to leave grout spotless. 

Maintain your kitchen clean throughout open-house season by routinely scrubbing down the sink, wiping surfaces after every meal prep, and vacuuming or mopping regularly. A sparkling kitchen helps make a great first impression on home buyers.

4. Declutter

Decluttering has two benefits: it makes your kitchen look tidier and less personal. The latter helps a potential buyer imagine themselves in the space. Remove items like family photos and custom coffee cups, freeing up space. You can leave those spaces open or replace the items you removed with universally appealing art or ceramics. Put any objects that don’t need to be on countertops, like small appliances and dishes, behind cabinet doors. 

5. Keep the shelving organized

If you have open shelves in your kitchen, keep them as organized as possible (even if this means putting your favorite mug in a cabinet for open-house season). Leave out only your best dishes or cookware, helping shelves look appealing and inviting—and not too “lived in.” Try to group objects in organized ways, i.e., stacking plates and bowls and arranging glassware by shape. 

6. Stage

Staging means making a space look appealing to buyers—leveraging interior design tricks to improve the ambiance. Generally, there are two aims of staging: to maximize space and boost aesthetics. Start staging your kitchen by reconsidering the layout. If your table is best suited for four chairs but you’ve squeezed in six, you might want to remove a couple. Or if you have an extra piece of furniture in the space, consider removing it. Then, upgrade the look of the kitchen with the following ideas: 

• Hang new kitchen towels 

• Put out a vase with fresh flowers and a candle or two 

• If you have open shelving, consider getting trendy dishware and glasses, since they’ll be on view

• Replace old area rugs with new contemporary ones 

If you want a professional eye, you can hire a stager—a designer who can revamp your kitchen for you, even providing rented props and furniture. 

7. Control scents 

Let’s face it: You need to keep eating during open-house season, and you shouldn’t have to deny yourself a delicious, aromatic plate just because its scent might linger. Instead, stay on top of cleaning pans (like the one you use to cook fish or eggs) and dishes in the moment, so that odors don’t build up and you’re not left with a sink full of washing to do at the last minute. It’s also smart to regularly check the fridge and cabinets for food that might have gone off and frequently take out the trash. Light a couple of tasteful candles, too, on viewing day to help the kitchen smell its freshest.

8. Don’t overdo it

Buyers want to see a clean, clutter-free, functional kitchen—not necessarily one they feel like they’re about to attend a dinner party in. Unless your real estate agent advises you otherwise, skip baking fresh cookies (that’s just more dishes you have to do in a crunch) or setting the table—which can look a little too staged, even cluttered. And there’s no need to fill your kitchen with candles and flowers; one vase and a single candle can make enough of an impact. The same goes for decor. While swapping out your kitchen towels for new ones is smart, adding a bunch of linens just for the sake of staging can look over the top. 

All of that said, you want to maintain a welcoming atmosphere for open houses. Putting out basic refreshments, like a jug of lemonade or some water bottles, is an easy way to help folks feel at home without doing too much work.

Get open-house recommendations from your agent

Agents know best when it comes to prepping a home for visitors. Ask your realtor how to make your kitchen as appealing as possible to local buyers.

Team up with a Titus partner agent and get more than just sound advice. Titus’s affiliate agents have access to a unique financing tool that helps home sellers with renovations, repairs, and open-house prep. Closing lines of credit (CLoCs) of up to $25,000 are interest-free. Discover how it works here.