A Clean, Uncluttered House Can Appeal to Potential Buyers
(Adapted Knight Ridder Newspapers Article)

When a house is for sale, it should be as attractive as possible to potential buyers. The most cost-efficient way to spruce up the home is to clean it thoroughly. Here are some tips from real estate and cleaning experts:

Get rid of clutter
Many potential buyers may not see past dirt and clutter. If the house is crowded with the owner's stuff, buyers will assume that the house is too small for their possessions as well. Purge the home of items no longer used. Pass things that are in good condition to a charity or sell them, put away the keepers, and trash the rest. The magic is that rooms will appear more spacious, closets will look bigger, and shelves will look roomier.

Clean
Focus on the rooms that potential buyers will focus on - living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathrooms. View each room as a potential buyer would; see what catches the eye first. Make that the starting point; then follow the top-to-bottom, left-to-right rule for cleaning. Give major attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. Some surfaces, such as floors, can become cloudy from cleaning-solution residue, making them look dirty or worn. To prevent this, use a no-rinse product or rinse the surface well after each cleaning. Cleaning should remove all odors. If not, be sure to take care of this problem as well. AtmosKlear Odor Eliminator eliminates all odors on contact.

Eliminate mold and mildew
These are a major turnoff. With all the publicity concerning mold-caused illnesses, prospective home buyers are sensitive to it. Use a liquid household bleach or cleaners with bleach to remove stains from shower doors and curtains and from grout between tiles. Spray it on, let it set, and rinse well. Keep the room well-ventilated. Use a non-streaking cleaning product, such as a glass cleaner, for shower doors and mirrors.

For more information about how you can sell your home in the shortest time for the most money, call me today at 602-628-3077, or e-mail me. You'll be glad you did!