If You Can See Through It - Clean It! Home Staging Minneapolis MN

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

When selling your house, if you can see through it, it must sparkle!

Let's look at the list:

Windows:

 

 

That means inside and out, all levels of your home and yes the screens too. Your home does show better without the screens at all so clean them and put them in your storage area.

Dirt, grim, winter grit all need to go! That includes the tracks of the window sills.

 

Light Fixtures:

 

 

Buyers don't know if the light fixtures are worn, corroded or just plain old dirty. Spit and polish is the key on both interior and exterior light fixtures.

 

Glass shower doors:

 

 

Ugh....soap build up and water spots on beautiful glass shower doors is such a turn off. It screams to the buyer that they are walking into someone else's home and who wants to shower in something that doesn't look fresh and clean.

The buyer may think that the doors don't come clean at all and that they will need to purchase a new shower door if they buy your house....thus a lower offer to you. As a side note, if they don't come clean than you may need to replace them, especially if it is the Master Bath. If you are competing with new construction homes in your area, it is even more important.

 

Glass top tables:

 

 

I know the buyer is not buying your glass coffee table but it does send a signal, if you can't keep your furniture clean how well did you maintain the bigger things like the furnace? The little things matter.

Cleaning all the transparent surfaces of your home is the easiest way to get your house ready for sale. Here is where some sweat equity can really pay off.

For other 'must do' things to do to get your house in top selling condition, ask a professional home stager who will tailor the list specific to you.

 

 

Comments (23)

Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

Excellent tips as you don't know how dirty glass is until you clean it!  I had sellers who purchased a new construction home, sold it two years later, and when it was vacant I went in and cleaned the inside of the windows as the home seemed a little dark, and the windows still had the orginal construction debris on them! Literally a night and day difference once I cleaned the windows.  Cleaning windows and glass is SO important!

Jun 26, 2017 09:43 AM
Shar Sitter

Oh man....that's bad Francine Viola . You really don't realize how dirty they are until you clean them. LOL

Jun 26, 2017 05:21 PM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Homes sell quickly if they are clean clean clean.

Furniture can accentuate the rooms better. But people have filted eyes to remove the nice furnishing to see how they want to live.

Thanks

Jun 26, 2017 11:44 AM
Lyn Sims
RE/MAX Suburban - Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Real Estate

Totally agree. How many years does it take a seller to notice?

Jun 26, 2017 01:29 PM
Shar Sitter

I was just at a house today Lyn Sims  and I don't think the windows and outside light fixtures had been cleaned in the 11 years they lived there.

Jun 26, 2017 05:22 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Who can argue with sparkle?

Jun 26, 2017 01:31 PM
Shar Sitter

Exactly!

Jun 26, 2017 05:22 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Yes, ma'am! It's such a simple reminder but everything needs to be spic-and-span. No fingerprints or dirt on glass, mirrors, light bulbs, etc. Let's get it squeaky clean before it goes UP for sale.

Jun 26, 2017 02:33 PM
Shar Sitter

Amen to that Pat Starnes !

Jun 26, 2017 05:23 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
H E R Realty, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Great advice!!!

Cleaning all the transparent surfaces of your home is the easiest way to get your house ready for sale. Here is where some sweat equity can really pay off.

Jun 26, 2017 03:14 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Shar

Such a good suggestion.Clean windows are essential as are all the other things buyers might look through. Just be sure people know the windows do have screens - it often comes up as a question and will certainly be noted in an inspection (put 'em back once you have an accepted offer).

Jeff

Jun 26, 2017 04:14 PM
Shar Sitter

I agree on the screens Jeff Dowler . I tell sellers to put them in a visable place in the storage area or furnace room so the buyer knows but the house does show better and photos are better without them.

Jun 26, 2017 05:25 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Great tip on making sure that all the glass is clean.

With so many homes featuring clear glass showers it really takes daily diligence to keep it clean.

Great tips.

Jun 26, 2017 07:07 PM
Shar Sitter

They look so nice but yes, they aren't the easiest to keep clean John Wiley . We do ours everyday so it doesn't build up.

