How To Properly Clean And Stage Your Home For Sale
Have you ever seen a MR. Clean commercial? Isn’t he clean? Don’t you wish he would just come over and take care of all of your properties for you? Some big shaven headed one earring wearing really clean guy all in white—you got to love it. There has to be a song in there somewhere.
My topic today though, is cleanliness—you know who it is next to!
Sellers, Agents and Investors will do one of two things.
1. Not realize their property is dirty because they have been living in it for so long that they just don’t see it.
OR
2. They will have it cleaned once in the very beginning, but not ever again.
When people walk into your property, they can feel the dirt. Yep, you can feel it, not to mention seeing it, which most of the time you can do as well. Even though we joke about investors looking for really dirty properties, the truth is, unless you are a conditioned wholesale buyer, the dirt will turn you off completely. So, just to be on the safe side, let’s always deliver a “Mr. Clean” property.
Most people think clean can be subjective, but it really is not. Below, I have listed multiple steps that you need to take in order to keep your property spotless clean while it is on the market, which incidentally, will be a far shorter time than if you are showing a dirty house.
Last month I discussed Curb Appeal in this column, so please refer back to it in order to know what to do on the exterior of your home. Suffice it to say, your shrubs should be trimmed, papers picked up, grass mowed, driveway shoveled and all debris or garbage removed from the lawn.
Interior Cleanliness
1. The main entry should be spotless. When you stand on the door step and get ready to go inside, make sure that the entire area is free from grass trimmings, spider webs, and dirt—this is the impression they will take inside 2. Once inside, look up. Are all of your ceiling fans clean? I am talking about the blades, bulbs and globes. Look at all light fixtures in the same way. Bring a ladder and feather duster, prepare to remove the globes if necessary and wash them. 3. Change out your light bulbs. Bulbs often lose their intensity anyway, so it is best to change them out. If you decide against this, only clean bulbs when they are very cool to the touch otherwise they will explode. Do not use any harsh ingredients (I prefer cool water and dish liquid or water and lemons). Otherwise, when you turn the light on, it will burn the cleanser and put off a harsh smell. 4. Look at all the window coverings in the house. They need to be cleaned or even replaced if they are not easily dusted. Often you will find window coverings that have been damaged by smoking, long term dust build up or cooking splatters in the kitchen. Your customer is always drawn to the window, so make sure they enjoy the view. 5. This brings me to the window itself. Remove the screens as they never look clean and put them in the garage. Clean the windows inside and out, and not while the sun is shining on them or they will streak. I prefer to use Binswanger for windows which are normally used on automotive replacement windows. It is the very best I have found, but you must wipe it completely dry. 6. Don’t forget the window sills while you are there. How many dead bugs can you count on a window sill is not a fun game to play when you are looking for your dream home. 7. Walls and floorboards are overlooked time and time again. These areas are so easy to clean once you have done it right the first time. All you have to do is to pull out your feather duster and zip over all of them. If they are really dirty to begin with, my favorite cleaning tool for these areas is the Mr. Clean pad. It not only washes off grime, grease, smoke and dust, but they even get rid of crayon and other marks. 8. Do I really need to discuss bathrooms and kitchens? It is so important that you hit all the major components in these rooms. Lets first talk about the bathroom. Clean and scrub the toilet, top to bottom and close the lid. You need to scrub it at least once a week, same with the tub and sink. The tub may have dead bugs, so keep an eye on it. Don’t forget to wipe down the vanity and floor and take a peak inside the medicine cabinet for old vitamins, hair, and other not so appealing "left overs." If your tub is stained, the best solution is warm water and witch hazel. Then I cut up a few lemons, let them soak in the solution and use them as my scrub brushes. It turns out beautifully white and you get a fresh lemony scent instead of a harsh chemical one. Finally, make sure your bathroom is smudge free on the knobs, mirrors and water fixtures. 9. The kitchens are treasure chests for hidden bundles of dirt. Obviously, the things we have already mentioned apply, but have you really cleaned your appliances. Run your dishwasher while it is empty and use a jet dry tab to really get it clean. Remove the shelves and drawers from the refrigerator when you clean it so you can really get all the gunk out. The outside of the fridge needs attention too—obviously the front, but down below by the grill too. Replace the drip trays on the stove and cut the grease! Don’t forget the fan as it is always dirty inside and out. Finally the sink. Get the edges and the drains. These are areas that are always missed and yet very visible. Finally, give the water faucet a great shine and make sure it is clean all the way around.
Next month, I will finish all the cleaning tips on houses, that nearly everyone misses yet will hinder the sale of your home if you fail to do them.
I would recommend that you do what we do and have a maintenance crew, or just use ours or one of the crews from our Property Designers. They will maintain the yard, shovel snow, pick up papers, adjust the staging and clean as appropriate. That way, you don’t have to worry as it is picture perfect every time.
Karen Schaefer is an Investor, Writer,Speaker and Property Designer. She is the founder of Simple Appeal, Inc., the Premier Nationwide Staging and Design Company as well as APSD, The Association of Property Scene Designers.Learn more about Home Staging, Curb Appeal, Real Estate Marketing and Selling, visit www.APSDmembers.com.
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