From listing day to closing day.
Eight clear steps, realistic timelines, and what to watch for at every stage. Built for Ontario sellers — TRREB / PropTx jurisdiction.
Median time from prep start to closing: 45–60 days.
- Step 1· Day 1
Instant Valuation + agent appraisal
Start with Zara AI's instant value range. A Summitly broker then walks through your home, factors in renovations + condition + market dynamics, and recommends a strategic list price.
Watch: The 'magic' list price is the one that captures the most buyer attention in the first 14 days — typically slightly under fair value to create momentum.
- Step 2· Days 2–10
Pre-listing checklist
Light prep: touch-up paint, declutter, deep clean, fix obvious deferred maintenance. Summitly concierge can coordinate this if you'd like.
Watch: Don't over-renovate. Most reno spend below $30K doesn't recoup at sale; it's better placed in staging.
- Step 3· Days 5–14
Light staging
Strategic furniture placement, neutral linens, fresh greenery. Vacant homes get full staging. Staged listings sell ~9% higher and ~30% faster on average.
Watch: Vacant + dated is the worst combination. Always at least light-stage a vacant home.
- Step 4· Day 14
Professional photography + 3D tour
Daylight photo shoot (typical 30–50 final images), drone aerials for detached, 3D Matterport tour for premium homes. Summitly includes pro photo + drone in our seller package.
Watch: Schedule for mid-morning or golden hour. Avoid harsh midday shadows.
- Step 5· Day 15
Hit MLS + marketing launch
Listing goes live on TRREB MLS + Realtor.ca + Summitly + dozens of partner portals. Social ads launch. Zara surfaces your listing to matching saved-search buyers.
Watch: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are optimal launch days. Thursdays for premium homes.
- Step 6· Days 15–25
Showings + open houses
Buyer agents book private showings 24–48 hrs out. Public open houses Sat/Sun. Summitly broker hosts each open house and screens prospects.
Watch: Strong-interest showings book back-to-back. If pace lags by day 7, broker recommends a strategic price adjustment.
- Step 7· Day 21–28
Offer review + negotiation
Offers come in. Summitly broker presents each one with a Zara strategy brief: bidding context, deposit strength, condition risk, closing flexibility. You accept, counter, or reject.
Watch: Multiple-offer days are scheduled (typically 7 days after listing). Set a clear floor before reviewing.
- Step 8· 30–90 days after offer accepted
Closing day
Lawyer handles wire transfer + title transfer. You hand over keys. Summitly concierge can coordinate moving, locksmith, and utility hand-offs.
Watch: Do your final walk-through 24 hrs before. Confirm fixtures and inclusions match the offer.
Have a step-specific question?
Zara knows the full Ontario seller playbook in memory. Ask anything from “What's the best week to list?” to “How do I prep my condo for showings?”