The 30-day pre-list playbook
Most homes need less than people think — but the work that does matter pays for itself many times over. Here is what we walk through together.
Curb appeal in one weekend
Front door paint (matte black or warm white), house number replaced if dated, garden edged, mailbox straight. If the porch light is yellow, swap it for warm white LED. Toronto buyers form an impression in the eight seconds between the car and the door.
De-clutter, do not depersonalise
Pack away one-third of what is on every surface. Keep family photos that show life in the home — buyers want to picture themselves living here, not in a hotel.
Make the house shine
Deep clean once. Carpets professionally cleaned (cheaper than replacing). Grout in primary bath whitened. Front-load washer + dryer wiped down. Kitchen cabinet faces degreased.
Touch-ups, not renos
Patch walls, repaint scuffs in original colour, replace any dated brass hardware with brushed nickel or matte black. Skip the kitchen reno — buyers want their own kitchen.
Lighting
Every bulb the same warm white (2700K-3000K). Replace any flickering or buzzing fixtures. Add a lamp to dim corners.
Smell
No air freshener. Wash linens, open windows, run the range hood. Dogs board out during showings.
Pre-list inspection?
For homes over .5M or pre-1980 builds, yes. Buyers come in with their own — a pre-list lets us address surprises before negotiation, not during.
