What do you clean to show your house, especially when you have limited time before an unexpected showing? You can be a generally neat and tidy person, and you can still be stressed out by the idea of making your house “shine” – especially if you have kids. Never fear! We’ve got some tips on how to clean to show your house – and make a great impression.
THE DEEP CLEANING:
- Go through your closets especially. People look for space and storage – so if it looks like you’ve run out of both, they are less likely to see themselves living comfortably.
- These are key. Replace older fixtures and make sure things are deep cleaned. If you can, designate a bathroom or two that your family will use – and avoid using the others. This will save you cleaning time in the event of a last minute showing.
- Get your carpets cleaned and take some time brightening the grout in your tile and shining the wood on your floors. When you think about what to clean to show your house, the quality of your floor makes a huge impression.
- Budget Reno. If you are on a tight budget for what to replace, look at the entrance of your house. First impressions are HUGE. Repaint the door frame, replace the knob, spruce up the steps – if a buyer walks into your house with a good impression, they take other improvements that need to be made more lightly.
- Clean Canvas Style. It’s hard to put family pictures and your kids’ art away. But I like to think of it as creating a clean canvas of your home – so that another family can imagine themselves loving this room.
THE MAINTANENCE:
- Staying Decluttered. Find a space that’s tucked away and keep a few big plastic bins there. If you get a last minute showing, you can walk through the house and gather those couple of everyday items and put them in your “hiding place” bins.
- 5 Minute Clean. Keep quick cleaning tools like magic erasers handy in the bathrooms and kitchen space. Things you can grab, wipe, and stash in about 30 seconds. Oh, and if you only have time for one thing – Check the trash. Grab the bathroom ones especially on your way out the door. Nobody likes seeing used tissues or hair.
- Smell. It might not be something you think of, but smell can be a huge factor in a buyer’s perception. Think about what you’re cooking on days you know you have a showing and avoid super strong scents like garlic or bacon. Maybe light a candle or two while you clean to show your house so you know there will be a welcoming scent.
Think like a buyer. Look at your house like it’s your first time in it, and take note of what stands out. We hope our tips helped – what are your favorite tips on how to clean to show your house? Let us know in the comments!
Much love,
Audrey
The Christian Mortgage Mom
