🏡 Pre-Listing Checklist

Get your home market-ready with this simple step-by-step guide.

✅ Declutter & Clean

• Remove personal items (family photos, kids’ artwork, mail).

• Declutter countertops, closets, shelves, and storage spaces.

• Deep clean the entire home – floors, windows, baseboards, appliances, bathrooms.

✅ Repairs & Touch Ups

• Fix leaky faucets, squeaky doors, cracked tiles, and patch any holes in walls.

• Replace burnt-out lightbulbs and test all light switches.

• Touch up paint, especially in high-traffic areas or bold-colored rooms.

✅ Boost Curb Appeal

• Mow the lawn, trim trees/bushes, and weed garden beds.

• Power wash siding, decks, and sidewalks if needed.

• Paint or touch up the front door and clean exterior windows.

✅ Staging & Presentation

• Arrange furniture to maximize space and flow.

• Add neutral accents (like throw pillows, towels, or fresh flowers).

• Open blinds/curtains for natural light; remove heavy drapes.

✅ Safety & Accessibility

• Remove or secure valuables, prescriptions, and sensitive documents.

• Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

• Make sure all areas of the home are accessible (attic, furnace room, garage).

✅ Paperwork & Property Info

• Gather utility info, recent upgrades, receipts, warranties, and manuals.

• Prepare spare keys, garage remotes, and security codes for showings.

✅ Professional Services

• Schedule a pre-listing walkthrough with your agent.

• Consider a pre-listing home inspection if advised.

✅ Final Touches Before Listing

• Bake cookies or light a scented candle before showings.

• Place shoe mats by the front door.

• Do a final sweep before each showing — beds made, lights on, blinds open.

🟠 Tip from Chris: First impressions matter — the goal is to make buyers feel like your home is move-in ready, well cared for, and easy to imagine themselves living in.