A stronger sale starts before the listing goes live.

Start with the objective and the next move

Clarify why you are selling, your preferred timing, whether the property will be occupied during the sale and how a purchase, rental or other move would interact with the closing date.

That context affects preparation, showing access, pricing strategy and how much flexibility you have when an offer arrives.

Get the property facts organized before marketing

RECO advises sellers to make sure listing details are accurate and recommends supporting facts such as square footage, renovations, property taxes, lot dimensions and inclusions with documentation where possible.

Collect permits, invoices, warranties, rental or lease information for equipment, condominium documents where applicable, and records of significant work. Good documentation reduces avoidable uncertainty later.

Prepare for the buyer you are likely to attract

Repairs, decluttering, cleaning, staging and photography should respond to the property—not a generic renovation formula. Some work improves presentation; other work may cost more than it changes a buyer’s decision.

Prioritize visible maintenance, clarity and ease of showing. If a defect or material fact requires professional advice or disclosure, deal with it directly rather than trying to solve it through presentation.

Treat pricing as a strategy, not a prediction

Comparable sales, active competition, property condition and timing help frame a launch range, but the list price also affects who sees the property and how buyers interpret it.

Discuss what the pricing strategy is designed to accomplish, how you will evaluate market response and what evidence would justify changing course.

Plan showings and property access deliberately

RECO recommends setting ground rules before showings or an open house and protecting valuables and personal information. Access should be controlled and documented through the brokerage process.

Decide in advance how much notice you need, how pets or occupants will be managed and which areas or items require special instructions.

Compare the whole offer, not only the price

Deposit, conditions, closing date, inclusions and the buyer’s ability to complete the transaction all matter. A higher headline price is not automatically the lower-risk or better-fitting offer.

If you are also buying, compare the proposed closing date with the next transaction and keep a contingency plan for timing gaps. RECO specifically reminds sellers to budget for transaction and moving costs and to plan for closing-date mismatches.