What Adds the Most Value When Selling a Home in London, Ontario

When the market gives buyers more choice, the things within your control carry more weight. Here is what tends to move the needle for a London, Ontario sale, in rough order of importance.

Start with the market you are actually selling into

LSTAR’s September 2026 release reported 561 sales, up 5.3% from September 2025. The composite benchmark price was $552,500 (single-family $600,700), and there were 5.9 months of inventory. LSTAR’s chair described the market as continuing to show signs of a buyers’ market.

In plain terms: buyers are comparing several homes and are not rushed. Homes that are priced in line with recent sales and show well tend to stand out. Homes that are overpriced tend to sit while better-priced neighbours sell. For fuller numbers, see our September 2026 market summary, and for how the data affects both sides, read buying or selling in London’s 2026 market.

1. Price it against real comparables

Price is the single biggest lever. A useful pricing opinion looks at:

• Recent sold homes of similar size, age, style and condition in your immediate area, not the whole city.
• Homes currently for sale that a buyer would compare yours against.
• What changed since those homes sold: rates, inventory, season.

Be wary of a price chosen only because it is the highest number someone offered to “list” at. Asking price is a strategy, not a wish. Start with a free home valuation and ask to see the comparables behind any number.

2. Fix what a buyer or inspector will notice anyway

Buyers discount for uncertainty. Small visible problems make them wonder what else is wrong. Before listing, consider:

• Repairing leaking taps, loose handles, cracked caulking, burnt-out bulbs and sticking doors.
• Dealing with any known water, roof or electrical issues, or at least getting a quote so you can speak to them.
• Touching up scuffed paint in neutral colours. Paint is among the cheapest changes you can make.
• A deep clean, including windows, baseboards and appliances.

A pre-listing inspection is optional. It can surface surprises before buyers do, but it also gives you something you must disclose or address, so talk through the trade-offs first.

3. Declutter and stage for the photos

Most buyers meet your home online first. Remove personal photos, half of the countertop items and extra furniture so rooms read as spacious. Make sure each room has an obvious purpose. Open blinds, replace weak bulbs with matching warm-white ones, and tidy outdoor space.

You do not need to buy new furniture. Often a combination of decluttering, rearranging and a few borrowed accessories does most of the work.

4. Photography and video

Professional photography is not a luxury: photos decide whether a buyer clicks to a showing. Good listing media typically includes:

• Bright, level, wide-angle interior photos, shot when the light is good.
• Exterior shots that reflect the season.
• A floor plan so buyers understand the layout.
• A short video or virtual tour for larger or more distinctive homes.

Ask any agent to show you their recent listing photos before you hire them. The quality is easy to judge.

5. Plan the launch

A listing gets the most attention in its first days. Have the media, a pricing decision and showing availability ready before it goes live on MLS®. Decide in advance how you want to handle offers, and agree what to do if the first weeks are quiet. Adjusting price or presentation early is usually better than waiting.

6. Know the tax basics before you sell

If the property was your principal residence every year you owned it, the gain is generally tax-free, but you must still report the sale on Schedule 3 and file Form T2091(IND) with your return (CRA). Speak with your accountant if the home was ever rented or used for business.

What does not add much value

• Big renovations done just before listing, which rarely return their full cost.
• Trendy upgrades in a style you like but a buyer may not.
• Overpricing “to leave room to negotiate”, especially when inventory is high.

If you would like a second opinion on your home’s likely price range or preparation list, our team is happy to walk through it. There is no pressure to list.