How To: Spring Cleaning Tips That Will Help You Sell Your Home Quickly
Have you been considering selling your home? Spring is one of the best times to sell! Homes are valued higher, days are longer, and buyers are motivated to get settled in time for the following school year.
Now that it’s a little warmer and brighter out, it’s a great time to get your home polished to perfection before putting it on the market. A dirty home can deter a seller forcing your home to sit on the market longer than necessary and costing you money.
Here are some tried-and-true tips that will help you home sell quickly.
1. Let the sun in
Make any room look brighter with clean blinds and windows. Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to eight parts water, plus a drop or two of liquid dishsoap, for a green window cleaner. Spray on and wipe with newspaper to avoid streaks. (Washing on a cloudy day also reduces streaking.) Showing tip: Replace heavy drapes with lightweight shears during warmer months to give a room a brighter, lighter feel for prospective buyers.
2. Sniff out smells
Check the drip tray underneath your refrigerator and wash out any standing water from defrosting. Remove inside odors by washing the inside of the fridge with a baking soda and water solution. Boil lemon juice in your microwave and add it to your dishwasher to eliminate bad smells. Also, put the lemon rinds down the disposal. Add activated charcoal in the fridge to keep odors at bay. Showing tip: Make the fridge smell fresh instantly with cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract or orange juice.
3. Make your bed better
Vacuum mattresses and box springs, and then rotate and flip over. Do the same for removable furniture cushions. This is also a great time to wash or dry-clean the dust ruffle and mattress pad. Showing tip: Add new loft to a lumpy comforter by having two people vigorously shake the quilt up and down to redistribute stuffing.
4. Clean those coils
Improve energy efficiency by vacuuming grates, coils, and condensers in your furnace, stove, and refrigerator (either underneath or in back). If a vacuum won’t reach, try a rag tied to a yardstick. Showing tip: Shut some air conditioning vents on the first floor so that more air will reach and cool the second floor. Reverse the process in winter for heat vents.
5. Wash the walls
Grease, smoke, and dust can adhere to walls and make even the best decorating look dingy. Wash walls using a general-purpose cleaner with hot water. Start at the top of the wall to avoid drips and in a corner so that you wash one wall at a time. Rinse the mop head frequently in clean water. And don’t press too hard because flat latex paint won’t absorb too much water. Showing tip: Resist the temptation to spot-clean walls since it will make the rest of the wall look dingy.
The market peaks in June, so make sure you get started now! You want your home to be in the best shape possible when you list it, so you can get the most bang for your buck. Follow these tips now so you can spend the rest of the season relaxing and watch your home sell in no time!
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