Before You Put your House on the Market, Hire Mr. Clean!

I have seen transactions fall apart when buyer first sees an occupied home, then goes back to an empty dirty home.

Sage advice.  It's amazing to me as an inspector, how many homes we entire for inspection that have not been cleaned of even loose trash and debris.  The properties have been on the market for over a year with no offers, I wonder why....

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness" and helps to sell a home too!  Homebuying can be an emotional experience, so creating as many positive impressions as possible in a home is important.

Well said Leigh Anne... and along with dirt are the offensive odours too sometimes, especially Curry, which permeates throughout the walls and carpets.. and is really hard to eradicatre!

Why don`t these poeple get it !!  We give them the tools to assist in the sale, and they don`t do anything about it...Then they come to us and ask us why we haven`t sold their home.

I found a cleaning service that will give me a special price for cleaning an empty home.  The job they do is outstanding, even polishing light fixtures!  Even "clean" houses benefit from the once-over.  Carpet sanitizers, blue-water toilets and other little touches.  I add the fee to the listing agreement at presentation - rarely a problem, but the results are powerful.  Thanks for the post and for the reminder!

First impressions is KEY...I would think sellers would want a thoroughly clean house before a showing...I have been known to do some small housecleaning  before an open house.

What a timely post!  LOL  My husband and I have been out looking for a new home for ourselves and wow, I am just amazed at what sellers think is clean!  I try to overlook it, but sometimes, you just cannot.

Yeah, Mr. and Mrs. Seller, I see that beautifully landscaped yard, the gorgeous pool with waterfall and hot tub plus the koi pond and the expensive grill...but what will I remember in a few days?  Bugs in the house, a dirty master bathroom and a dirtier kitchen.  Sorry if you think I should be more impressed with the bells and whistles and not pay attention to the dirt, BUT unfortunately, the overall impression with which I am left is less than stellar.  May not be right or fair, but there it is. What else have you neglected?

The smell of certain spices - especially when accompanied by a thin veneer of grease - in this heat will literally drive some people out of a house before they even look at it.  I've certainly had it happen to me! 

Great advice!

AMEN to that advice. A home does not have to be the newest, the best, the most expensive...but it needs to be clean! nice reminder.

Great post with wonderful reminders!  As some one else said ...you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression!