Tips On Cleaning Your House To Sell

 

If you are putting your home on the market, and you want it to sell as easily as possible, you need to ensure that it’s attractive to buyers. A major part of this is cleaning the property effectively. Look at your home with an objective eye and ask yourself what you would think if you were viewing the property as a potential buyer.

You need to be honest with yourself, and make sure that your home is brought completely up to scratch. Any damage needs to be repaired and all of your rooms need to sparkle when people enter; especially the bathroom and kitchen. Take a look at our tips on how to ensure your home is clean enough to sell.  

Get curb appeal

Many people will see that your home is for sale as they pass. They are not going to be impressed if your garden is untidy, your windows are dirty or your blinds look old and worn. The first impression of your home is often the most important one, when it comes to selling. Consider what you would think if you approached the property as a stranger for the first time. Here are some actions you may want to take, to make the front of your property more appealing.

• Make sure windows and windowsills are washed inside and out.
• Make sure blinds or curtains are clean and in good repair.
• Jet wash the drive and any stone areas.
• Cut back any shrubbery and mow any grass.
• Plant some seasonal plants in the ground, or in pots, to add a little colour.

 

Get rid of clutter

When perspective buyers come to view your home they want to have unrestricted access; this isn’t going to happen if the property is full of clutter. Buyers want to imagine living in a property, with their belongings and furniture, so you need to make each room as neutral as possible, while still retaining some personal touches. As soon as you decide to sell your home it’s a good idea to start taking a clinical look at whether you actually need all of the contents; there is no point taking items with you when you move that you are never going to use. Sort through your home and establish what you need to keep, what can go to charity and what can be thrown away. You then need to take any unwanted items to the charity shop, the tip or the recycling zone. Just doing this will reduce the amount of clutter in your home. You may also want to consider moving any very large items of furniture into storage in order to convey a feeling of space in your home.  

The cleaning begins

Once you have de-cluttered your home you should find cleaning an easier prospect. You need to make sure that each room is sparkling clean when people enter to view. This doesn’t mean piling everything into wardrobes and cupboards either. People will snoop, and you don’t want them to be buried under an avalanche of bin bags if they open a cupboard door. Here is a list of some of the important areas of cleaning and repair you need to pay attention to:

• Wash all windows inside and out.
• Finally get rid of those hard to reach cobwebs.
• Polish all chrome and mirrors.
• Re-caulk around the tub, shower and sinks.
• Make sure your refrigerator doesn’t look like the land that time forgot.
• Clean or replace stained grout.
• Repair any cracks or dents in the property.
• Clean and dust everywhere, including all your picture rails, and behind and under furniture.

Remember that this is not just a normal household clean, you need to ensure that everything is spotless. That doesn’t mean just doing a thorough clean when you first put your home on the market, it means keeping up the cleaning routine until the property is sold. You can’t underestimate the importance of cleanliness and good repair, when you are selling your home. You shouldn’t forget the garden either. Unless Tarzan is in the market for a property, no-one is going to be attracted by a jungle. Cut back all bushes and make sure any lawn areas are kept neat and trim. If you follow all of these tips, hopefully you should be on your way to a successful sale.