Planning to sell your house this spring? Get serious about spring cleaning! We recommend sellers declutter and deep clean their house before putting it on the market. If you don’t, you’re frankly leaving money on the table. Start with these Spring cleaning tasks!
1. DECLUTTER COUNTERTOPS AND SURFACES
Clear up the scattered paperwork, stacks of unopened mail, chargers, and random mugs. Then, place only the essentials on the countertop, such as a clean coffee maker, toaster, and decorative spice rack.
2. WASH YOUR WINDOWS
Window washing likely isn’t in your frequent house-cleaning rotation of tasks, but it can make a big difference in how your house shows.
3. DUST AND WIPE EVERY SHELF AND CABINET
Dust shelves, lamps, and ceiling fans, and wipe down cabinets, closets, and baseboards as part of their home prep.
4. POLISH HARDWOOD FLOORS
Polish up your hardwood floors before you list so that the years of wear and tear aren’t as noticeable when buyers step into your home. Note: some floors need to be waxed instead of polished and the wrong technique or solution could dull the finish.
5. GET RID OF THE DOG SMELL
Don’t let your house get overpowered by the musty stench wafting from your sweet 11-year-old dog’s bed cushion. Owners should wash pet beds and crates as part of their spring listing preparations.
6. TEND TO THE YARD AND LANDSCAPE
A simple way to take care of the lawn is to rake away the debris and tree branches and get them into compost bags for your city pickup. Bust out the lawnmower and then with sturdy shears, trim and prune the overgrown shrubs and smaller trees.
7. PLANT POPS OF COLOR AND LAY DOWN FRESH MULCH
Adding bright flowers and fresh mulch is a great way to amp up curb appeal.
8. MAKE SURE THE FRONT DOOR IS PRISTINE
The key to swoon-worthy curb appeal is a functional, spotless, and newly painted front door with a few simple decorative touches like a welcome mat for the front steps and a flowery wreath for the door that gives a fresh and home-y vibe.
Take care of necessary repairs and general upkeep
9. CLEAR THE RAIN GUTTERS
Clean out the gutters after a tough winter and in preparation for spring showers. A safe drainage system will help protect against water damage to the house.
All you need is a hose, ladder, and shovel. Scoop out dead leaves and debris, then spray the hose through the gutters.
10. TEST THE AC UNIT AND CHANGE OUT FILTERS
If there’s no time for a full HVAC check-up from a professional, change out the filters and test that the AC unit still works. Buyers will want to feel that nice cold air coming through the vents when you show the house on warm days.
A roof lasts only about 25 years, so if you know your home’s roof is approaching that deadline, it needs a quick inspection from a professional. Roofers actually recommend getting a check-up for your roof twice a year, once in the spring (after winter) and once in the fall (before winter).
11. INSPECT AND CLEAN THE SIDING
The siding of your home (if it’s in good condition) not only enhances curb appeal but also protects your house from day-to-day wear and tear. After years of putting up with the elements, your home’s siding is probably dirty at best. For vinyl siding, Bob Vila, an expert home maintenance advice website, suggests a 70% water and 30% vinegar cleaning solution and a soft-bristle brush to get rid of mold and mildew.
12. POWER WASH THE DRIVEWAY
Spring is the perfect season to power wash your driveway. Now’s your chance to remove stains, oils, and salt from the winter just in time for the open house. We recommend buying a pressure washer nozzle that you can switch between modes of pressure.
13. GET THE ROOF INSPECTED FOR ANY WINTER DAMAGE
Top it off with these final showing touches
14. LET THERE BE LIGHT!
Open the blinds for natural light (especially once you’ve washed the windows…does it get much easier than that?), maybe even open the windows for fresh air. You need to let out the cooped-up dust and air that you trapped indoors from the winter and make sure your home is bright. This tip costs zero dollars but adds so much to the buyer’s overall experience.
15. TAKE THE “YOU” OUT OF YOUR HOME
Go room by room and try to look at your home through the eyes of a buyer. Depersonalize your home and pre-pack collections, winter clothing, and any items you can live without for the next 90 days. You want buyers to feel like they can build a life in this house and move in the very next day. So, pack up the family pictures, stow away your sports memorabilia, and take your late cat’s urn to your mom’s place.
16. LIVEN UP THE SPACE WITH POPS OF COLOR
17. RUN A COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS & DON’T GET GREEDY WITH THE PRICE
You’ll need to check out how much other homes on your block and neighborhood have sold for in recent months. These homes are called comparables, which will have the same number of rooms and square footage as your own house. A comparative market analysis helps you determine how much your own home is worth.
