Top 10 Real Estate Pre-Sale Tips - Tip 4

Now that you've prepared a plan, repaired, painted, and assessed your floor and window coverings it’s time to look at everyone’s least favorite topic – cleaning.

The only thing more off-putting (and therefore price reducing) for a potential buyer than a property that has not been well maintained is a house that is not display-home clean. No-one (and I really mean no-one) likes the idea of having to clean a property before they can even move in and a sparkling clean home creates the impression that yours is the best cared for house on the market. This equals nothing to worry about for your buyer, which sets them at ease and translates to a higher sale price for you.

Although it is not the most appealing job to tackle, think of it like getting a jump start on your move and having these tasks done now will simply mean be fewer things to do when the time comes to move after your very quick sale.

'It is important to remember that potential buyers will be going over your home with a fine tooth comb. It is best to assume that they will be looking in, under, over and through every part of your house and the task of cleaning needs to be approached with this in mind.'

The following list includes some room-by-room tips for cleaning items which should not be overlooked:

• General – Every room in the house should have the window sills, skirting boards, light fittings, door handles, light switches and windows cleaned. Cornices and ceilings should be dusted for cobwebs. Walls should be washed if marked. All carpets should be vacuumed & hard floor surfaces washed. Any furniture that is remaining in the property during the sales campaign should be thoroughly cleaned. 
• Living Rooms – Open Fireplaces should be cleaned.
• Kitchens – Ovens, hotplates & Built in Microwaves should be cleaned inside and out. Range hoods should be cleaned on top where dust gathers and well as having filters removed and cleaned. Clean floor & walls inside fridge cavity and ensure fridge is bare (i.e. no photos, school notices etc). Clean inside the dishwasher using a cleaning product and also wipe down the inside of the dishwasher door (especially around the edges which can get a bit grotty) Wipe out cupboards and draws & ensure contents are neat. Sink & tap ware should gleam!
• Bedrooms – Ensure that carpets inside robes are vacuumed and that contents of robes/draws are neat and not overflowing.
• Bathrooms – Shower recess, screens & baths should be spotless. Grout should be free of mould. Ceilings and walls should be washed if there is evidence of moisture. Again sinks, tap ware and toilets should be spotless. Toilet seats (and lids) should be left down. All toiletries should be out of sight.
• Laundry – Bench spaces should be clear and clean, unwashed laundry should be out of sight and troughs & tap ware should (again) be gleaming. Wipe out cupboards and draws and ensure that contents of cupboards are neat.
• Outside – Windows should be cleaned externally also and any dirty paths pressure washed. 

With modern life as busy as it is, facing such a list of cleaning tasks can seem overwhelming. 3 Pea’s Property Styling is able to arrange and co-ordinate a thorough clean of your property, ensuring that all these items are attended to and that your property is ready to present to market in sparkling condition. Why not contact us today to see how we can help you?

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