A Cleaning We Must Go...

Before you open your door to buyers, you must clean like you've never cleaned before!

A clean house costs very little but can make or break a home's saleability.  This is definitely not the time for dirt, dust and grime. Nothing is more of a turn off to a buyer than to see the seller's dirt.  Every nook and cranny should be scrubbed so that all you must do is maintain it while it is on the market.  From bottom to top, the house needs to be spotless and sparkle.  From sinks to bathtubs, windows to doorknobs, attic to basement, make it immaculate.  Wash down walls, remove the cobwebs, shampoo the carpets, and launder curtains and bed linens.  If you are unable to clean your house yourself, you may have to bring in a professional cleaning crew to give your home a serious scrub-down. Whether you do it yourself or you enlist professional help, it`s well worth the effort. 

Take a sniff.  Are there any unpleasant odours in your home?  If so, track them down and eliminate them.   Buyers are sensitive to bad smells and will be suspicious of a house with an odor.  Do not use air fresheners to cover up bad smells as this just compounds the problem...you need to get to the source.   Often people cannot recognize a smell in their own home.  If you smoke, have pets, or cook with strong spices, you may want to ask for feedback on how your home smells from a third party.  Listing photos don't always reveal the dirt and they never reveal the smell.  So many times, I've had buyers get really excited to see a house after viewing the listing photos only to be so completely disappointed when they finally get there that they can't leave the house fast enough.  We've all heard that the smell of freshly baked bread or cookies have a positive affect on buyers, but, honestly, nothing smells better than clean....and I don't mean the smell of bleach and cleansers....I mean nothing smells better than fresh clean air.  

It may seem obvious that you should clean your house before you invite prospective buyers in, but surprisingly, so many people do not.  An immaculately clean house is a well cared for house...the kind buyers love.  We want to create an environment that allows buyers to imagine themselves living in your home.  The goal here is to reach the buyer emotionally and sell your house quickly and profitably.

So pull out the broom, pail and soap, crank up your best energizing music and let's roll...it`s time to clean.

I'm here for YOU.

~Ciao