1
Declutter & Depersonalise
Declutter & Depersonalise
- Remove all personal photos and family memorabilia if you don't want it photographed or seen
- Clear kitchen benchtops - leave only 1–2 appliances
- Tidy wardrobe contents (buyers will open and look at them)
- Clear out garage, shed and storage areas
- Remove excess furniture so rooms feel larger and flow better
- Tidy garage, shed and storage area
- Clear laundry - no visible products or dirty clothes
- Remove fridge magnets, corkboards and paperwork
2
Repairs & Maintenance
Repairs & Maintenance
- Fix all leaking taps and running toilets
- Patch nail holes and touch up scuffed walls with matching paint
- Replace cracked tiles or reseal cracked grout
- Fix sticking doors, squeaky hinges and loose handles
- Repair or replace broken fly screens and window locks
- Check all light switches, power points and exhaust fans
- Replace any broken or cracked window glass
- Test all smoke alarms - replace batteries if needed
3
Deep Clean
Deep Clean
- Clean all carpets and rugs
- Clean windows inside and out - tracks and sills included
- Degrease kitchen: oven, rangehood, splashback, inside cupboards
- Remove mould from bathroom grout, silicone and tile
- Clean gutters and downpipes
- Professionally clean upholstered furniture if needed
- Air the home before every inspection - eliminate pet and cooking odours
4
Kerb Appeal & Entrance
Kerb Appeal & Entrance
- Mow, edge and fertilise the lawn
- Trim all hedges, shrubs and garden beds - remove dead plants
- Repaint or thoroughly clean the front door
- Ensure house numbers are clearly visible from the street
- Pressure wash the driveway and front path
- Add fresh potted plants or flowers at the entrance if needed
- Clear the letterbox and tidy the front fence
- Sweep and clean the porch or verandah
5
Determine your selling price or reserve.
Determine your selling price or reserve.
- Replace all dim, mismatched or blown light globes
- Open every blind and curtain fully before each inspection
- Turn every light on - including lamps and under-cabinet lighting
- Add fresh throw cushions and a throw rug for warmth
- Place fresh flowers or a simple green plant in key rooms
- Ensure the home smells neutral and fresh before every showing
- Set a comfortable temperature for each inspection
- Consider professional staging for key rooms
Photography Day
- All repairs and cleaning complete
- Every light on, all blinds open
- Fresh flowers in kitchen & living areas
- Pets and people off the property
Inspection Day
- All lights on inside and outside
- All blinds and curtains fully open
- Home at a comfortable temperature
- Pets removed from the property
- Leave during the inspection so buyers feel
Top Tips
- Cleanliness is non-negotiable - buyers notice dirt, smells and grime immediately. If in doubt, clean it again.
- Less is always more. Clutter makes rooms feel smaller and distracts buyers from your home's best features.
- Aim for liveable but polished - buyers want to picture themselves at home, not walk through a display suite or a storage unit.
- Small investments in presentation can return $5-$10 for every $1 spent - don't skip the basics