Cleaning Tips When Selling Your Home

 

Putting your house on the market is easy. However, properly preparing it for the sale so you can get the maximum return on investment requires a bit more time and energy. To get the potential buyers to fall in love with the place, you’ll need to make it sparkling clean. When the list of tasks on your cleaning checklist seems endless, it may leave you stressed and overflowing with anxiety. To define priorities when it comes to cleaning your house and prepping it for the sale, we’ve come up with the ultimate list of tips to help you on this journey.

1. Get rid of the junk.

Before you grab a broom and a mop, it’s essential that you declutter the entire house first. This will not only prevent you from bringing all the unnecessary stuff into your new home, but it will also make the cleaning easier. Collect all the items that are broken or that you haven’t used in a long time. Divide them into three categories – things to throw away, things to donate and things that you can recycle. Aside from getting rid of the things you don’t need, you’ll make your home more spacious which something that attracts potential buyers.

2. Make the kitchen and bathroom impeccably clean.

These are the rooms that are going to have a huge impact on the buyer’s decision. For that reason, it’s necessary to get them into the best shape possible and improve their appearance. If you want to make sure that you don’t miss a spot, follow the general top-to-bottom and left-to-right rule. Before you start, make sure that the cleaning products you’re using are appropriate for the surfaces you’re treating them with. Use abrasive cleaners for grease residue or food particles. Pay extra attention to surfaces like laminate or countertops. For glass areas and floors it’s best to use no-rinse products since they don’t leave any film on the surfaces.

3. Give your carpets some TLC.

There has been a constant battle between carpets and wooden floors, and as many benefits wooden floors have, people are still installing carpets in their homes. One of the biggest reasons is that it makes a home warmer and more welcoming. However, for that to be true, the carpets must be nice and clean. If you’re not a huge fan of scrubbing, then the best solution for you is to local carpet cleaning services to do the job for you. Although it may seem like a splurge, leaving it to the professionals won’t only ensure your carpets will look as good as new but it will save you a lot of time and energy for more important things.

4. Make the windows shine.

Nothing ruins the house curb appeal more than dirty windows. As much as we all hate doing it, now it’s time to get down to work and make them clean and shiny again. Wash them thoroughly inside out, first with the detergent and then with some no-rinse cleaner that contains alcohol. That will prevent the watermarks or any other traces of washcloth. Clean the curtains and the blinds and deal with everything that needs fixing. Clean windows won’t only look more appealing but they will let in more light which will in return make the rooms bigger and more inviting.

5. Add a fresh coat of paint.

After removing any possible stains on the walls, you should treat them with a fresh coat of paint. By doing so, you’ll fill in the cracks and freshen up the color which has faded due to dust, dirt or cigarette smoke. If you’ve been thinking about changing the color of your walls, now’s the time. If in doubt, go with the classic white or pastel neutrals. They will make the room more spacious and also more welcoming. Another great advantage of these hues is that they blend so well with almost any decor style, so the new owner will easily adjust their furniture and appliances. Neutral tones are easily upgraded by adding some colorful cushions or other metal or brass accessories. 

6. Don’t forget the backyard.

As much as the buyers pay attention to the inside of the house (since it’s the area where they will live), a nice garden won’t go unnoticed.  So, the first thing you should do is to declutter. Remove the fallen branches, the lawnmower and other gardening tools you may have lying around. Put them in a garden shed or some other place you use for storage. By raking the grass, you’ll remove the rotten leaves or any other natural debris that may have accumulated over time. Power-wash the deck and the fence and check if your mailbox needs any repairs. Bring out a table and a chair set and cozy up the seating area. If the budget allows you, add some outdoor lighting or plan a new flower bed.

Conclusion

Moving house is both exciting and exhausting experience. However, you should spend some time and effort into upgrading it to raise its value. Cleaning doesn’t have to be a hassle when you have tips like these to help you sell your home. They make the cleaning process easier and more efficient. Also, it will be well worth it when you see the final result.