Interactive + printable checklist

The Pre-Sale Preparation Checklist.

A practical campaign checklist for the weeks before photography, the final presentation day and every open home that follows — with different pathways for lived-in and vacant properties.

Start My Checklist Complete Sale Guide

Work toward the photograph — then maintain the result.

The biggest presentation work should happen before campaign photography. After that, switch from major preparation to fast, repeatable inspection resets. This tool remembers your pathway and checked tasks on this device.

Set the checklist to your campaign.

Choose the pathway that matches the property. Tasks that do not apply will disappear automatically.

During the campaign:

Lived inVacant

Professional styling:

Yes / plannedNo

Your preparation progress0 of 0 tasks

Welcome back — your checklist settings and progress were restored on this device.

Stage 1

4–6 weeks before photography

Confirm your estate agent, campaign plan and photography target dateClarify sale method, marketing schedule, photography and first inspection.

Consumer Affairs Victoria ↗

Engage your conveyancer or legal practitionerGet the Section 32 statement and contract preparation moving early.

Victorian seller guidance ↗

Start the major declutterEdit benches, shelving, wardrobes, excess furniture and visual clutter.

Make a deliberate repair / upgrade listPrioritise conspicuous maintenance and presentation issues rather than automatically renovating everything.

Melbourne Property Hub — Strategic Upgrades ↗

Assess street and entry presentationReview lawns, garden edges, paths, bins, cobwebs and the front-door approach.

Create temporary storage for campaign lifeGive laundry, pet items, toys, paperwork and everyday clutter somewhere to disappear quickly.

Stage 2

1–2 weeks before photography

Finish decluttering camera-facing roomsPrioritise entry sightlines, kitchen benches, bathrooms, bedside tables and open-plan spaces.

Complete priority repairs before detailed cleaningFinish dusty trade, paint and garden work before the final presentation clean where practical.

Lock in the pre-sale cleanSequence detailed cleaning after repairs and decluttering and before photography or major styling placement.

ExitMaid Pre-Sale Cleaning →

Confirm staging / styling access and sequenceMake sure cleaning, furniture removal and trade work are finished before styling.

Complete the main garden and exterior tidyMow, edge, weed, sweep and remove unnecessary exterior items.

Assess windows, glass doors and reflective surfacesBright glass and mirrors can be particularly visible in real-estate photography.

Stage 3

24–48 hours before photography

Reset the kitchenClear excess appliances, dishes, cloths and products; present benches, sink and cooktop cleanly.

Reset bathroomsRemove excess toiletries, laundry and bins; check mirrors, shower glass, taps and vanity.

Prepare bedroomsMake beds neatly, simplify bedside surfaces and remove laundry.

Edit living spacesRemove remotes, cords, toys and paperwork; straighten cushions and simplify surfaces.

Finish floors after major activityVacuum carpets and finish hard floors after trades, cleaning and styling traffic.

Check walls, switches, doors and touch pointsLook at hallways, stairs and entries where marks become obvious after decluttering.

Stage 4

Photography morning

Check lights and blown globesMake sure lighting is functional throughout key photographed spaces.

Set blinds and curtains consistentlyPosition window coverings for natural light and the photographer's preferred presentation.

Remove bins, cleaning gear and utility clutterSweep for vacuums, mops, washing baskets, hoses and rubbish bins.

Hide daily-life itemsStore toiletries, medications, pet bowls, school bags, chargers, laundry and food packaging.

Move cars from key exterior shotsKeep driveways, garages and front elevation views clear where possible.

Walk the home once as if you were the cameraCheck toilet lids, towels, cords, reflections, cushions, linen, glass and outdoor furniture.

Stage 5

Before every open home — 15–30 minute reset

Do the quick-hide pass firstPut daily belongings into your campaign storage before spending time on small details.

Reset kitchen and bathroomsClear benches, dishes and toiletries; wipe obvious water marks and straighten towels.

Check floors and front entrySpot vacuum or mop and remove visible dirt, leaves or debris.

Spot-check entry glass, mirrors and fingerprintsPrioritise what buyers encounter immediately rather than re-cleaning every window.

Remove pet evidence and manage odourPut away bowls, bedding, litter and toys and arrange for pets during inspection.

Refresh the vacant propertyCheck stale air, dust, insects, toilets, garden debris and weather-related mess.

Finish with a two-minute room resetStraighten beds, cushions and chairs; check blinds and clear migrated clutter.

Decide whether campaign maintenance is becoming a burdenIf repeated resets consume too much time, consider targeted campaign presentation support.

ExitMaid CampaignCare →

Stage 6

During the campaign

Use agent feedback to target presentation changesRespond to recurring buyer observations rather than changing things simply because the campaign is underway.

Keep exterior presentation under controlLawns, leaves, bins, cobwebs and entry debris can change quickly.

Reset small things dailyA few minutes clearing benches, laundry and floors prevents the next inspection becoming another major clean.

Schedule a regular vacant-property checkInspect after weather, trades, private inspections or periods where nobody has visited.

Secure valuables and private informationRemove or securely store valuables, financial documents, medications and personal information.

Keep reference photos of the preferred setupUse them to reproduce furniture, cushions, towels and styling details consistently.

Bedroom prepared for property sale photography

Small distractions become surprisingly visible in listing photography.

For the last five-minute scan, look down for cords and bins, across at benches and bedside tables, toward the light for glass and fingerprints, and outside for cars, hoses, tools and garden clutter.

Useful support at the right stage.

Use specialists where they genuinely solve a preparation problem rather than treating every checklist item as a service.

ExitMaid Pre-Sale Cleaning →
Detailed presentation-led cleaning before photography and campaign launch.ExitMaid CampaignCare →
Targeted presentation support between photography and inspections.Melbourne Property Hub — Strategic Upgrades ↗
Assessment and coordination where preparation involves upgrades, repairs or multiple trades.

Related resources.

Property Sale Preparation Guide

Understand the full seller journey from campaign setup through settlement.

Open guide →

Complete Moving-Out Guide

Once sold, build a personalised moving and handover plan.

Open guide →

Pre-Sale Cleaning

Presentation-led cleaning focused on the individual property's highest-impact areas.

Explore service →