Pre-Sale Checklist | Free for Sellers

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This preparing house for sale checklist is free to use, free to print, and free to share. Tick items off as you go, or print the whole list and stick it on the fridge. There's no sign-up, no email capture, no catch.

1. Engage your team

Weeks 8–6 before listing

Engage a real estate agent — interview 2–3 and choose on strategy, not just appraisal price
Engage a conveyancer to begin preparing the contract of sale and vendor's statement
Discuss timing, marketing budget, and campaign approach with your agent
Order a pre-sale building and pest inspection

2. Plan and budget

Weeks 6–5

Walk the property like a buyer — make a master to-do list of every visible defect
Set a preparation budget (repairs, painting, cleaning, styling, photography)
Get quotes from trades and handymen for any larger jobs
Book your property stylist (popular ones book out 4–6 weeks ahead)
Book your real estate photographer for shoot day

3. Repairs and improvements

Weeks 5–3

Complete all visible repairs — paint touch-ups, broken latches, dripping taps, cracked tiles
Replace dated or broken light fittings
Repaint high-traffic rooms (lounge, kitchen, hallways, master bedroom)
Refresh tired exterior elements — letterbox, house numbers, front door
Tidy the garden, mulch beds, prune overgrown hedges
Repair damaged fly screens, blinds, fences, and gates

4. Declutter and depersonalise

Weeks 3–2

Declutter every room — family photos, magnets, mail, kitchen appliances, kids' artwork
Move excess furniture into off-site storage if needed
Clear bench tops in kitchen and bathrooms
Tidy and organise visible storage areas (cupboards, garage, sheds)
Donate or sell anything you won't take to your next home

5. Deep clean

Week 2

Book a professional pre-sale deep clean (covers kitchen, bathrooms, windows, dust everywhere)
Steam clean carpets and rugs (book first thing in the morning)
Clean windows inside and out
Polish stainless steel, mirrors, and glass surfaces
Pressure-wash driveways and pathways

6. Style for sale

Week 1

Property stylist installs furniture, art, and accessories
Cut fresh flowers for benches and tables
Place fresh towels, soaps, and bathmats in bathrooms
Set the dining table for inspections
Open all blinds, switch on all lights for photography day

7. Photography

Week 1 — shoot day

Move cars off the driveway and out of the immediate frontage
Hide everyday clutter — bins, hose, dish racks, magnets, mail
Tidy outdoor areas — sweep, mow, store away tools
Confirm drone, twilight, video shoots if booked
Review photos with your agent and approve for portal upload

8. Campaign launch

Listing day onwards

Property goes live on portals — confirm photos, copy, and floor plan are correct
Print signboard and brochures with your agent
Schedule weekly maintenance cleans through the campaign
Tidy the garden and sweep entry the day before each open home
Brief any tenants or pets out of the property for inspections

9. Offer to settlement

After accepting an offer

Conveyancer manages contract exchange and condition periods
Buyer's building and pest inspection (if applicable)
Cooling-off period management
Pre-settlement inspection with the buyer
Settlement day — keys handed over, funds transferred

Pre-Sale Checklist — Everything to Do Before You List