Pre-staging / Listing Checklist

Your home is generally your largest investment and when you want to sell that investment, you want to get the most you can. Staging your home for sale helps you appeal to the highest number of potential buyers.

Using a staging professional to assist you with this process can help reduce your stress and give you the experienced advice to have your home stand out from the other competitors in the market.

Prep Checklist 

• Get Estimates on anything broken

• Depersonalize your space by removing mementos and photos to allow buyers to imagine themselves in the property

• Declutter and depersonalize

• Free up closet space by taking unseasonal clothing to storage

• Remove unnessary furniture - put in storage (rent at uhaul ect) 

• Find Your Papers - utility bills / warranties/ ages of

• Buyer feedback survey at door 

• Provide thoughtful cards 

• Improve Traffic flow 

• Use storage Baskets 

• Wash Windows inside and out 

• Wash Window treatments 

• Add decorative pillows to beds

• Wipe down all light fixtures 

• Get carpet cleaning service 

• Add lamps if room is dark

• Clean fireplace if applicable 

• Complete a thorough cleaning of your home from top to bottom, including all your windows

• Fix any minor repairs such as loose handles or fixtures

• Add as much seating to a room as possible without making it crowded to show how big the room is

• Include the largest bed or table within a room to allow buyers to see that their furniture will fit

• Set the dining table

• Consider your lighting and keep both inside and outside well-lit

• Touch up any scuff marks on walls, baseboards and other surfaces

• Add a few plants throughout your home (and keep them healthy and watered)

• Consider your curb appeal and keep yards and balconies tidy, maintained and decluttered

• Consider the smell of your home. Strong fragrances and odours may be overpowering or off-putting to potential buyers

• Clean sinks, toilets, bathtubs and showers - be thorough, be fearless, use bleach

• New Shower curtains ( plain white) throughout

• Repair any faucets, sink and/or toilet leaks

• Caulk and grout tile if necessary

• Clean all appliances inside and out 

• A fresh coat of paint always freshens up the space. Light neutral colours.

• Don't rehang photos. If they're light and non-breakable use command strips. 

Exterior 

• Add a doormat at the entrance

• Add a potted or hanging plant

• Add new house numbers

• Powerwash walkways/ patios

If youre contemplating work/renos, know that kitchens and bathrooms always have the best return. for every $1 dollar spent get $1.50-2 in return. See our renos blog 

Placing your home on the market requires objectivity and potentially significant preparation. As your chosen real estate professional, I will guide you through the preparation process to help you:

•     Appreciate the impression your home will make on potential buyers.

•     Define improvements that you can undertake to sell your home faster and at the best possible price.

•     Outline suggested interior and exterior preparations for cleaning, repair and organization.

•     Connect to professionals for preparation assistance such as painters, cleaners, contractors, carpenters, repair people, home stagers, and more.

It is a big step and a lot of thought and planning goes into it. We like to simplify it, but for the planners and people who want to know exactly what to expect we have prepared the information below. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions at all