Spring Cleaning goes a long way if you’re planning to sell your home!  A home that sparkles and shines helps the buyer feel that it’s been well maintained and is in great condition. Here’s a quick checklist of sometimes overlooked items to clean:

• AROMA… even before buyers notice the decor of the home, their nose will notice a bad smell.  If you have indoor pets you may be immune to their odor, but it’s there.  If there has been a potty problem, get the carpets professionally cleaned, replaced if necessary.  Remove litter boxes during showings and be sure to always keep them fresh.  Remove pet feeding and watering dishes… even dry pet food leaves an odor in the home.  Try to take your pets with you for showings, or at a minimum put them in the garage or backyard or in a kennel. 
• Other smells to be aware of are cooking odors… bacon, fish, etc.  and CHILDREN odors… diapers, bedding, etc.  Be aware of these issues, take the trash outside immediately when it comes to soiled diapers, bacon drippings, etc.  Keep fresh air flowing throughout your home to eliminate trapped odors, and use plug-ins or other electrical air fresheners rather than risk burning candles.  ASK A FRIEND who’ll be honest… “does my house smell funky?”
• Windows, inside and out. Clean after each rain storm as well and don’t forget to clean the window sills and the tracks, especially on sliding glass doors. That grime affects the ease of operation!
• Entry doors, door jams, thresholds, knobs, doorbells, mailboxes. Every buyer has to stand at the front door while it’s being unlocked and opened. It’s the FIRST IMPRESSION of the home — and you only get one of those! Make sure it’s free of any maintenance issues — if you need to paint it, do so — and if it’s time for a new door, a beautiful front door is a great investment that will definitely impress!
• Light switches, switch plates: they get a little built up with grime from constant touching. Wipe them down.
• Mirrors, faucets, sinks, tubs, shower doors. Make them sparkle! You may need a good hard water remover and some elbow grease. If your tile grout is cracked, dirty or missing, take care of it.  If the caulking around the tub is globbed on, mildewed, or lacking, have it removed and smoothly replaced.  Clean, shiny bathrooms and kitchens sell houses!
• Light fixtures. Remove and wash the glass, wipe down the fixtures. Use a good, bright light bulb and keep all rooms well lit for showings. Now is not the time for the slow-lighting compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Appliances – especially those that will be included in the sale. Clean appliances also show the buyer that the home is well cared for, plus they’ll see value.  Use a good de-greaser around the oven, vent/hood and cooktop, and those “magic erasers” work miracles on surfaces with texture, like the front and handles of the fridge.
• HEATING AND COOLING:  Make sure your furnace has clean filters!  Changing them monthly during heating and air conditioning season is the standard.  Wipe away dust and cobwebs from around these major components of your home so that buyers will feel that they’ve been well maintained and won’t be a problem due to age or neglect.
• LOOK UP!  Has dust accumulated on ceiling fan blades, molding, built-in shelves, and does it look like you’ve already started your Halloween decorations with a few cobwebs in the corners?
• Flooring: tile, hardwood, make it shine!  Carpeting: clean, vacuumed and smelling good!  If the carpet is stretched out of shape it can be not only ugly, but a tripping hazard.  Have a professional come in and stretch it smooth.

So, really the above list could be condensed into 2 words: SPRING CLEANING. Don’t let it overwhelm you, just do it, price your home right, and you’ll have your HOUSE SOLD faster and for more money!

I’d love to help you in all of your REAL ESTATE NEEDS. Give me a call today!