‘Tis the season to put your house on the market, if you’re thinking of selling. But before you do, it’s important to prepare everything in order to get the most interest and money as possible. Here are some tips:
CLEAN: Research shows that a clean home sells faster and for more money, so cleaning your home thoroughly from top to bottom is a no brainer. This is definitely not the time for dirt, dust and grime to show anywhere. The house needs to be absolutely spotless inside and out. If you’re too busy with other tasks, contact your local MOLLY MAID residential cleaner for a thorough, professional clean.
STREAMLINE: The cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID recommend that homeowners consider removing some furniture in rooms to open up more space. Buyers need to get a feel for the space in order to start visualizing how their own furniture will fit in the house. Make it easy by clearing countertops, shelves and corners of appliances, miscellaneous knick-knacks and all personal items, such as photographs and special mementos.
DE-CLUTTER: Tidy the basement, garage and any closet that is packed with ‘stuff’. You might have to rent storage space for a short period of time – but it will be well worth it. Remember, just because clutter is hidden in drawers, etc., doesn’t mean you don’t have to deal with it. Potential buyers are often pretty nosy because they want to see every nook and cranny.
HOT SPOTS: The hot spots for buyers are the kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen should be as clean as possible. Bathrooms must be squeaky clean too, and free of rust, mold and stains. Re-caulking tubs and showers is a good idea, as well as re-grouting tiles if needed.
ODOURS: Buyers can be turned off or offended by smells from pets, smoking, heavy cooking and other sources. Check out the tips from the cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID to help with this. One way to remove odours is to simmer orange peels and cinnamon on your stove in a saucepan filled with one part water and one part vinegar for a few hours. You can even let the mixture sit overnight (but make sure the oven is off for that).
PAINT: A fresh coat of paint inside or outside is one of the most inexpensive, yet noticeable, improvements you can make. Paint can cover old dings or stains and outdated or ‘loud’ colour schemes. Neutral, muted paint colours are best.
CARPETS: Clean the carpets to remove dirt, stains and odours. You can also replace them with new carpeting in a neutral colour, or even lay some area rugs.
BASICS: Have the chimney cleaned and be sure to have the plumbing, roof and heating and air conditioning unit checked to ensure they are all in great shape.
EXTERIOR CLEANING: Pressure-wash stains off the driveway, sidewalk and deck. Wash all the windows so the first impression of the home is a sparkling clean one!
LANDSCAPING: Keep the lawn cut, watered and raked. Add some nice containers of flowers or planters to give the house curb appeal.
