RealEstateYEGBrent Deptuck · REALTOR® · Real Broker 587-400-4668
Selling play · move 2 of 5

Prepare to impress.

A walk-through list of small fixes, staging tips and the order to do them.

Last updated October 29, 2026

The 30-second answer

Small, cheap fixes usually beat big renovations. Declutter, deep clean, repair what’s broken, paint where it’s tired and get the light right. Then stage for photos, because that’s where most buyers see your home first.

Usually worth doing

  • Decluttering and a deep clean
  • Fresh, neutral paint where walls are marked or dated
  • Small repairs a buyer’s inspector would flag
  • Bright, even lighting in every room
  • Tidy front entry and yard (snow cleared in winter)

Usually not worth it right before selling

  • A full kitchen or bathroom renovation
  • Big additions or layout changes
  • Very personal finishes or bold colours

Paperwork to gather early

In Alberta, sellers usually provide a Real Property Report (RPR) with proof of compliance from the municipality. If you don’t have a current one, start early, because it can take time. Condo owners will need their condo documents.

Staging for the photos

Most buyers see your listing on a phone first. Staging is about clear surfaces, open floors and good light, so each room photographs well and buyers can picture their own things there.

What makes this different

Typical vs with Brent.

The typical way

“List it as is”

Big renovations

Paperwork at the last minute

With Brent

A room-by-room plan sized to your budget

Small fixes that photograph well

RPR and documents ordered early

Fix it or skip it

Spend where buyers look.

A rough guide to what pays you back before a sale. Brent fine-tunes it for your home when he walks through.

CostWhat buyers notice
Declutter and deep clean$$$Do it
Warm, even lighting$$$Do it
Fresh neutral paint$$$Do it
Small repairs an inspector would flag$$$Do it
Tidy entry and yard (snow cleared)$$$Do it
New kitchen or bathroom$$$Skip it
Bold, personal finishes$$$Skip it
Room by room

What Brent sees in a kitchen.

Tap the gold dots. This is a real kitchen from a recent listing, photographed after the prep.

A bright, staged kitchen from a recent listing
The plan

Three weekends to photo day.

  1. 1Weekend 1Declutter and pack

    One box per room of things you won’t miss. Clear closets halfway.

  2. 2Weekend 2Repair and paint

    Drips, sticky doors, loose handles. Paint the tired walls.

  3. 3Weekend 3Clean and stage

    Deep clean, swap bulbs, set each room for the camera.

  4. ★Photo dayLights, camera

    Brent books the time of day with the best light.

Paperwork to order early

Real Property Reportwith the City’s complianceCondo documentsif it’s a condoYour upgrades listwith yearsUtility costsa year of bills
The selling play

All five moves.

01 Price it right A pricing plan from recent sales on your street, not an online guess. Read the play 02 Prepare to impress A walk-through list of small fixes, staging tips and the order to do them. You are here 03 Market it like a movie Photos, video, drone footage and Reels, shared on eight channels. Next move 04 Negotiate with a plan Every offer compared on price, conditions and dates, so you pick the strongest one. Read the play 05 Close without surprises Brent tracks conditions, paperwork and dates until possession day. Read the play
Questions

Prepare to impress: questions

Do I need a professional stager?

Not always. Many homes need decluttering, cleaning and a few moved pieces. Brent walks through room by room and tells you what will make the biggest difference.

What is a Real Property Report?

It’s a legal drawing from an Alberta land surveyor that shows your property lines and where the buildings sit. Buyers usually expect it, along with the City’s compliance stamp or letter.

Home starts here.

Talk to Brent 587-400-4668 brent@realestateyeg.ca

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