When buyers start looking at new homes, their expectations are sky-high. They want to walk into a space and be able to envision a future living there. So as someone looking to sell your home, this means doing what you can to help make their vision come to life. Namely, you need to look at your house from the buyer’s perspective and create a welcoming, clean, and friendly environment. To do that, you must declutter and deep clean.
Here are a few hidden, yet important, areas of your home to address before your next open house.
Make a Great First Impression
The entryway is the first thing buyers see when entering your home. While we may not regularly put much thought into how the sidewalks look, the front of your house serves as the first impression and needs to be prepped with care. Take a broom to any spider webs on your front porch, clean your front door, weed the garden beds, sweep the leaves off the sidewalk, and clean up any decorations or plants framing your front porch.
Evaluate the inside of your entryway or foyer as well. With so much heavy foot traffic through your front door, this area tends to accumulate more mess than other areas of the house. Declutter the coat closet, thoroughly clean the floor and any area rugs, wipe down mirrors, and make sure your entryway creates a warm welcome for potential buyers.
Look High and Low
Out of sight can mean out of mind, but when it comes to preparing for an open house, expect peeping eyes to see just about everything. That means as you prepare, consider the hard-to-reach places in your home both above and below eye level. While you probably vacuum and mop regularly, remember to deep clean the baseboards as you prepare for your open house. They often go undetected, but dust and dirt can accumulate quickly on low surfaces.
If you have pets or small children, be sure to give the lower half of your walls a thorough cleaning as well to remove any fingerprints, food debris, etc. In addition, check your vents for unsightly dust bunnies and pet hair.
Turning your attention upwards, be sure to thoroughly wipe down ceiling fans, chandeliers, and light fixtures that may be collecting dust, dirt, and cobwebs from the ceiling. While you have the ladder out, check the top of every window frame as well, as this is another commonly overlooked spot.
Deep Clean Appliances
Whether you plan on including appliances in the sale or not, potential buyers will be evaluating their condition when walking through your home. Not to mention, appliances like ovens, dishwashers, and washing machines can create unwanted odors over time. Give your appliances a deep cleaning to restore their appearance, remove dirt and grime, and eliminate odors.
While you’re at it, be sure to give other areas of your kitchen some extra attention as well. When was the last time you cleaned your garbage disposal? That’s another common source of unwanted smells. If you have countertop appliances like coffee makers or toaster ovens, those should be addressed as well. Your kitchen is one of the most-used and most-scrutinized areas of your home, which means it’s well worth having every nook and cranny cleaned before your next open house.
Check for Common Dust Collectors
If you have a lot of knick-knacks or bookshelves full of collectibles, be prepared to dust every surface thoroughly. Common decor items like fake plants, candles, wicker furniture, and the top of books are big dust magnets that can often go undetected. Before your open house, set time aside to dust all decor items. This may be a good opportunity to declutter areas of your home as well by packing away extra items, which means fewer surfaces to clean in the future.
Wipe Down Cupboards and Closets
Potential buyers want the illusion that they’re getting a brand-new house. During an open house, you can expect them to open every drawer and inspect every closet. Give the inside of your kitchen cupboards and drawers a thorough wipe down, as well as shelves, hanging rods, and hooks in closets. These areas tend to go unnoticed during our daily routines, but storage spaces are looked at with a critical eye during open houses.
Making Your Home Open-House Ready
Spending extra time and effort to make your home ready for an open house is an effective way to boost buyer offers. But selling your home is a long and time-consuming process, which means you may not have the bandwidth needed to give your house a thorough deep clean. Our cleaning professionals understand the tight deadlines involved with preparing for an open house. We work in sync with you, your realtor, and other contractors to ensure your home is looking like-new and ready to be showcased at your upcoming event. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you prepare your home to hit the market.
