Thinking about putting your home on the market this spring? Try winter cleaning to get in front of the spring selling season.
One of the smartest steps you can take to get your home ready to sell is to clean and declutter so homebuyers will see your house instead of the items in it.
A home that looks and smells clean will show better during viewings. Surfaces cleared of clutter will allow homebuyers to see features like floors and counters. Your terra cotta tiles and granite counters won’t impress buyers if they’re covered by papers, boxes, and items that should be thrown away.
There’s a lot you can do to prep the inside of your home while outside conditions are cold and wintry. When warmer weather returns, your home will be in better condition to photograph for your listing.
These DIY steps will help you winter-clean your home.
Don’t let homebuyers see this in your home! Aim for zero clutter before you list your house on the market.
Declutter and Organize First
You can’t clean surfaces if they’re covered up. Tackle one room at a time and remove as much as you can from surfaces. The internet overflows with decluttering guides and advice dispensed from everyone to Martha Stewart to Marie Kondo. We’ll add a few tips of our own to the mix:
Resist the urge to simply move items from one room to the next. Put things away where they belong (or find a storage spot), recycle, and either throw away or donate. Once you’ve decided to donate items, make good on the decision. Put the items in your car and take them to the donation destination the next time you drive.
Remove piles of paper. You may need every document on your desk or counter. Placing them in a neat pile won’t do when you’re getting ready to list your home, however. Once you’ve recycled everything you can, put the rest into a file cabinet. If you don’t own a file cabinet, use inexpensive, stackable storage boxes with lids. Stack them in a closet or storage area.
Pare down personal mementos and collectibles. Homebuyers need to visualize living in your home. They can’t do that if they’re looking at family photos and items of a personal nature. Rent an inexpensive, temporary off-site storage space and use it to store the items you’ve taken out of your home but that you still want to keep. When the time comes to move, you’ll already have items packed and ready to go.
Clean Room by Room
Once you’ve removed clutter, do a deep clean of every room. Start the top and work down. Focus on areas you might not include in day-to-day cleaning. Dust and clean all your furniture. It’s easier now that you’ve removed clutter. Make sure these items are free of dust and grime.
- Ceiling fan blades
- The tops of window frames that extend into a room
- All parts of window frames and woodwork
- Walls
- Corners
- Baseboards
- Floors
Give Kitchens and Bathrooms Extra Treatment
Buyers spend a lot of time looking at kitchens and bathrooms. Every kitchen appliance must be spotless inside and out, including the oven, range and hood, microwave, and dishwasher. Clean and deodorize your refrigerator, garbage disposal, and trash bin to be sure that the kitchen smells fresh. Try to remove as much as possible from countertops and surfaces. This will make your kitchen look larger.
Try this approach for your bathrooms. First clear surfaces of all toiletries. Then do a thorough clearning from top to bottom, including all fixtures, mirrors, and faucets. Stow toiletries in storage containers or drawers so that buyers can focus on the room’s features.
Winter cleaning the inside of your home will give you more time to focus on the exterior and yard once the cold weather clears. By packing up personal items you plan to keep, you’ll save time and effort. And once you deep clean your house, keeping it clean is easier and more efficient.
Contact us for more tips on how to prepare your home for the market. We can guide you through the selling process from start to finish.
