How to prepare your Calgary home for sale

Two weeks out: subtract before you add

Remove roughly a third of what's on surfaces and in closets. Buyers read a full closet as "not enough storage." Pack anything personal — photos, mail, medications, awards — and store it off site if you can.

One week out: fix the small things

Small defects cost you disproportionately in a showing:

• Burnt-out bulbs, and matching colour temperature across each room
• Sticking doors, loose handles, running toilets, dripping taps
• Scuffs and nail holes touched up in the paint you already have
• Caulking in bathrooms and around the kitchen sink
• Furnace filter, and a tidy mechanical room

Calgary-specific exterior items

Curb appeal here is seasonal. In winter, keep walks and the driveway cleared and salted for every showing and shoot. In summer, edge the lawn, clear the alley approach and put the garbage and recycling bins out of the frame.

Photography day

Open every blind, turn on every light, remove vehicles from the driveway, hide bins, pet bowls and floor mats, and clear the countertops entirely. Twilight photos are worth it if the home has a view or strong exterior lighting.

Documents to have ready

Gather your Real Property Report and compliance stamp, permits for any renovations, utility and property tax amounts, appliance ages, and — for a condo — the full condominium document package. Having these ready prevents conditions from dragging.