Cleaning a house to sell can be a very overwhelming project, but you will want to do a good job of it in order to not only sell the house in a timely manner but get the most value out of the property. To make sure you get everything is done on time, as well as focus on the essentials that are likely to really make a difference, you should make a checklist of items that need to be addressed when preparing house for sale and before you begin showing the home.
1. Clean Up The Yard
Curb appeal is half the battle when it comes to selling your home. You want anyone who comes onto your property to instantly have a good first impression of it. To do that, the first thing on your checklist when cleaning up in preparation for the sale is to get the yard in order. Mow the lawn, weed the flower beds, put down some mulch, power wash the siding and trim the bushes and hedges. Simple things go a long way, although you can certainly make more drastic changes, such as investing in more eye-catching landscaping, ordering tree removal or artificially grading the yard.
2. Get Rid Of Clutter
Open floor plans are in right now, and so rearranging your furniture or other items in order to create a more open appearance is never a bad idea. You can move furniture around, but what you really want to get rid of entirely is clutter. It looks very unattractive and will turn off buyers quickly. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home, and that can be very difficult to do when personal items from the current owner are lying around everywhere.
3. Consider House Washing
A power wash clean can quickly restore your home to its former beauty. When you’re looking at selling your home, a normal home cleaning might not be enough. The beauty of your property matters and can even become a deciding factor. Leaving the external area of your house in a mess could result in the loss of value of your home. You might want to invest in your own power washer, rent from home supply and hardware stores or hire a professional house washer to help, depending on your preference. However, keep in mind that improper or aggressive cleaning can actually damage them, and decrease their lifespan or appearance instead of enhancing it.
According to A1 Outdoor Cleaners, a Brisbane’s house washer who specialises in low-pressure house washing for years, before beginning any wash job, wearing the proper protective gear for your face, eyes, and hands is the crucial step. You should read and strictly follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Never point the nozzle at people, animal, or any surfaces that are inherently fragile.
4. Paint
Painting is a simple thing you can do that often makes a world of difference to a property. Whether outside or inside, you should always give the home a fresh coat of paint anywhere that existing paint is peeling or faded. This will revitalize the look of your house with very little money and effort and make the home appear more attractive to buyers right off the bat.
5. Scrub and Vacuum
You want your home as spotless as can be before showing it to potential buyers. Kitchens and bathrooms, in particular, are what sell houses, so spend a decent amount of time in those two rooms scrubbing things down. Remove grout in tile, clean counters and toilets, scrub off any mould and just generally do what you can to make those rooms look good as new. Some other household cleaning tips include vacuuming the carpets and clearing any debris off other floors. Soon you'll be very aware of how to clean house like a professional!
6. Remove Carpets or Wallpaper if Necessary
Hardwood floors are in right now, so you might just be better off removing existing carpets to reveal the hardwood underneath if your carpets are old, worn or stained. The same goes for wallpapers - any wallpaper that's peeling, stained, worn or just looks old and out of fashion should probably go. At the very least, scrub the walls and shampoo the carpets before showing.
7. Clean As You Go
The best way to clean while simultaneously keeping a tight house cleaning schedule is to simply clean as you go. Presumably, you will be living in the house until you sell and are able to buy a new house, and so messes caused by general living are going to crop up. Combat this by cleaning up after yourself systematically. Don't leave dishes in the sink, buff out scuffs you make and wipe up any spills that happen pronto. Cleaning as you go can also help you do a little bit at a time instead of having to tackle massive cleaning projects all at once.
8. Start Packing Up Your Things
Going through and beginning to pack up your things ahead of time can save you a lot of time in the crucial period between when you start showing your home and sell it, and when you finally move out. This serves a double purpose of cleaning out your own things so buyers don't have to see them when you're showing the house and organizing your belongings in preparation for the move. Take this opportunity to throw out anything you no longer really want or need as well.
If you make sure to address the potential issues listed in this piece, you should have covered your bases for cleaning out your home when preparing to sell it. If you simply don't have time or it's too overwhelming, you can always acquire the help of quality cleaning services. You'll be left with a house that looks nice and desirable to buyers, both inside and out. This will go a long way towards getting your house sold fast on the market.
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