Seller's Guide

How Do I Prepare My Home for Sale?

First impressions determine whether buyers make offers — and at what price. Before listing, consider:

• Deep clean and declutter

  Buyers need to visualise themselves in the space. A clean, uncluttered home photographs better and shows better.

• Address obvious deficiencies

  Dripping taps, cracked tiles, and broken fixtures signal deferred maintenance. Fix small items before buyers use them as negotiating leverage.

• Curb appeal

  The first photo buyers see is usually the exterior. Fresh mulch, trimmed hedges, and a clean front door make a meaningful difference.

• Consider staging

  Professionally staged homes typically sell faster and for more. Your agent can advise whether staging makes sense for your property and price point.

How Is a Home Priced for the Market?

Pricing is both art and science. Price too high and buyers ignore you. Price too low and you leave money on the table. Your agent will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) examining recent sales of similar properties, current active competition, and broader market conditions.

In competitive markets, strategic underpricing can generate multiple offers and ultimately achieve a higher sale price than listing at market value. In slower markets, accurate pricing from day one prevents extended days-on-market — which becomes a red flag for buyers.

Marketing Your Property

Exposure drives offers. A comprehensive marketing approach should include:

• Professional photography (and video for homes above $1.5M)
• MLS® listing with maximum field completion and compelling description
• Targeted social media advertising to reach buyers in your price range
• Agent network outreach — many sales happen before a property hits public portals
• Hosted open houses during peak buyer activity (typically Thursday evening and Saturday/Sunday)

What Conditions Are Common on Offers?

When offers arrive, your agent will review each one carefully — not just the price, but the terms. Completion dates, subject conditions, and the buyer's financing strength all affect how a deal unfolds. A clean offer at slightly below asking may be preferable to a higher offer with multiple conditions from a financially uncertain buyer.

In multiple-offer situations, your agent will advise whether to call for best offers, negotiate with individual buyers, or accept the strongest offer presented. This decision depends on how the offers are structured and what your priorities are.

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