With the Holidays and New Year celebrations behind us, the spring sales season for real estate kicks off in little more than three months’ time.
If you’re planning on selling your home at this peak buying period, you might find it a little scary to think you have around 12-16 weeks to prepare.
Spring is a great time to sell your property, but you need to be aware that many homeowners hold the same belief.
As a result, buyers will have a wider choice of properties and more leverage to negotiate. This is likely to be true in Ontario and British Columbia, where data shows there is already a strong supply of homes for sale.
The idea that you’ll automatically have the advantage in spring is misplaced. Smart homeowners realize this, and they will work hard to create the best possible presentation to attract multiple potential buyers and bids.
Their final result – a five-star presentation – does not happen overnight. It takes weeks to work your way through all the updates and small renovations and repairs. If you have a busy job, those weeks are going to fly by.
Spring selling season will begin at the start of April and run through to the end of May.
As an experienced agency, we would recommend that you try to be among the first properties to go on the spring market. Buyers will be ready, while many owners wanting a spring deal are not usually ready until the last week of April or early May. Why? Because they hadn’t organized themselves.
So, get a jump on your competition!
Here are 10 tips for preparing your home for a spring 2026 sale:
Declutter ruthlessly – January is the perfect month for a deep cleanse. Buyers are looking for space, not your stuff. Clear out closets, cabinets and storage spaces to make them look larger and more organized.
Conduct a deep clean – Hire professional cleaners for a top-to-bottom scrub. This includes washing windows inside and out, cleaning bathroom and kitchen grout and making sure all surfaces sparkle.
Perform minor repairs – Address all those small issues you’ve been ignoring – leaky faucets, sticky doors and chipped paint. Buyers notice minor flaws and often inflate the cost of these repairs in their minds.
Boost curb appeal – Focus on the exterior, even in the cold. Ensure walkways are clear of obstacles, trim dead branches and plan your spring landscaping. Curb appeal is a buyer’s first impression.
De-personalize and neutralize – Remove family photos, eccentric artwork and strong colour schemes. Paint bold walls a neutral, light colour like white or grey. This helps buyers visualise themselves in the space.
Staging rooms – Consider lightly staging the main areas like the living room, dining room and main bedroom. Staging furniture highlights the best features and defines the purpose of each space.
Hot tip – Have your furnace or heat pump serviced. Provide maintenance records to reassure buyers that the big-ticket systems are in good working order.
Light it up – Increase the wattage in light fixtures, use brighter bulbs and open blinds to maximize natural light. A bright home feels larger and more inviting.
The red flags: Check for common inspection issues such as water stains, poor attic ventilation or missing grout. Fixing these proactively prevents delays and renegotiations later.
Find a Realtor – The right real estate professional is your most valuable resource. Meet with a few agents in January to select the one who best understands your local market and selling timeline. Our agency would be delighted to assist you.