Thanks to business closures and social distancing restrictions, many of us find ourselves with more time at home, in search of a project to keep us busy. While you could search out an online class or develop a new hobby, if you’ve been thinking of selling your home, you might want to try something a little more focused… like spring cleaning.
A Little Spring Cleaning Sells Homes
For many sellers, cleaning is not the first thing you think about when selling a home. You’re getting ready to move—why on earth would you want to spend time cleaning? But the bottom line is that if you want buyers to pay top dollar for your home, your home must be dressed to impress. And that means tackling a little dusting and scrubbing before you list.
But whether or not you’re thinking about selling, a little spring cleaning can work wonders for your home. Here’s how to make the magic happen.
Start with a deep declutter
Don’t just pick up the pile of mail on the kitchen counter or straighten the papers on your desk. Take some time to really pare down on the clutter that’s gathered in closets and storage spaces, like your basement or attic. The more you can clear out, the more open and spacious your home will feel. And the less you’ll have to pack and unpack when moving day comes around.
Wipe down surfaces
Next, spend some time cleaning the surfaces you’d catch with a normal clean—kitchen counters, stovetops, bathroom counters, sinks, and toilets. Take your clean to a deeper level, though, and sanitize some spaces you might not normally, like cabinets, heating registers, and the front of your appliances.
Don’t forget the nooks and crannies
You might not notice the dust gathering in corners or the grime on lightswitch plates, but a discerning buyer could. You don’t want to give buyers any reason to dislike your home, especially a preventable one.
It pays to spend a little extra time making sure you dust, wipe, vacuum, and mop all those small corners, nooks, and crannies you might normally overlook. This includes outlet covers, heating vents, light fixtures and ceiling fans, grout and caulking, and the insides of the fridge and microwave.
Scrub those windows, too
Good natural lighting is crucial to impressing buyers—and it’s hard to achieve if your windows are dirty! Make sure you scrub every window inside and out and remove any excess water to prevent streaking. Window sills and trim should also be spotlessly clean, as the eye is naturally drawn to windows.
Spend a little time on your entrance
Often, we spend so much time worrying about what the inside of a home looks like, we don’t stop to consider the outside—which is problematic since that’s the first thing a buyer will see when they pull up to the curb.
Don’t overlook the exterior of your home. Take a walk to the curb and look at your home with a critical eye. What could use a good cleanup? The overgrown shrubs? The lengthy lawn? The dirty siding? The dingy front door? Don’t leave your entry for the last minute, because it will take time, and possibly even some outside help if you require larger fixes.
Thinking of Selling a Home on the Seacoast?
Are you thinking about selling a home on the Seacoast of Maine or New Hampshire? Then Jim and Ann are here to help! Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you. Questions about how your real estate plans might have been affected by the ongoing health crisis? We’d be happy to clear up any concerns!
