Spring is always the busiest time of year for home sales and 2025 is looking like a good year if you’re a homeowner looking to sell. In Canada we’re seeing lower interest rates and a lot of pent up demand that tell us this market may be good to sellers.
Even with the best conditions, we can’t just coast into the market without any effort though. There are still factors that will either help or hinder a fast sale. As a staging professional I’ve been part of many successful sales in the past and here are my tips for getting your home market ready.
10 Things to Get Your Home Market Ready in 2025
1/ Speak to a Staging Expert
First and foremost it’s always a great idea to bring in a staging expert who can advise you about the overall aesthetic of your space. We become blind to what our home looks like to others and we may be missing some important elements that could benefit from small tweaks and changes. Even homeowners with the best sense of style should bring in a staging expert because staging is very different from design and the emphasis is on a fast sale versus creating a beautiful home for the future.
2/ Paint Your Home a Neutral Colour
If your home is currently painted in deep, saturated colours you may want to consider hiring a painter and going for a more neutral appearance. The goal is always to allow all of the buyers to envision themselves living in your home.
Neutral colours create a calm background where they can picture their own furniture, artwork, etc. While it can seem like no big deal there are buyers who want a turn key sale and even painting can be a deterrent to the sale.
It can feel like a personal attack when you’re told to change the home you love but rather than fight for the colours you love just switch to a neutral palette. This will allow the buyer who has a bright green sofa to imagine how well it will work with your tan walls.
3/ Declutter
This is a time consuming process but the rewards will be twofold. First, you’ll have a tidy home that is much more appealing to buyers. Secondly, you’ll have a jump start on the packing because decluttering involves donating unwanted items and packing up things that are cluttering up your space.
Marie Kondo gained a ton of recognition over the last decade through her philosophy of letting go of anything that doesn’t serve you. Keep this in mind when decluttering your current home and the benefits will flow into your next space. Just imagine how great it’ll feel when you’re unpacking at your new house and know that only the things you truly love are moving along with you.
4/ Lighting & Light Bulbs
Since a lot of buyers work during the day many of your showings will take place in the evening. Poor lighting can have a detrimental effect on the sale because none of us wants to live in a poorly lit home. Read this post to learn about the 3 types of lighting every room needs.
Ensure you have enough lighting in each room and that they’re all functioning properly. Don’t forget about light bulbs. It’s important to ensure that light bulbs are all working and that there’s consistency across your home. You don’t want cool bulbs in some rooms and warm bulbs in others. Warm bulbs feel more livable and comfortable so use those throughout your space.
5/ Clean, Clean, Clean
First impressions are everything and buyers walking into a dirty home will be more likely to overlook the wonderful aspects of the home. Yes it’s difficult to maintain a market-ready home if you work and have a busy family but it will matter to the sale.
Give your home a thorough cleaning before it hits the market even if that means bringing in a cleaner. You want it spic and span for the showings. After that it will just be maintaining and ensuring that everything stays clean and tidy.
6/ Be Sure Appliances Are in Working Order
Now is the time to address any issues you have with your appliances. Be sure everything is in perfect working order. Have a repair person in to fix anything that needs attention and replace any appliances that aren’t 100% functional.
Anything not addressed before an offer can end up costing more once the issue is disclosed during an inspection. Even if you have to replace an appliance it’s more economical to deal with it on your own versus having the buyer dictate which make and model they prefer.
7/ Add Curb Appeal
It’s possible that after a long winter your home needs a good cleaning on the exterior. Have someone come and clean the gutters so that you don’t have leaves blocking water drainage. If you have siding you may need to give it a cleaning with a power washer. Just go around the entirety of your home and ensure that it looks ready for the market.
Remove dirt and grime from the home but don’t overlook the mailbox, light fixtures and railings. These are all places that collect dirt, leaves and bugs which aren’t going to help your sale. After the cleaning is complete you can focus on creating a welcoming entry with potted plants, an upgraded door mat and excellent lighting.
8/ Caulk, Repair & Wash Windows
Windows are such an expensive upgrade and most buyers won’t be happy if they think they’ll need to upgrade windows. Replace any cracked or chipped glass and ensure that window frames and ledges are clean and there’s no peeling or chipping paint.
If you have wooden trim and sills check them for signs of decay. Remove old, deteriorating caulk and replace with new so that drafts can’t be felt from inside the home.
9/ Take Control of Your Garden
Even if it’s too early for your flowers to be in bloom it’s important to keep your gardens clean. Remove all the debris that’s accumulated over the winter and remove weeds that are coming to life. Be sure that your trees and bushes are tidy and trimmed and give your grass a rake to collect fallen foliage. Yes it’s a lot of work but these are the things that make a difference and can result in a fast sale versus sitting on the market for months.
10/ Depersonalize
This one can be the most difficult because it feels like we’re being removed from our own home. Buyers want to imagine their own lives when they walk into your home so remove family photos, drawings your kids have made and personal objects.
Allow buyers to view your home as a blank slate with tons of potential. Try to remember that this is all in an effort to sell quickly and soon you’ll be in your new home.
If you need help getting your home ready for the spring market, reach out to me. I’d love to help you get your home ready for a quick sale. You can learn more about my staging services here.
