Cleaning To Prep For An Open House

Take your emotion out of it and clean as though you’re selling your house like your life depends on it. There are probably several pieces of furniture that don’t really need to be where they are right now. Move them. Consider getting a storage unit for things like that old dusty chest in the living room that has been make-shifting as a coffee table. It’s really important that you’re able to detach yourself emotionally and think about what you would look for in a home that you were looking to move into.

Pay Attention to Detail!

It goes without saying that any prospective buyer of your home will be paying attention to details, and so should you. The small stuff makes a big difference. Clean every nook and cranny, high and low. Make sure that things like the light fixtures are dust-free and the skirting boards have been given a wipe-down, check the windowsills and all the little corners. Pay attention to details and rearrange certain ornaments or couch cushions that usually are left untouched. Move the clutter out of the way to make the space look bigger, find homes for things that haven’t had them in months or years. Make sure that everything has its place in the home.

 Organize the Disorganized

That kitchen drawer or cupboard that’s been neglected for months? Stuff shoved into it with a mantra of “I’ll get to it later”? Countertops brimming with the trappings of daily life? Clean that stuff out and up! Start with the cupboards, that’s where most people just shove things — make a list or somehow keep track of the contents if you must hang onto it, if not, chuck it out. Reorganize them and make them look neat and tidy, assume the people who’re coming to see the house will carefully inspect everything.

Let the Light In

The next thing you should prioritize is to let the light into your house. You likely have some really nicely lit rooms when the sun is up or going down or even in the middle of the day. Let that light in! Open up your curtains, bring up the blinds, wash your windows and let the natural light illuminate the space. Natural light is often important to a buyer, you’ll want to showcase your own home’s natural light offerings as best you can.

Focus on the Entryway

A final tip is to focus on your entryway, both inside and outside. The entryway is going to be one of the first things that your prospective buyers will see, so that should be your first task. De-clutter space, paint the outside if you have steps or a deck with chipped paint. For the inside, again, pay attention to your paint and the flooring, if there’s carpet — rent a carpet cleaner and clean all the carpet in your house, starting with the entryway. If there’s other flooring, polish it up. Your entryway should be accessible and welcoming!

Open houses can be stressful and nerve-wracking, especially if you are eagerly waiting for a sale. But there are lots of things that you can do to make a good first impression and reduce the amount of stress you’re under, living safely in the knowledge that any prospective buyer of your home will be seeing it in as good a condition as possible, therefore increasing the likelihood that you will make the sale. Cleaning your house top-to-bottom is one of those annoying, but necessary things that will help you make the sale.