When selling your home, staging it to instantly impress and capture the attention of potential buyers is a must. Part of home staging is providing a deep cleaning of the house. But, what type of cleaning is necessary and are there any projects that are simply a waste of time? Let’s take a look at several cleaning tasks you should complete before a home showing.
The Floor
The floors throughout your entire home should be clean. This means sweeping and mopping any type of hardwood, laminate, tile, or other flooring option, as well as vacuuming all carpet in the home. If you have time, wipe down all baseboards and dust all vents located near or on the floor. In addition to cleaning the floor, try to remove all unnecessary objects taking up space in a room such as furniture, boxes, etc. By removing these items, it will not only make the room look cleaner but larger as well.
Closets and Cupboards
You can expect potential buyers to open closet doors and cupboards. This means you cannot — and certainly should not — throw all unnecessary items into these spaces. Go through and declutter every closet, cupboard, and drawer throughout your home. If possible, remove at least 50% of all your belongings that are stored in these areas. This will make these spaces look better organized and larger, which will attract potential buyers.
Focus on Your Main Features
Sometimes, you may have little time before your first showing and cannot deep clean as you desire. In these situations, focus on the larger features of your home. For example, ensure that your countertops are clean and all appliances are looking nice. Make beds and open windows. If you are very limited on time, focus on the main rooms such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and master bedroom.
If you really need to speed clean your home, set a timer and spend just five minutes cleaning each room. This will help you work quickly and you will focus on the larger tasks in each room, rather than the small details.
Windows and Window Treatments
One trick to properly staging your home is to let in as much sunlight as possible. This means you need to open those curtains and expose your windows. If you haven’t cleaned both the interior and exterior of your home’s windows, now is the time to do so. Fingerprints, water stains, dirt, spider webs, and more can stand out and become an eyesore in the room. Additionally, take the time to clean the blinds, wash curtains, etc. It is a simple task and takes very little time to complete.
Deep cleaning your home prior to a showing can be a time-consuming task but it will pay off greatly, particularly if you pay attention to small details such as cupboards and drawers. For more questions on how to best sell your Markham home, or if you are ready to place your home on the market, call Markham real estate agent Martin MacFarlane today.
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