| GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR HOME | TIPS IN SELLING YOUR HOME QUICK | LISTING YOUR HOME |
| SELLERS COMMON MISTAKES | CALCULATORS |
You only have one chance to make that first impression!
Here’s the checklist that will help you do it.
Does the doorbell work?
Does it smell fresh? If not, use air freshener, carpet powder or scented candles. Don't overdo it.
Avoid cooking curry, fish or spicy food that might cause lingering odor.
Floor Coverings (carpeting, tile, linoleum, hardwood, etc.)
- Dirt or stains?
- Excessive wear or damage?
- Area rugs clean and stain-free?
Walls and Ceilings
- Dirt, fingerprints or other stains?
- Nail cracks or tape residue?
- Cracks, chips, water damage?
- Need for repainting or new wallpaper?
- Neutral, light colors for roomy environment?
Doors
- Dirt, fingerprints or other stains?
- Need new paint?
- Open/close easily without squeaks?
- Latches/handles secure and working properly?
Windows
- Glass sparkling clean; chip, paint and crack free?
- Open/close easily?
- Latches/handles/locks secure, working properly?
- Dirt and fingerprints on frames or sills?
- Screens clean and without holes?
- Storm windows in good condition?
Window Coverings (curtains, drapes, blinds, etc.)
- Dirt or stains?
- Excessive wear or sun damage?
- Open/close easily; hardware working properly?
Lighting (lighting makes a room feel more inviting)
- All bulbs working and proper wattage?
- Broken switches, exposed wiring?
- Table and floor lamps working properly?
Pet Areas
- Clean, organized, odor-free?
Entryways and Hallways
- Clean and free of clutter or obstructions?
- Welcome mat(s) clean and inviting?
Closets and Storage Areas
- Clean and well organized?
- Clutter and excess junk removed?
- Clothes hung neatly and not jammed together?
- Shoes and boots neatly stored/stacked?
Kitchen
- Every surface sparkling clean?
- Counter-tops organized, all but daily use appliances? If it has not been used for months, put it away.
- Repair drawers, sliding doors etc. that won't open or close properly.
- Refrigerator spotless inside and out?
- Organized? Spoiled food discarded?
- Frost removed? Light bulbs working? (Buyers look!)
- Oven/stove-top clean? Burner trays cleaned?
- Sinks clean; faucets working properly and leak-free?
- Garbage disposal in good working condition?
- Cupboards/pantry spotless, organized?
- Dishwasher clean and stain-free?
Living Room/Dining Room/Bedrooms/Den/Study
- Define areas by furniture arrangement. Discard worn furniture and move extra to storage. Too much furniture makes the rooms look small.
- Take down pictures that hide walls. Patch nail holes and paint.
- Make closets more appealing by storing off-season clothes elsewhere.
- Everything thoroughly vacuumed/dusted?
- Remaining furniture clean and in good repair?
- Wood and other surfaces clean and polished?
- Bookshelves neat, organized and clutter-free?
- Children’s games/toys stored neatly?
- Fragile items removed and stored?
- Smaller valuables removed/locked away?
- Window coverings open for views and sunlight?
- Mirrors clean and in good repair?
- Ashtrays cleaned and kept out of sight?
- Fireplace clean, logs/kindling stacked neatly?
- Open curtains
Bathrooms/Powder Room
- Remove all unnecessary items from counter tops, tubs and commode. Make every bathroom look like a "guest bathroom."
- Fix leaky faucets, rust stains and faulty plumbing.
- Caulk and grout tiles. Bleach discolored grout.
- Remove or replace old wallpaper.
- Coordinate towels to one or two colors only.
- Every surface sparkling clean?
- Counter-tops organized, free of clutter? Fresh soap?
- Sinks spotlessly clean; faucets working properly?
- Tub and shower surface clean?
- Towels stain-free and hanging neatly?
- Shower curtain clean and in good repair?
- Toilet extra-clean and working properly?
