Before Your Open House: Window, Gutter and Solar Checklist
A printable checklist for sellers and agents. What to clean outside the home before listing photos and the open house, in what order, and how far ahead. Send it to your agent and work through it together.
Call or text a few photos. Flat quote, usually the same day.
- The checklist
- Timeline
- Order of work
- Day-of tasks
Roof First, Windows Last, a Few Days Before Photos
Clean gutters, skylights and the roof first, then pressure wash walkways and the entry, then clean windows, screens and tracks two to five days before listing photos. Touch up sliders and entry glass the morning of the open house.
Two-story home in Santa Cruz CountyIn NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 88 percent of sellers’ agents recommended cleaning the entire home before listing and 77 percent recommended improving curb appeal. This checklist covers the exterior and glass part of that work. For the full guide on windows and listing, see is window cleaning worth it before listing.
Sources: National Association of REALTORS, 2025 Profile of Home Staging (May 2025).
Exterior and Glass Checklist
Tick these off before photos.
Steam cleaning concrete wall ledgeWindows and glass
- All windows cleaned inside and out
- Sliders and entry door glass cleaned
- Glass railings cleaned both sides
- Hard water spots on sliders tested and treated if they come off
- Failed seals noted for your agent
Screens and tracks
- Screens brushed and rinsed, or stored for photos
- Torn screens repaired
- Tracks vacuumed and wiped
- Weep holes cleared
- Sliders running smoothly
Roof, gutters and skylights
- Gutters cleared and downspouts running
- Visible gutter stains cleaned
- Skylights cleaned
- Moss on visible roof sections removed gently
Solar panels
- Panels checked from the ground
- Droppings, ash or heavy film cleaned if visible in roof photos
Entry and walkways
- Walkways and entry pressure washed
- Front door glass and sidelights cleaned
- Porch light glass cleaned
Week-by-Week Timeline Before the Open House
Work backward from the photo date.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3 to 4 weeks before | Book services; repairs and painting under way |
| 2 weeks before | Gutters, roof moss, skylights; screen repairs ordered |
| 1 week before | Pressure wash walkways and entry; landscaping finished |
| 2 to 5 days before photos | Windows, screens and tracks |
| Photo day | Blinds open, sills clear, sprinklers off the day before |
| Open house morning | Wipe sliders and entry glass; check screens are back |
Near the coast, salt film can make ocean-facing glass hazy again within weeks, so keep windows close to the photo date.
Why the Order Matters
Every job above the windows drops something on them.
Roof and gutters
Gutter cleaning and moss removal drop debris and dirty water down the walls.
Skylights and solar
Same roof access; rinse water runs down to the windows.
Pressure washing
Spray and runoff land on lower windows and sills.
Windows, screens and tracks
Always last, so the glass is the final thing cleaned.
Roofs should be soft washed, not pressure washed; see soft wash vs pressure wash.
Why Gutters Matter Before Selling
Buyers and inspectors look up.
Cleaning drain channel debrisOverflowing gutters with plants growing in them are noticed from the curb and in exterior photos. Clogged gutters can also overflow and send water toward the foundation; GuideOne’s risk guidance notes that clogged gutters overflow and let water seep into the soil near the building, and recommends downspouts carry water at least six feet away. Cleaning gutters before listing takes that off the inspection list.
Sources: GuideOne Center for Risk Management, Gutters and Downspouts.
Do Solar Panels Need Cleaning Before Listing?
Usually only if they show.
Light dust on panels doesn’t make much difference to output, and California research found cleaning for dust alone often isn’t worth it. Bird droppings, ash or heavy film are different, and they can show in roof and drone photos. Check the panels from the ground before deciding. See does solar panel cleaning improve output.
The Morning of the Open House
Ten minutes that make a difference.
- Wipe fingerprints off sliders and the front door glass
- Open blinds and curtains
- Check screens are back in and sliders run smoothly
- Clear sills of clutter and pet nose prints
- Keep sprinklers off so lower windows stay spot-free
- Sweep the entry and walkway
Local Things to Watch
What tends to show on listings here.
| Area | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| Coastal neighborhoods | Salt film on view glass; clean close to photo day |
| Capitola, Soquel and Aptos | Hard water spots on sliders and lower windows |
| San Lorenzo Valley and Bonny Doon | Gutters, skylights and moss under trees |
| Homes with solar | Panels visible in drone photos |
See all service areas for your neighborhood.
Inside Glass Checklist
Photos are mostly taken from inside.
Cleaning glass railing squeegee- Inside glass on every window, including behind furniture
- Sliders and French doors, both sides
- Skylights from below if reachable
- Sills and window ledges wiped and cleared
- Blinds dusted and opened for photos
- Mirrors and glass shower doors in photographed rooms
Window Problems to Find Before Buyers Do
Cleaning makes problems easier to see. Better you see them first.
| Issue | Sign | Cleaning fixes it? |
|---|---|---|
| Failed double-pane seal | Fog between panes | No |
| Etched glass | Haze that stays when wet | No |
| Torn screens | Holes, gaps | Repair separately |
| Dragging slider | Hard to open | Often improved by track cleaning |
| Water stains on sills | Dark marks inside | Cleaned; check for leaks |
| Sagging gutters | Uneven line along the roof edge | Needs repair |
We note anything like this during the visit so you and your agent can decide what to do before listing.
