Thinking of selling? Get me in before the paint cans come out.

It is easy to look around your home and build an expensive to-do list. New floors. Updated countertops. A bathroom refresh. But before you spend your savings or every weekend getting ready, we should decide which projects make sense for your particular home.

My starting point is a walkthrough. We look at condition, presentation and what buyers will be comparing your home with. Then we separate the work into priorities, optional improvements and projects that need quotes or further advice.

Start with the things that do not work properly

Walk through each room and test what you normally overlook. Open cupboard doors, check handles, turn on lights and run taps. Write down the sticking door, loose hardware and dripping faucet.

For anything beyond a straightforward fix, bring in the appropriate professional. Cosmetic preparation should never cover up an unresolved problem.

Make space before buying accessories

Look at the route through each room. Can someone enter comfortably, walk around the furniture and reach the windows? Remove one unnecessary piece and reassess before changing everything.

Packing early helps, too. Start with seasonal items and things you will not need until after the move. Keep closets and cupboards organized so buyers can see their usable space. Leave mechanical equipment accessible.

Clean the details you have stopped seeing

Give attention to door frames, switch plates, shower tracks, vents and the cabinet around the garbage bin. Clean the front door and entrance, where buyers will pause while their agent gets the key.

Deal with odours at the source by washing pet bedding, emptying garbage and cleaning affected surfaces. Ask someone who does not live there for an honest opinion instead of reaching for a stronger fragrance.

Use your phone before the photographer arrives

Photograph each room from the doorway. Check the pictures for cords, crowded surfaces, furniture blocking windows and distracting items. You may notice things in a photo that you miss while standing in the room.

Then finish with fresh bedding, neat towels and simple styling. Give each room a clear purpose.

You do not need to finish every project you have put off for ten years. You need a realistic preparation plan. Thinking of selling in Edmonton or the surrounding area? Call me before you start spending, and we will build yours together.