Toronto’s Hot Housing Market: Make Your Home Stand Out

If you’re thinking about selling your Toronto home this summer, now couldn’t be a better (or more competitive) time. As of June 2025, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market is showing signs of cooling, with a mix of opportunity and challenge for sellers—and that makes standing out more important than ever.

1. Current Highlights of Toronto’s Housing Market

• 6,243 homes sold—down 2.4% from June 2024 (Global News )
• 19,839 new listings—up 7.7% YoY, giving buyers more choice (Global News)
• Active listings reached 31,603—a 30.8% jump YoY, the highest level in over 30 years (Storeys) 
• Average selling price: $1,101,691—down ~5.4% YoY, 1.7% MoM (Storeys)
• Benchmark price: $995,100—first time below $1 million since March 2021 (WOWA) 
• Sales‑to‑new‑listings ratio (SNLR): ~32%—indicating a buyer’s market (SNLR < 40%) (WOWA)
• Month‑over‑month sales up 8.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis—highest since January (Reuters)
• Month-over-month sales up 8.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis—highest since January 

Together, these stats show a shift from a frenzied seller's market to a more balanced—but buyer-leaning—environment. Buyers now enjoy slightly more leverage, more negotiation room, and time to make decisions. But for sellers, this means quality and impression matter more than ever.

2. Why First Impressions Matter More Now

With increased supply—over 31,000 listings—and slower sales (average days on market rising to ~42 from ~30 YoY, buyers have the luxury to be picky. In fact, psychology studies show buyers form a lasting impression in mere seconds of entering a home.

A spotless, well-cared-for space implies better maintenance overall and invites buyers to envision themselves moving in immediately. In today's market, that emotional pull could be the differentiator between “just another listing” and “their new home.”

3. Pre‑Listing Cleaning: Your Hidden Advantage

Pre‑listing cleaning—also called a “moving-in ready” clean—is more than just surface tidying. It includes:

• Kitchen deep clean: degreasing cabinets, shining faucets, cleaning inside ovens/fridges, sanitizing countertops.
• Bathroom scrub: removing limescale/grout mildew, polishing mirrors, shining chrome fixtures.
• Windows & light fixtures: cleaning off dust and fingerprints to maximize light.
• Floors & baseboards: deep vacuuming, washing, scrubbing, and touching up scuffs.
• Decluttering & deodorizing: removing excess items and ensuring neutral, clean scents.

Professionally cleaned homes photograph better, look more spacious, and feel welcoming during showings. According to the National Association of Realtors, clean and well-staged homes can sell for 5–10% more—meaning even a modest increase in sale price can cover or exceed the cost of cleaning.

4. Why It’s Especially Critical in Toronto

Toronto homes—especially condos and semi-detached properties in hot spots like Downtown, North York, Etobicoke, and East York—often compete on the basis of space perception. When living areas show outstanding cleanliness, they appear larger, well-cared-for, and more move-in ready—factors that matter when buyers are comparing multiple similar listings.

Given current conditions—moderate price drops and more negotiation room—the seller who nails first impressions can still command premium attention and offers.

5. Deep Clean vs. Standard Clean: Know the Difference

For sellers, a deep/pre‑listing clean is non-negotiable—it sets a clean foundation for staging, photos, and showings.

6. What It Costs in Toronto (and Why It’s Worth It)

At Taskopus, our current rates in Toronto are:

• Standard clean: $35/hr (3-hour minimum; ~4 hrs for 1 bedroom/1 bath = ~$140).
• Deep/pre‑listing clean: ~6 hrs = ~$210.
• First-time customer discount: 25% off (deep clean becomes ~$157.50).

Spending ~$160 to prepare your home can realistically deliver tens of thousands in added value—especially if a neutral price drop can be compensated by emotional impact and buyer confidence.

7. Beyond Cleaning: Other Ways to Make Your Home Stand Out

Once your space is clean, you can elevate it further with:

• Staging: Depersonalized furniture layout to highlight space flow.
• Minor updates: Fresh paint touch-ups, bright towels, decluttered countertops.
• Curb appeal: Mowed lawn, potted plants, clean mailbox and front door.
• Lighting improvements: Replace dull bulbs, add lamps to brighten darker rooms.
• Subtle scenting: Fresh-air sprays, lightly scented candles (not overpowering).

8. Choosing the Right Cleaning Service in Toronto

To ensure quality results, look for services that:

• Are fully insured and background-checked.
• Use eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products.
• Have strong reviews on Google/Word-of-Mouth—especially from sellers.
• Offer pre-listing cleaning specifically (ask if they do fridge/oven, baseboards, window interior).
• Can coordinate with your realtor’s staging or photographer’s schedule.

9. Final Thoughts: Make Buyers Fall in Love

In the current Toronto market—where more homes are listed, days on market are stretching, and buyers have the upper hand—attention to appearance isn’t optional. Excellence in presentation builds buyer trust, boosts perceived value, and can mean the difference between your home selling quickly at your price versus sitting and losing momentum.

Ready to give your listing the edge? In Toronto regions like Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, East York, and downtown, Taskopus is here to help you shine. Book your deep clean now—new customers save 25%! Call us at +1 (855) 261‑1113.