5 Spring Cleaning Tips for Home Sellers

Jane Kennedy – Comfree living

It’s spring time, and that means selling season! But before you prepare for your first open house, you’ve got to clear out all that clutter and dust that has accumulated over winter. Here are 5 spring cleaning tips for home sellers that will ensure your house gives the “wow” impression it should.

1. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Declutter!

The importance of decluttering cannot be overemphasized. You want to make your home look as spacious as possible for visitors.

Decluttering and spring cleaning have the added advantage of giving you a head-start in preparing for your upcoming move.

Fill one box of things to throw or give away for each room in your house. Pay special attention to old magazines, knickknacks, old clothes, sports gear and toys.

2. Move from the top down

Dampen a microfiber cloth and start your spring cleaning with a good dusting. Go from high to low, allowing dust to settle on the ground where it’s more easily swept or vacuumed up.

Pay special attention to ceiling fans (infamous distributors of dust!), the tops of cabinets, and vertical spaces.

Use a long-handled duster (or a mop or broom covered with a cloth) to get cobwebs out of ceiling corners and off high walls.

3. The devil is in the details

Potential buyers will be looking at your home critically, so don’t leave them anything to criticize!

A thorough spring cleaning should include washing or dry cleaning your drapes, dust covers and sofa cushions. If you don’t have the time, throwing them in the dryer on low gets the dust off (just beware of shrinking).

Use a magic eraser to clean grubby finger marks from cabinets, door handles and light switches. And pay extra attention to baseboards: if your pet sleeps against the wall, give it a wash!

If baseboards are in a particularly bad state, you might consider touching them up with a coat of paint.

4. Be extra diligent in the kitchen and bathrooms

A dingy kitchen or bathroom is the biggest turn off for a potential buyer. Focus most of your spring cleaning efforts on the kitchen and bathrooms.

Clean all appliances (especially if they will be left in the house when you sell) and clean in and around the garbage can and recycling containers.

If you don’t regularly clean your bathroom with bleach, now is the time to do so (be sure to wear rubber gloves!). Make your bathtub, sink, toilet bowl and floors sparkle.

If you have calcium buildup on faucet heads, soak them in vinegar and rinse. And don’t forget the shower curtain! Give it a good spring clean with diluted vinegar.

5. Showcase your windows

You’ve worked so hard giving your house a good spring cleaning, so make sure light can get in through clean windows!

Wash them from both inside and outside (if possible) using newspaper to avoid leaving streaks. You want potential buyers to admire the views!

My name is Scott Grebner and I have been helping my clients realize their own personal real estate dreams. Real estate is a relationship-based business that works best when client relationships are built on trust and confidence. My goal is having clients be completely satisfied with the professional and caring service they have received.

The role of technology is rapidly changing how the real-estate market functions in this country today. Gerharter Realtors is embracing these new mediums of communication to better serve our customers. We have created our e-family to better place important information in your hands to help you with your housing needs. As a part of Gerharter Enterprises we have access to a broader range of additional services and resources to better assist you.  Visit me at my Web Site, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube or Pinterest.  Please check out our helpful resources on Sellers Tips, Buyers Tips, Foreclosure Tips, and Mortgage Tips. For a personal consultation please visit our Office.

It seems that the dream of past generations was to pay off a mortgage. The dream of today's young families is to get one.  I would love to hear from you, about your Real Estate Dreams and questions.

Email me at scott@gerharterrealtors.com.