Getting ready to sell your home?
There are secret tricks in improving curb appeal and cleaning your home that will get the buyer's attention.
Curb Appeal
Even before you start cleaning the inside, get that curb appeal strong, by cleaning the front yard. See my other past blogs on this subject:
1. Make your home "Smile"!...nobody likes a grouch, smile, same with your home. First appearance, curb appeal. Make your home smile!
2. Make buyers say, Honey Stop the Car! Things to do on the outside and inside that will get buyers to notice and remember your home over the others
3. Create an inviting 'winding path" to your front door! Don't make the buyer weave between parked cars and enter through the driveway to get to your front door.
Approaching the door? Get first class door hardware with a key that turns like "butter". Don't have two keys to get in (door and security door).
Cleaning and Refreshing Tips
OK....now let's get to those Secret Cleaning Tips.
Many of these secrets are from: Jane Hoback, veteran business writer who has written for the Rocky Mountain News, Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, and ColoradoBIZ Magazine.
Secret Cleaning Tricks
1. "De-bug" the light fixtures
See that bug burial ground within your overhead fixtures? Turn off the lights and carefully remove fixture covers, dump out flies and wash with hot soapy water. While you're up there, dust bulbs. Dry everything thoroughly before replacing the cover.
2. Vacuum heat vents and registers
Dirt and dust build up in heat vents and along register blades. Vents also are great receptacles for coins and missing buttons. Unscrew vent covers from walls or pluck them from floors, remove foreign objects, and vacuum inside the vent. Clean grates with a damp cloth and screw back tightly.
3. Polish hardware
To deep clean brass door hinges, handles, and cabinet knobs, thoroughly wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, then polish with Wrights or Weiman brass cleaner ($4). Dish soap shines up glass or stainless steel knobs. Use a Q-tip to detail the ornamental filigree on knobs and handles.
4. Replace grungy switch plates
Any amateur can wipe a few fingerprints off cover plates that hide light switches, electric outlets, phone jacks, and cable outlets. But only deep cleaners happily remove plates to vacuum and swipe the gunk behind. (OK, we’re a little OCD when it comes to dirt!) Make sure cover plates are straight when you replace them. And pitch plates that are beyond the help of even deep cleaning. New ones cost less than $2 each.
5. Neaten weather stripping
Peeling, drooping weather stripping on doors and windows makes rooms look old. If the strip still has some life, nail or glue it back. If its hopeless, cut out and replace sections, or just pull the whole thing off and start new. A 10-ft. roll of foam weather stripping costs $8; 16-ft. vinyl costs about $15.
6. Replace stove drip pans
Some drip pans are beyond the scrub brush. Replacing them costs about $3 each and instantly freshens your stove.
7. Grunge on walls
Clean or touch up with the same color
Done it all? Sit back and watch the buyers come and say "Oh Wow!"
Ready to get it listed? Selling My Home in Scottsdale or Arizona
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