- Closets organized and clutter-free?
- Medicine cabinet clean, “personal items” removed?
- Place softer bulbs and scented flower arrangement on vanity top.
Basement/Furnace Room/Garage/Attic/Storeroom
- Clean and well organized?
- Clutter and excess “junk” removed?
- Remaining items stored/stacked neatly?
- Everything thoroughly vacuumed/dusted?
Structures
- Exterior surfaces clean, in good condition?
- Front door exterior clean, inviting?
- Eaves troughs and downspouts clean, in good repair?
- Gates open/close properly; hardware working?
- Fences/decks in good repair, in good condition?
- Sidewalks and walkways in good repair?
- Driveway clean, in good repair?
Yard and Environment
- Driveways, sidewalks clear of snow, ice?
- Lawns mowed/edged regularly; large bare spots repaired?
- Leaves removed from lawns and flower beds?
- Trees pruned; hedges trimmed?
- Flower beds weeded and tidy; dead plants replaced?
- “Junk” and scrap removed?
- Lawn furniture clean, organized, good repair?
- Bicycles, children’s toys stored neatly, out of way?
- Firewood organized and neatly stacked?
- Yard free of “doggy deposits”?
When it comes to staging a house, you should start from the outside. What will the first impression of your home be? The walkway up to the front door, the door itself, and of course, the yard and landscaping. The state of the driveway and garage will also come into play.
The neighbourhood you live in will decide the type of buyer who will be coming to your house. Now you can’t stage a neighbourhood, but what we are referring to is that your house needs to be staged in a way that will speak to the lifestyle of the potential buyer, i.e. families with young children vs empty nesters.
Choice of furniture, accessories, and artwork must match the house: modern styles for contemporary houses and classic styles for older homes. Whether you are in downtown, a particular suburb, or a country home will also dictate how we stage your home. We stage the right way for the property and neighbourhood.
Houses have more rooms and more space, therefore, the staging will be more cozy and relaxed.
We recommend staging the whole property or at least the main floor and master bedroom. In larger homes, where budget may be an issue, you will need to focus on the key spaces. We rank room importance in this order: Entrance, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Family room, Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom.
In houses with smaller or odd-shaped rooms, we recommend that they should be staged as it is often difficult for buyers to imagine what to do with the space, what size bed will fit, etc.
Condo Staging
To begin with, the logistics are very different when staging a condo. You must consider booking the elevators not only for removing your furniture etc., but also for when we drop-off and pickup our staging décor.
Condos are a completely different buyer than those that are looking at houses.
Condos tend to be more modern, but that also depends on which neighbourhood you are living in. A condo in Markham is very different style from one in downtown and we take these things into consideration for every property.
Since condos typically have less rooms and less space, we need to show the versatility of the space. We try to make people see how they can utilize the space in the best way.
Condos are typically smaller. Since you are selling “space”, showing how much space you have will help sell the condo faster and get you a higher price. For example, showing a king-size bed in the master bedroom (if it fits, of course) will make the condo look more expensive and will likely attract a couple, which usually means two incomes and better affordability.
The smaller the space, the better it needs to look. In addition, we recommend staging the whole property to allow for consistency and flow from room to room. We have the perfect scale furniture pieces to make any condo appear as large as possible.
Staging luxury condo suites are a different process entirely. In these cases, we need to appeal to a very specific buyer. For example, Yorkville is quite different from units by the lake such as Harbour Square. In addition, even two condos in the same building when they are different sizes, finishes and price points, will be staged individually. For all luxury condos, we will use higher end furniture, appropriate artwork, and upscale accessories.
However, the layout of the suite, the asking price, and the area it is located will determine many of the staging details. (Read full information)
RELATED TOPICS:
Tips in selling your home or condo quicker
Glossary - Words or terms used in real estate transactions
Government Programs for Home Buyers
CMHC Purchase Plus Improvements
First Time Home Buyer Incentive
Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rebate
Toronto Land Transfer Tax Rebate
