Selling a home

Preparing your home, step by step

1. Step 1

   Declutter and depersonalise

   Remove excess furniture and personal items, clear the countertops and organise storage. Take down family photos and anything highly personal. You are aiming for a clean, spacious, neutral space that more buyers can picture themselves in.

2. Step 2

   Deep clean

   Kitchens, bathrooms, floors, windows and light fixtures. Do not skip closets, the garage and storage areas: a clean home reads as a well-maintained one.

3. Step 3

   Complete minor repairs

   Leaky taps, squeaky doors, loose handles, damaged walls, burnt-out bulbs. Individually trivial; together they shape the impression of how the house has been looked after.

4. Step 4

   Improve curb appeal

   Mow the lawn, trim the landscaping, clean the walkways and the front entrance, and clear any outdoor clutter. This is the first thing every buyer sees.

5. Step 5

   Stage the rooms that matter

   Arrange furniture to show off the space rather than fill it, use neutral décor and colours, and highlight the home's best features. Concentrate on the kitchen, living room, primary bedroom and bathrooms.

6. Step 6

   Brighten the space

   Open the blinds and curtains and turn the lights on before a showing. Bright rooms feel larger and more welcoming.

7. Step 7

   Stay showing-ready

   Beds made, counters clear, personal items stored. Keep the home clean, fresh and ready for a viewing at short notice.

Where staging makes the most difference

Staging is about presenting your home in its best light so buyers can easily picture living there. A well-staged home attracts more interest, tends to generate stronger offers, and often sells faster. Focus your effort here:

• The kitchen, which more buyers judge the house on than any other room
• The living room, where buyers imagine their own day-to-day life
• The primary bedroom, presented calmly and neutrally
• The bathrooms, where cleanliness matters more than fittings
• Natural light throughout, which costs nothing to improve

Not every improvement returns what it costs. Before you spend on anything substantial, ask us: we can tell you which updates buyers in your area are actually paying for, and which ones you can safely skip.