In selling your Bay Area home, you naturally want to present it in the best possible light to improve your chances of nabbing the highest price for it. That’s why deep cleaning your house before listing it is tremendously important—it’s a cost-effective way to boost curb appeal and make your home more attractive to buyers.
These five deep cleaning activities are must-haves in your “cleaning house to sell” checklist.
Make your caulking white again
Does the caulking around your tiles and fixtures look worn with age and mildew? To make your caulking white again, you can use vinegar, or a cleaning paste made up of one-part water and one-part baking soda. Apply the solution with an old toothbrush and scrub the dirt and grime away. Do not mix vinegar with baking soda, as the chemical reaction can be intense. If scrubbing doesn’t work, you may have to replace your caulking entirely.
Smoothen your walls
Here’s one item you shouldn’t miss in your house-selling cleaning checklist. If there are frames and pictures on your walls, you’ll have to remove the nails and adhesives that you used to hang them, and this will likely lead to holes, cracks, and other imperfections. You need to make sure your walls are pristine before you put your house on the market. To get rid of the flaws, start by patching holes and cracks flat with spackling. Once the spackling dries, sand it smooth, then prime and paint over them.
Refresh household appliances
If you plan to leave your appliances when you sell your home, they must be in good working condition. This means fixing dishwasher leaks, replacing worn out refrigerator seals, degreasing the oven, and so on. Contact an appliance repair professional for any operational issues with your appliances.
Aside from ensuring that they are working fine, you also want your appliances to look their best. Take the time to scrub them inside and out. If you can, replace face panels that show visible damage, such as dents or scratches.
Power wash the garage floor
Oils and stains on the garage floor are an eyesore. Thankfully, a power washer can be an effective tool to restore it to like-new appearance. It helps to apply degreaser and stain cleaner to lift the stains from the concrete before using your power washer.
Keep in mind that you must first know how to handle your power washer so you don’t end up damaging your garage floor. If in doubt, leave the task to a power washing professional.
Dust your light fixtures
Cleaning your light fixtures is a quick and easy task that immediately makes your home look brighter while getting rid of any dusty old smell. Before anything, turn off your breakers and let the lights cool down so you don’t get electrocuted or singed by the heat. Afterwards, wipe the dust off your fittings with an electrostatic duster or microfiber cloth. Remove light coverings and wash them with detergent water, making sure they’re dry before installing them back on.
Sell your home with Amir Hardy
Ready to move forward with your home sale in the Bay Area? I, Amir Hardy, am ready to assist you get the best price for your property. I will work with you through every step of the house selling process and even help make sure you tick all the boxes in your cleaning checklist.
Call me today at 415.602.0570 or drop me a note here.