The Bottom Line:

Make your home a show home for the period of time it is on the market.  If feasible, prepare to leave your home for a week or so of showings.  Hire S&H to stage your home to demonstrate its fullest potential.  Ensure the photos used for your home’s MLS listing are flattering and that the feature sheet prepared for potential buyers is professional and a pleasure to look at. 

The goal is to set your home apart from others on the market at the same time, in the same area, in the same price range. You can do that by creating the most welcoming, spacious and lovely environment possible. 

1.  De-Clutter

• Purge closets and all surfaces – edit, edit, edit!
• Pare down all belongings:  books, videos, clothes, etc. to create the impression that closets and rooms are very spacious
• Edit items from kitchen counters
• Remove area rugs from kitchens and baths
• Remove any hand/dish towels from kitchen
• Remove any wet towels, bathrobes, personal toiletries, etc. from baths

2.  De-Personalize your space

• Put away personal care items
• Remove as many personal photos, trophies, etc. as possible – the goal is for potential buyers to imagine fitting their own lives into your home, not to have them wondering about yours!

3.  Freshen Up

• If possible, use a dehumidifier in your basement
• Open the windows (weather permitting)
• Use closet sachets if necessary – but stay away from anything too floral – citrus or woodsy scents are best

4.  Clean everything

• Walls, windows, door handles, oven, light fixtures, inside of cabinet doors and around all drawer pulls, floors
• Bathrooms and kitchens must be immaculate
• Consider using a power washer on exterior walkways, decks, patios
• Get the eavestroughs cleaned
• Clean the furnace room – wipe down all surfaces

5.  Hire a Handyman

• If you have any “DIY” projects partially finished, or minor repairs that need to be done, make a list and hire a handyman if necessary
• Get all the work done at least one week prior to listing your home

6.  Clear the Slate

• If your budget permits, consider having the interior (and possibly the exterior) of your home re-painted in a fresh, neutral shade.  At the very least, aim for neutral colours in the baths and kitchen
• Get any broadloom steam-cleaned
• If you have pets, consider having someone care for them while you are holding your open-houses and showings – it will be less stressful for them, and you can put away their dishes, litter-boxes, crates, toys, etc.

7.  Bring the outdoors in, and tidy up the outdoors

• Consider placing fresh flowers in your entrance (space permitting), in your living and dining rooms, and possibly small arrangements in other places throughout your home (eg., baths, bedside tables)
• A bowl of crisp green apples or fresh bright lemons on your kitchen counter is always a good idea
• Tidy up your flower beds/plantings, and include flowers in planters or urns at your front entrance

8.  Store Your Stuff

• Consider storing large items like extra furniture, etc. off-site
• Renting storage space in another location may be a worthwhile option
• If storing items off-site is not an option, be sure to use neatly labeled storage bins, piled in unfinished basement areas or your garage, for out of season clothing, seasonal decorations, sports equipment, etc.

9.  Consider Renting

• Often, it makes sense to rent or purchase furniture and art to create a fresh, updated feeling in your home.  S&H can assist you with this.

10.  Lighten Up

• Improve lighting and keep the lights on for showing at all times
• Keep selected lights on during the day and at night to make the home look warm and inviting to potential buyers who are driving by
• Make sure the outdoor lights are on during the evening, and consider putting them on timers