You might be thinking, “Why would I ever spring clean my home if I’m about to move?” The answer to that is simple; having a sparkling, squeaky-clean home is key to providing homebuyers with as much value as possible! When Louis meets with potential sellers, his #1 tip is “When you think it’s clean, clean a little bit more!”
If you’re considering putting your home on the market this spring, here are a few tips on what to tackle when it comes to spring cleaning!
Tackle the Dirty Deets
There are some details that you may not think to do when you live in a home. After all, removing heating registers to clean underneath them is the type of task that most people simply don’t even think about.
When you’re selling your home, however, you want to do whatever it takes to make it seem as new (and as valuable!) as possible. So, sweat the small stuff. Here are a few ideas, though you always know best what your home needs.
Remove heating and air vents and clean behind and around them.
Carefully scrub lightswitch plates and outlet covers. These are often dingy with fingerprints.
Clean around doors, paying attention to areas like doorknobs, frames, and sliding door tracks.
Dust all light fixtures and ceiling fans.
Scrub grout and caulking in your bathroom, laundry and/or kitchen areas.
Clean the insides of your oven, refrigerator, and medicine cabinets – buyers will look everywhere!
Sparkle and Shine
One thing you absolutely must spring clean if you’re planning on selling your home is the windows! If you have many windows and can afford it, hire a professional… but if you want to DIY it here are a few tips:
Make sure you’ve scrubbed each pane inside and out, and removed grimy water with a squeegee.
Remove and wash/dry any draperies or curtains, and dust the blinds – Pro tip: an old sock over your hand works well.
Scrub any sills or trim inside and out.
When your windows sparkle, they’ll let in that gorgeous spring sunlight and natural light is always a huge plus when your home is showing to potential buyers.
Make a Lasting First Impression
They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and that’s especially true when it comes to your home. In addition to any cleaning on the exterior that you may be doing to build up your curb appeal, you should also pay attention to the entryway of your home.
Clean the floors in your entryway, then keep them clean by installing a fresh welcome mat to ensure that outdoor dust is removed from shoes.
Scrub down the door, and consider repainting if it’s faded. This is a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up and create that wow factor.
Pay attention to cleaning the trim, and make sure any sidelights or glass inserts in your entry are sparkling.
Make sure your entry space is decluttered! Less is more when it comes to that first impression.
One to Keep, One to Store
Decluttering is HUGE! We like the mantra “half the stuff” – for every cabinet and closet in your home, try to remove half of the items.
Donate, toss, or simply pack away the items you won’t need regularly.
Make sure items you’re keeping are stacked or stored attractively – things like hanging clothing by color make closets look appealing to potential buyers.
Simple upgrades like replacing your hampers with a more attractive option can keep areas clean while your home is on the market.
Spring Clean to Sell Your Home
Spring cleaning season is the perfect time to get your home ready to sell. Since motivation to clean is back in full swing, take advantage of the season by following these tips. Then, call us at The Ginnetti Group to speak to a professional about selling your home.