Curb Appeal Items That Involve Cleaning
What buyers see before they walk in.
Pressure washing front patio pavers| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Front windows | The first glass buyers see from the street |
| Entry door glass and sidelights | Up close at every showing |
| Walkway and entry | Pressure washed concrete looks cared for |
| Gutters along the front | Stains and plants growing out of gutters stand out |
| House numbers and porch light glass | Small details buyers notice |
Sources: National Association of REALTORS, 2025 Profile of Home Staging (May 2025).
Common Pre-Listing Mistakes
Most of these come down to timing.
- Cleaning windows before painting or roof work is done
- Cleaning coastal glass weeks before photos
- Pressure washing a shingle roof
- Hosing windows to rinse them, which leaves spots
- Leaving screens dirty in front of clean glass
- Forgetting the slider tracks buyers will open
Occupied, Vacant or Tenant-Occupied
Access changes the plan.
| Situation | What to plan |
|---|---|
| Occupied by the seller | Clear sills and furniture; touch up before showings |
| Vacant | Lockbox or agent access; glass stays clean longer |
| Tenant-occupied | Notice and coordination through the agent or property manager |
Using This Checklist With Your Agent
A shared list keeps everyone on the same schedule.
Send this page to your listing agent, agree on the photo and open house dates, and work backward with the timeline above. We can schedule around those dates, coordinate access with the agent and send before and after photos of gutters and roof work for your records.
Screens On or Off for Photos?
Either works; just decide before photo day.
Cleaning glass garage door panels| Screens on | Screens off for photos | |
|---|---|---|
| View in photos | Slightly softer | Clearer |
| Work involved | Just clean them | Remove, store, refit for showings |
| Risk | None | Screens can get damaged in storage |
| At the open house | Complete windows | Refit before buyers arrive |
Photo Day Timeline
How the day usually runs.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day before | Sprinklers off; sills cleared; windows already cleaned |
| Morning | Blinds open; lights on; screens set the way you decided |
| Before the photographer arrives | Wipe slider handles and entry glass |
| After photos | Refit screens if removed; close up |
Before You Hand Over the Keys
A final clean can be part of the move-out.
If your contract or your own standards call for a clean home at closing, a move-out window clean after the furniture is gone gets every pane, including the ones that were behind furniture. See move-in and move-out window cleaning.
Open House Checklist: FAQ
What should I clean before an open house?
Windows inside and out, sliders and entry glass, screens, tracks, gutters if they’re visible from the street, skylights, solar panels if they show in photos, and walkways and the entry.
How far ahead should windows be cleaned before an open house?
Within the week before, after any painting, landscaping or roof work. Near the coast, salt film can return within weeks, so don’t do it too early.
Should gutters be cleaned before selling?
If they’re visible from the street or in photos, yes. Overflowing or stained gutters are noticed from the curb, and clean gutters are one less thing for an inspector to flag.
Do solar panels need cleaning before listing photos?
Only if they’re visibly dirty in roof or drone shots, or have droppings or ash. Otherwise, it’s optional.
What order should exterior cleaning be done in?
Roof, skylights and gutters first, then pressure washing, then windows last, so nothing lands on clean glass.
Can I send this checklist to my agent?
Yes. It’s written for sellers and agents to use together before photos and showings.
Should I remove screens for the open house?
For photos, some sellers remove them for a clearer view. For the open house itself, put clean screens back so buyers see a complete window.
What if I find a fogged double-pane window?
That’s a failed seal, and cleaning won’t fix it. Decide with your agent whether to repair it or disclose it.
How long does a pre-listing exterior clean take?
It depends on the home and the services. You’ll get a time estimate with your flat quote.
Do you work with listing agents?
Yes. We can schedule around photo and open house dates and arrange access through the agent.
Should I clean windows before or after staging?
After staging furniture is in place, so nothing gets moved against clean glass, and before photos.
Do I need to clean every window?
Every window that shows in photos or that buyers will look through. In practice that’s usually all of them.
What if it rains before the open house?
Rain leaves spots on exterior glass. A quick exterior touch-up on view windows and sliders may be worth it if photos or the open house are right after.
Should I clean the garage windows?
If they face the street or show in photos, yes. They’re easy to forget and easy to notice.
Is moss on the roof a problem for selling?
It’s visible in photos and may come up in inspection. Removing it gently, without pressure washing, is worth considering before listing.
How much notice do you need before listing photos?
Book as soon as you have the photo date, ideally a couple of weeks ahead, so windows can be done two to five days before.
Can you clean on a weekend before an open house?
Ask when you book. We’ll tell you what dates are available and fit the visit around your schedule where we can.
Should I clean the windows if the house is empty?
Yes. Empty rooms show every smudge and every bit of dust on the glass, and vacant homes are easy to schedule with agent access.
Will clean windows help my listing photos?
Clean glass lets in more light and shows the view clearly, which is what photographers are trying to capture in shots that face the windows.
Get a Free Window Cleaning Quote in Santa Cruz County
Send your address and a few photos. You’ll hear back the same business day with a flat number.
(831) 203-3111- Same-day response, Monday through Saturday
- Flat quote, good for 30 days
- Add gutters, solar or skylights to the same visit
Serving Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Scotts Valley, Felton, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Watsonville and everywhere in between.