Buyers form their opinion of your home within 90 seconds of walking in. Every sticky door, stained ceiling, and dripping faucet creates doubt — and doubt drives down offers. This checklist covers the 47 items that matter most, room by room.
Exterior & Curb Appeal (Before They Walk In)
1. Mow and edge the lawn
2. Clear dead plants from garden beds and add fresh mulch
3. Power wash the driveway, walkway, and front steps
4. Touch up or repaint the front door
5. Replace worn or dated house numbers
6. Clean all windows — inside and out
7. Repair or replace any cracked/uneven walkway slabs
8. Trim overgrown bushes away from windows and siding
9. Repair or repaint the fence if visible from the street
10. Ensure exterior lighting works and looks current
Entry & Hallways
11. Declutter coat closets (keep only what you'd show a guest)
12. Repair any dents or holes in walls
13. Ensure the front door hardware looks clean and functions smoothly
14. Replace worn entry mat
15. Touch up paint on scuffed walls
Living & Dining Room
16. Remove personal photos and highly personal décor
17. Rearrange furniture to maximize flow and space
18. Repair any fireplace issues (damper, surround cracks)
19. Remove excess furniture — less is more
20. Clean or replace light fixtures
21. Fill and paint any nail holes
Kitchen
22. Deep clean appliances (inside oven, under fridge)
23. Re-caulk around sink if stained or cracking
24. Clean or refinish grout lines on backsplash
25. Ensure cabinet hinges and drawer slides work smoothly
26. Replace dated or mismatched hardware
27. Remove countertop clutter — show 70% clear counters
28. Fix any leaky faucets
29. Clean range hood filter
Bathrooms
30. Re-caulk tub, shower, and sink surrounds
31. Re-grout floor and wall tile if discoloured
32. Replace any cracked or missing tiles
33. Fix running toilets and slow drains
34. Clean exhaust fans (dust buildup is visible)
35. Replace dated light fixtures over vanity
36. Stage with fresh white towels and simple décor
Bedrooms
37. Remove at least 50% of clothes from closets to show depth
38. Patch walls and touch up paint
39. Clean windows and replace broken blinds
40. Ensure closet doors slide or close properly
Basement
41. Fix any visible water damage or staining (and disclose source)
42. Ensure sump pump is working
43. Clean and paint concrete floors or add area rugs
44. Remove stored items to show available space
Systems & Mechanicals
45. Replace HVAC filter and service if due
46. Test all smoke and CO detectors — replace batteries
47. Repair any obvious electrical concerns (flickering lights, unresponsive outlets)
Completing this checklist before listing puts you in the top 10% of prepared sellers in the market. Buyers who feel a home is move-in ready pay more and negotiate less. Need help tackling this list? Listing Lift handles all of it for you.
Get a free pre-listing walk-through — we'll build your custom punch list. →