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Posts Tagged ‘clean’
Don’t Let Clutter Ruin the Sale
It’s a fact—people grow into a house. This means that if there are empty closets, you’ll find stuff to stuff into them. After a few years, the attic, closets, and garage are near-to-bursting. So what should you do when it’s time to move to a larger home (or, gasp, to a smaller one)?
De-cluttering is non-negotiable. While it’s okay to have your precious collection of Michael Jordan collector plates or ceramic pigs, you’ll want to box that stuff up before putting your house on the market. A lot of stuff can just be overwhelming to prospective buyers (and you never know—they might be Detroit pistons fans who hate the Chicago Bulls).
Here are four simple areas to start the de-cluttering process.
Area #1—Closets. Even if you’re still living out of the house, get rid of the closet clutter. Leave them half-full and well-organized. A super-stuffed closet says to a buyer, “This house is too small for you!” Leave the clothes and shoes you’re most likely to wear and move the rest out.
Area #2—Furniture. Less is more. It might be useful for every family member to have their own footstool, but the house has to feel airy, spacious, and inviting. Less furniture can help give it flow. Too much furniture can feel like a maze.
Area #3—Toys. Nothing screams “Disorganized!” louder than a closet (or space under a Disney princess bed) jammed with children’s toys. Even a barely-able-to close toy chest is too much. Cut the toy level by half to make the room (s) feel less crowded. (The same principle applies for adults and their toys: college paraphernalia, sports stuff, and knick-knacks. You don’t have to trash it, but box it up and get it out.)
Area #4—Kitchen. Get rid of the cookbooks, the gadgets, the rows of little appliances, the rack of coffee mugs. Empty out the junk drawer. Get a silverware drawer if you don’t have one. Make the kitchen clean, open, and organized. Think Emeril meets Martha Stewart.
If you have to rent a storage locker for a few months, do it. Get the mountains of books, mismatched furniture, desks, file cabinets, and stacks of old children’s toys out. Yes, it’s a pain. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort. But if you want to make a quick and easy sale, the roomy, comfortable feeling that’s left in your now-spacious house will be inviting and effective.
Clean Houses Sell Faster
Sure, a damp cloth run over the tops of tables and counters is enough for regular company, only a prospective homebuyer is NOT your typical company. On some level, everyone knows cleanliness matters. But too many houses aren’t showroom-ready when realtors bring in potential buyers. Don’t be lazy about cleanliness.
Here are a few areas to pay particular attention to:
Bathrooms (shower/tub grout, drains, toilet, sink)
Bedrooms (mini-blinds, floorboards, under the bed, drapes)
Pet Areas (shed fur, scratched furniture/walls, pet urine smell)
Kitchen (refrigerator inside and out, stove inside and out, dishwasher, sink)
If you can’t get something sparkly new, consider replacing it. $8 for a new shower curtain and $40 for new drapes is an investment in selling your home. Now is not the time to pinch pennies. If your home has an odor problem (a common issue with children and/or pets), strongly consider getting the carpets professionally cleaned even if it means shelling out $200. If any walls are dingy or pockmarked with nail holes, it might make sense to invest in some new, bright paint. Spring for some range covers or fresh hand towels, if needed.
An absolute must—clean fingerprints off all windows and glass. Freshly cleaned windows let in more light, and most people simply prefer a bright home. Sure, glass gets dirty at an astronomically fast rate, so this might require a weekly scrub-down. Just do it. And while you’re at it, rub some wood oil into your floorboards, furniture, and woodwork until it shines, shines, shines.
An hour before a scheduled homebuyer is visiting, run a Swiffer across all inside floors, and take a broom to the walkway, porch, deck, and garage. First impressions really do matter. Don’t let someone leave your home thinking about how much cleaning THEY’RE going to need to do if they make an offer on your house. Make them walk away saying, “Now that’s a clean, lovely home.”