Drive-up appeal: get your property ready to show

When preparing your property to show, work your way from the outside in. A potential buyer's first impression of your house forms while they are still sitting in their agent's car, so start by viewing your home from that perspective. Stand on the opposite curb, observe the property, and compare it honestly with the ones around it.

Checklist from the curb

• Lawn mowed and edged, beds weeded and mulched, hedges trimmed back from windows and paths.
• Roof and gutters clean; moss removed. In our climate this is the most common visible neglect.
• Siding, walkway and driveway pressure-washed.
• Front door painted or refinished, hardware polished, house numbers clear and legible.
• Exterior lights working; add a warm bulb at the entry for evening showings.
• Cars, bins, toys and tools out of sight.
• A single pot of seasonal colour at the door. One, not five.

For condos and townhomes

• You cannot control the building, but you can control the approach: a clean doormat, a tidy patio or balcony, nothing stored in the hallway.
• If the lobby or corridors are tired, mention improvement plans from the strata minutes in the listing so buyers know.

Then move inside

Once the exterior is right, follow the companion guide on preparing the inside of your home for showing. Nadia does this walk-through with every seller before photographs are taken.