Seller Resources
Preparing Your Home for Sale
The work that happens before the photos is the work that pays off.
Preparation is the one part of selling where you have the most control. You can't control the market, and you can't control how buyers feel the moment they walk in — but you can control the condition of the home they're walking into.
The goal here isn't a renovation. It's a home that shows well and holds up under a buyer's inspection: clean, cared-for, and free of the small distractions that pull attention away from the property itself.
Your Preparation Checklist
Five areas to work through before your home goes live — in the order most sellers tackle them.
Declutter & depersonalise
- Clear countertops and surfaces down to the essentials
- Thin out closets so they read as storage, not storage-full
- Pack away personal photos and collections
- Remove excess furniture to open up the flow of each room
Deep clean
- Floors, baseboards and window tracks
- Windows and mirrors, inside and out
- Kitchen appliances, cabinet fronts and grout
- Bathrooms, tile and fixtures
- Odours and pet areas — carpets, litter boxes, bedding
Small repairs that get noticed
- Sticking doors and squeaky hinges
- Dripping taps and running toilets
- Cracked outlet covers and switch plates
- Chipped or scuffed paint on trim and walls
- Burnt-out bulbs and torn window screens
Curb appeal — Inland Empire edition
- Front entry clean and welcoming, house numbers visible
- Landscaping trimmed and watered — the dry heat here fades and dulls a yard fast
- Drought-tolerant beds tidied so they look intentional, not neglected
- Driveway and exterior walls hosed off; watch for sun-faded paint and dusty surfaces
- Shaded patio spaces swept and presented well
Know what's coming in the inspection
- Roof condition and visible wear
- HVAC system age and last service
- Water heater age and condition
- Plumbing for leaks or slow drains
- Electrical panel condition
The point is simply to know the condition ahead of time, so you can decide what to address or disclose before a buyer's inspector finds it first.
Where to Spend, and Where to Stop
Not every improvement is worth the time before you sell. Here's a general way to think about it — worth discussing with your agent before you commit to anything.
Usually worth doing
A thorough cleaning, small paint touch-ups on scuffed walls and trim, and a landscaping tidy-up. These are low-cost, low-risk, and can help a home show better.
Usually worth discussing first
Bigger repairs, dated systems, and cosmetic remodels. These can be reasonable in some cases — but talk through the specifics before spending, so the work matches the situation.
Usually not necessary
Full renovations undertaken before you've had that conversation. It's rarely the right first move — start with a walk-through, not a contractor.
A Realistic Prep Timeline
A general shape for the weeks leading up to listing — not a fixed schedule.
Start the bigger items
Begin decluttering room by room, schedule any repairs that need a contractor, and take stock of the exterior with fresh eyes.
Deep clean & touch-ups
Handle the deep clean, finish small repairs, and take care of paint touch-ups and landscaping tidy-up.
Final details
Clear surfaces, put away personal items, double-check every room reads clean and uncluttered on camera.
Quick reset
Lights on, surfaces clear, odours addressed, curb appeal checked one more time before buyers arrive.
Every home and every seller's timeline is different — use this as a general guide, not a strict deadline.
Not Sure What Your Home Needs?
Every home is different. Let's walk through yours together and talk about what's worth doing before it goes on the market.