Jun 27, 2017 06:26 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Shar,

Very true. Clean sells. I even recommend to soak the light bulbs & clean them real good. Makes a big difference for the price of some dish soap & elbow grease.

Jun 26, 2017 09:08 PM
Shar Sitter

Oh hadn't thought of soaking the light bulbs! Good idea!

Jun 27, 2017 06:27 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

I've had Buyers choose a sparkling clean dated home over an updated unclean home.  Sparkling clean rules!

Jun 26, 2017 09:26 PM
Shar Sitter

I know Sharon Parisi . I tell sellers that because it is true!

Jun 27, 2017 06:27 PM
Gordon Crawford
Gordon Crawford Home Selling Team - Morristown, NJ
Your Morris County Specialist!

Wonderful post Shar!  In my book, clean tops everything!  When a house sparkles, buyers will overlook minor flaws.  Staging is also critical.  A home that has been prepared for market out shines all the competition.

Jun 27, 2017 05:14 AM
Shar Sitter

So true Gordon Crawford , people will overlook some things if the house is spotless. Shows it was well loved and thus well maintained. And thank you for recognizing the importance of staging!


 

Jun 27, 2017 06:28 PM
Tracy Santrock
Fonville Morisey/Santrock Realty Group, Inc. - Cary, NC
Raleigh - Cary Realtor/Broker In Charge

It's the little things that count and presentation means everything.  Nice post!

Jun 27, 2017 05:42 AM
Shar Sitter

Thank you Tracy Santrock and yes...presentation is everything.

Jun 27, 2017 06:29 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Fifteen Years Experience in Brevard County

You go this right. Clean is one of the best marketing tools a seller has at hand!

Jun 27, 2017 06:08 AM
Shar Sitter

Amen Gary L. Waters, Broker Owner, Waters Realty of Brevard, LLC ! That's why I preach about cleaning in all my Staging Consultations.

Jun 27, 2017 06:29 PM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker, Blackstone Realty Group - brokered by eXp Realty - Kalispell, MT
The House Kat

I've seen those soapy shower doors and couldn't agree more - it's a definite "eww"

Jun 27, 2017 07:22 AM
Shar Sitter

Isn't it though Kat Palmiotti ? Makes you just cring looking at someone elses grim.

Jun 27, 2017 06:30 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

People forget to look up and look down. Bugs in the light fixtures are a real turn off. Of course, so are dust bunnies hanging from the fans, but this post is about things you can see through.

You mentioned the tracks for windows and shower doors - they're hard to clean because of their shape. But this year I "bit"on a TV ad and purchased that brush that spins. There's a cone-shaped attachment that's perfect for getting into the edges and corners of those tracks. My purchase would have been worth it if for no other reason.

Jun 27, 2017 09:24 AM
Shar Sitter

Oh wow....I haven't seen that spinning brush. Interesting Marte Cliff and thanks for the tip.

Jun 27, 2017 06:31 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Shar Sitter,

I'm thrilled to see your post featured! Congratulations! Clean glass everywhere makes a home shine!

Jun 27, 2017 04:12 PM
Shar Sitter

Thank you Dorie Dillard . I'm glad it was featured too!

Jun 27, 2017 06:31 PM
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

And if you can't see through it, clean it as well! Clean is so important, from top to bottom, inside and out. Is it a pain for sellers? Yes. Does it help get the home sold? YES!!!

Jun 27, 2017 08:33 PM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I always recommend having the windows washed before listing. It is amazing how much 'cleaner' the house looks--and can really show off the view and extra light!

Jun 28, 2017 08:22 AM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Shar,

I preach that to my seller clients. Some do it and others think they have done it but fall short, quite short sometimes.  That is when it gets difficult to bring the standard up without being insulting.  There are times I feel like doing it myself but that would not work either.  It is so VERY IMPORTANT and will bring in more money and a shorter market time.  The others will sell it just takes more time to find the buyer who will not mind it.

Jun 28, 2017 05:52 PM
Stavrula "Sam" Crafa, RNC,GRI, CDPE, PSA
Future Home Realty - Seminole, FL
Providing the integrity and service you deserve.

You make very good point Shar Sitter . You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Love the video too !!!! Very cute. 

Jun 28, 2017 06:27 PM

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