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Five Minute Chores to Spruce up Your Home for Sale!

By
Real Estate Agent with Pine Knoll Shores Realty NCRE# 242843

Five Minute Chores to Spruce up Your Home for Sale!

 

I understand how stressful and time consuming things can be when you are trying to sell your home.  Been there, done that!  I also understand how little time there seems to be in a day.  One of the most important things you can do to sell your home faster is Keep it Clean & Organized & Clutter-free!  

 

So, while you are doing your daily chores to keep your home "Show Ready", if you add just five minutes extra each day, it can make a big difference.  

 

  • Dust the Living Room.
  • Wipe down the front of your Kitchen Cabinets.
  • Clean one Toilet or bathtub/shower.
  • Wipe down light switch plates and replace if needed.
  • Clean the windows in one room.
  • Jazz up the dining table with fresh place mats.
  • Vacuum or sweep upholstered furnishings (lamp shades too).
  • Dust ceiling fan blades.
  • Polish all faucets (this may take a little longer if you have 8 bathrooms).
  • Wipe down the refrigerator shelves.
  • Clean out from under the bathroom cabinets.
  • Make the microwave oven sparkle.  I spray mine with water, run for 1 minute and everything wipes right off!
  • Sweep the patio and entry walk to the home.
  • Plant a few brightly colored flowers by the front door.
  • Give the mailbox a fresh coat of paint.  Make sure the house numbers are easy to read too.
  • Purge items in just one closet each day.  Donate the items to a local charity or thrift store.  Call ahead, many of them will pick up the items.
  • Clean and organize the pantry.
  • Organize one kitchen or bathroom drawer (yes.... potential buyers will open them).  


What else can you think of that needs to be done?  Maybe clean off the deck furniture, replace a couple of throw pillows, wash any throw rugs, wipe down the front doors and paint if necessary.  Make your home shine and stand out from the many other properties available in the current market!


Home for sale in Pine Knoll Shores

The home in the photo above is gorgeous.  The leaves and spider webs that welcomed each visitor were a turn off.  In less than five minutes, with the help of a broom, the appearance is already much better.  Now, they need to pressure wash & clean the area too, and that chore could be completed in less that 1/2 an hour.  Allowing plenty of time to hit the beach or golf course on a Saturday Morning!

Comments (14)

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Amy isn't it a wonder what a broom, paint brush (with paint) or a cleaning rag can accomplish?  Life is good

May 21, 2012 08:51 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Excellent list Amy.......none of the chores take that much time to do and keep things looking good for every showing.

May 21, 2012 08:52 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Great tips Amy.  yes, sometimes just doing things in small manageable chunks makes things much easier.

May 21, 2012 08:52 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

A very good list for home sellers and all that want to improve the appearance of their home.

Have an outstanding week, with your camera in hand.

May 21, 2012 08:58 PM
David Burrows
Classic Realty - Fairfax, VA
No Pressure, Just Seriously Devoted to Real Estate

Amy, very simple and easy tips to understand and put into action. Nice post today...

May 21, 2012 09:06 PM
John Handschuh ABR SRES
RE/MAX Legacy - Chalfont, PA
Bucks County Real Estate

Hello Amy,

Great post. You are right on with the list. Just a few minutes a day will make the difference. Call Amy if your looking to buy or sell in the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, AMY knows the market.

 

 

Make it a great day !!

May 21, 2012 09:31 PM
David Grbich
Realty One Group - www.FindCARealEstate.com - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Orange County Real Estate - 949-500-0484

Great info - everyone can spare 5 minutes here and there - basic and easily completed tasks.

May 21, 2012 11:15 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Amy,  People would be surprise what a little time of working on it would may it shine.  If not, hire someone.

May 22, 2012 12:00 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

A great list of easy, quick chores that will make a difference.  First impressions count when you are selling your house!

May 22, 2012 05:16 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

Great list Amy. A great list to give to sellers so they can get in the groove and help sell their homes!

May 22, 2012 11:35 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Amy, if you can do any of those in 5 minutes you really are a wonder woman. I had to take a break from just reading the post

May 22, 2012 12:07 PM
Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Amy, this afternoon I was showing houses in the $500K price range.  My buyer/client opened a kitchen drawer, (He's a chef and these things are important to him.) and when he started to close it, it jammed.  It was so full of utensils and junk important things that we couldn't even close it.  Standing in the driveway later, my client said, "You know, for 1/2 a million dollars, you'd think these folks could do a little sprucing up."  Hmmmm.

Great blog as usual.

May 22, 2012 12:59 PM
Amy Hahn
Pine Knoll Shores Realty - Morehead City, NC
Realtor/Broker - Crystal Coast, NC

James - It really is amazing what you can accomplish in five minutes.... if you try!  Life is definitely Good!

Roger - I'm not trying to sell my home, but there are a few items on the list I need to accomplish.... I think I may have five extra minutes today.

Debbie - As a working mom, I practice five minute Power Cleaning!  It works, and occasionally, I have an entire day to "catch up".  

Roy - Thanks!  Beautiful Photo as always!

David - Thank you.  Many sellers are overwhelmed by the process, and knowing that five minutes here, and five minutes there..... It makes a big difference.

John - Good Morning and Thank you!  Those five minute chores add up to a clean house.... Very Important when selling your home.

 

May 22, 2012 08:25 PM
Amy Hahn
Pine Knoll Shores Realty - Morehead City, NC
Realtor/Broker - Crystal Coast, NC

David - You are so right.  I am one of the busiest people I know, but I can easily find five minutes... most days ;-)  Of course, I should be changing the laundry right now and am here on AR instead.... Glad I'm not trying to sell my home today!

Will - Exactly.... and I can recommend some great cleaning services ;-)  I may need to call one myself.

Donna - True!  You never get a second chance to make a first impression.  The house next door my SHINE!

Sussie - When I sold my house a few years ago, I was a wreck from trying to keep it spotless for showings.  And I did learn that it is amazing what you can do quickly if you need to!  

Ed - I guess I'm Wonder Woman then :-)  Power Cleaning is just one of my many super powers !

Marian - I agree with your buyers!  I showed a property recently and when the buyer opened the linen closet, an avalanche of items fell out and we couldn't get them back in to close the door!  Which reminds me..... I need to clean my linen closet!

May 22, 2012 08:34 PM