Free Download · Vendor Resource
The Pre-Sale Cleaning Checklist Top Sydney Agents Use
The exact 47-point checklist DSK runs through before every pre-sale clean — interior, exterior, and the small details buyers notice second. Use it for your own listing, or hire us to do it for you.
Why It Matters
Buyers Make Up Their Mind in 8 Seconds
+5% sale price
Industry research shows photo-ready presentation can lift a sale price by 1-5%. On a $2M Northern Beaches home, that's $20K-$100K.
Faster open-home offers
Clean homes attract more first-inspection offers. Less time on market = lower agent commission stress + faster settlement.
Photographer ROI
Even the best listing photographer can't make a dirty kitchen look fresh. The clean has to come first.
Send Me the Checklist
Where should we email it?
No spam. We'll send the checklist + maybe one follow-up. Unsubscribe anytime.
The Full 47-Point Checklist
What to Clean Before a Property Hits the Market
Print this, walk the property, tick each box. Anything still ticked is what your photos will show.
🍳 Kitchen (8 points)
- Oven interior — degreased, glass clear
- Rangehood filters removed + degreased
- Cooktop — burners, grates, splashback
- Benchtops sealed (granite/marble polished)
- Sink — limescale removed, taps polished
- Cupboard fronts — fingerprint-free
- Inside fridge + freezer (if staying)
- Splashback grout sanitised
🚿 Bathrooms (7 points)
- Mould-free silicone (re-do if discoloured)
- Grout — bleach + scrub, lines visible
- Glass — water-spot free, squeegee finish
- Tapware polished, no fingerprints
- Mirror — streak-free
- Toilet — base, hinges, behind
- Exhaust fan dust-free
🛋️ Living + Bedrooms (8 points)
- Carpets steam-cleaned (or replaced if worn)
- Hard floors mopped, polished where applicable
- Skirting boards wiped (top + face)
- Light switches + power points
- Door handles + push plates
- Cobwebs — corners, ceiling edges
- Ceiling fans (top of blades)
- Air vents + AC filters
🪟 Windows + Glass (4 points)
- All windows — interior + exterior
- Window tracks vacuumed (most-missed item)
- Sills wiped down
- Sliding door tracks + rollers
🧹 Detail + Decluttering (6 points)
- All personal photos removed (buyers can't picture themselves)
- Magnets + papers off the fridge
- Toiletries reduced to a single tasteful bottle
- Rubbish bins — interior wash, lids polished
- Pet items removed or hidden
- Cords managed (no visible tangles behind TV)
🚗 Driveway + Paths (4 points)
- Pressure-washed (concrete or pavers)
- Oil stains lifted
- Edges + grass strip tidy
- Garage floor cleared + swept
🏠 Exterior Walls + Roof (5 points)
- Render / paint soft-washed (not pressure)
- Algae + lichen on roof — soft wash treatment
- Gutters cleared + flushed
- Cobweb removal — eaves, beams, light fittings
- House numbers + letterbox cleaned
🌿 Outdoor Areas (5 points)
- Decks + balconies pressure-washed
- Outdoor furniture wiped + cushions fluffed
- BBQ — grates clean, hood polished
- Pool surrounds + tiles
- Lawn mown 24-48h before photos (not same day — fresh cuts photograph patchy)
⚡ Pro tip from DSK
Walk the property at 8am with the photographer's likely shooting angle in mind. Whatever the morning sun shows up — dust on skirting boards, smudges on glass, lichen on the eaves — that's what the listing photos will catch. The kitchen and bathrooms close the deal; the driveway and entrance get them through the door.
The Pre-Sale Cleaning Checklist
Before your home hits the market, a thorough pre-sale clean is what makes listing photos and inspections genuinely shine, often lifting buyer interest and the final sale price. This checklist covers what agents and stylists expect: streak-free windows, spotless kitchens and bathrooms, dust-free skirtings and fans, clean garages, and a tidy outdoor entry that creates strong kerb appeal.
DSK delivers photo-ready pre-sale cleans across the Northern Beaches, North Shore and Eastern Suburbs. Our directly-employed, police-checked team works seven days to meet styling and campaign deadlines, backed by $20M public liability insurance. Send us the property details and we return a fixed quote within 24 hours, with no subcontractors involved.
Pre-Sale Cleaning Checklist FAQs
What should a pre-sale clean cover?
Kitchens and bathrooms detailed, internal windows and glass, dusting of skirtings, fans and light fittings, floors throughout, and the entry and outdoor approach. We tailor the scope to your home and your agent's photography schedule.
How soon before listing should I book?
Ideally a day or two before photography and the first open home, so the property looks its best in images and stays presentable. We work seven days and can align with your styling and campaign timeline.
Does a pre-sale clean really affect the sale?
A spotless home photographs better and inspects better, which supports stronger buyer impressions. We focus on the high-impact areas buyers notice first, then provide a fixed quote within 24 hours.
Don't Want to Do It Yourself?
DSK runs the full 47-point checklist for you. Inside + outside, photo-ready, 48-hour turnaround. From $2,500 (3-bed inside+out) or $1,650 (exterior only).