Auckland's property market is competitive. With buyers doing drive-bys before they even book a viewing, the exterior of your home sets the tone for the entire inspection. A dirty, mossy, or stained exterior tells buyers the property has been neglected — even if the interior is immaculate.

Real estate agents consistently rank exterior cleaning as the single highest-ROI pre-sale investment. For a few hundred dollars, you can transform how your home presents from the street, in listing photos, and during open homes.

Here's a practical checklist of what to clean, the order to do it, and how much it typically costs.

When to schedule your pre-sale clean

1–2 weeks before listing photos is the ideal timing. This gives enough time for:

• Any heavy roof moss to die and shed after treatment
• Surfaces to fully dry and show their true colour
• You to complete any touch-up painting on newly cleaned surfaces
• Landscaping to be tidied (mow lawns, trim edges, mulch gardens)

Don't leave it until the last minute. A full property package takes most of a day for the crew, and you want the listing photographer to capture the property at its absolute best.

Talk to your real estate agent — many will specifically recommend exterior cleaning as a first step. Some even have preferred providers, but getting your own quotes ensures competitive pricing.