Clean, De-Clutter, De-Personalize & Organize for a Quick Sell
When selling your home, appearance is everything. Nothing turns off a potential homebuyer faster than grimy bathrooms, or oily kitchens; therefore, your home is not market ready until you have cleaned, de-cluttered, de-personalized and organized until it sparkles and shines.
Gather boxes and a felt market to begin to sort your items. Label the different boxes “Charity”, “Store”, “Garage Sale” and “Filing”. Also, have bags for items that you intend to through away.
Start in the back of the house, tackling one room at a time and move forward. In each room begin to sort out the junk items from the charity items to the garage sale items and so on. Begin to de-personalize and de-clutter the room, storing family photos and clothes away.
Clear all the countertops as all countertops should be clear with the exception of a few attractive items. For instance, scented soaps and hand towels in the bathroom and a plate of fresh baked cookies and a cookbook by the stove.
Clean out all closets, cupboards and drawers.
Get all the boxes out of the house. Items packed in boxes you intend to store place in a storage shed, the attic or the basement, items you intend to give to charity take to charity and so on. Your home should be as clutter free as possible.
Get a scrub brush, some vinegar and a pale of water and begin to wash the walls, countertops and all surfaces of the room until all grime is removed and the room sparkles and shines.
De-odorize. Once you have cleaned, and de-cluttered, then shampoo your carpets and clean the floors. Your home should smell fresh. If it doesn’t, the day of the showing, brew a strong pot of coffee and a fresh batch of cookies, which are both wonderful way to mask odors. Also, open the windows and let the fresh air and light in.