Home Preparation Checklist
To get the best return on your home, you need to make your home look its best. Here’s the checklist that will help you do it.
- Inside Your Home
- Outside Your Home
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 colours 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, odour-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?
- 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
- Everything thoroughly vacuumed/dusted?
- Excess furniture removed for roomier atmosphere?
- 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?
Bathrooms/Powder Room
- Every surface sparkling clean?
- Counter-tops organized, free of clutter? Fresh soap?
- Sinks spotlessly clean; faucets working properly?
- Tub and shower surfaces 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?
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”?