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The best approach is to plan ahead so that you have as much time as possible. It can take months to get a house ready to sell, depending on what kind of work needs to be done.
No matter what kind of time frame you're working with, consult with your real estate agent before embarking on major renovation work. Plan to walk through your home with your agent.
Make a list of all the items that should be done before you sell. Ask your agent which reports should be ordered and order them as soon as possible.
The next step is to get bids from contractors and trades people for the recommended work. Also find out about availability and how long it will take to complete the work. With this information you can fine-tune your fix-up for sale work.
Some projects may be too costly and some may not be able to be completed within your time frame.
Your agent can help you prioritize if necessary. Other projects, like de-cluttering and cleaning cost practically nothing except your time and effort.
Even if you decide to sell "as is," it usually helps the sale to present a property that is clean and free of debris. Buyers need to see what you have to sell in an uncluttered state in order to make a decision to buy.
