Indoor:
• Professional carpet cleaning should be done every 12 to 18 months. If you think that’s too much, check out the color of the water after it has been cleaned, you will be amazed to see how much dirt accumulates over the year.
• Dust everything; ceiling fans, furniture, above kitchen cabinets, baseboards, doorways and light fixtures. Take everything off shelves, tabletops and dressers to dust. Move furniture away from walls and clean underneath.
• Open up the windows to air out thoroughly.
• Get rid of pet smells, hair and stains.
• Ensure smooth-sliding windows and patio doors by running a bar of soap along the tracks.
• Here’s a good tip to clean your indoor plants from tipnut.com; gently run the inside of a banana peel along the tops and undersides of leaves for an all-natural clean and polish.
• Kitchens and bathrooms are the rooms buyers pay the most attention to and can make or break your sale. Bathrooms should represent the feeling of privacy and relaxation whereas the kitchen should convey a feeling of family and entertaining.
• Buyers love to snoop and will open every closet and cabinet door so make sure to throw out all expired food and organize and clean all your cabinets. Donate old clothes and hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction. Using all identical hangers such as white plastic hangers (I really can’t stand those ugly metal hangers) will make your closets look more organized and neat.
• Spring is also a perfect time to change your bedding. You can opt for the inexpensive bed in a bag solution using neutral and light colors to brighten up your room.
• Here’s another great tip from tipnut.com to clean your shower door tracks. First clean out as much as you can, then stuff the track drain holes with small, tight wads of toilet paper or chunks of paper towel. Pour preferred grime buster solution such as Coca-Cola, Vinegar, Denture Tablets (first dissolved in warm water) or Bleach & Water in the track to completely cover without flowing over the track, and then allow soaking for an hour or two. After soaking, unclog the drain holes and allow cleaner to flow out of the tracks. Rinse well with hot water. Then get your tools out and dig into the little corners and crevices. Caution: the suggested cleaners might react with all the various metals and finishes used for shower tracks, please test first before using to ensure the tracks or the finish won’t be damaged.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks if need be and polish chrome faucets and mirrors. Don’t forget to hang fresh towels.
• Be sure your sump pump works properly. To test, fill the sump pit with water and go outside to make sure the pump is actually discharging water. You can also eliminate any build-up in the system by pouring white vinegar through the unit.
• De-personalize and de-clutter. If you haven’t used it in over a year, you probably don’t need it. Buyers want to imagine their own pictures on the walls; they need to see past your own personal artifacts and family heirlooms.
Outdoor curb appeal. The first impression really counts and if the outside is not up to par, potential buyers might pass by your house without even giving it a second look.
• Don't leave exterior painting for the hot, humid, hazy days of summer. Para Paints advises tackling an outdoor paint update after a minimum 24-hour period of temperatures between 15 and 25 C.
• Examine your asphalt driveway’s surface for damage. Regular resealing is the best way to protect the surface and keep it in good shape.
• Wash every window in and out. You can use this environmentally friendly recipe: Use 2 cups of water, 3 TBS Vinegar and ½ tsp liquid dish detergent.
• Give your roof a “once-over” for damage inflicted during the winter.
• Use a pressure washer and spray sidewalks and exterior. Don’t forget to clean the cobwebs.
• Clean up the garage and landscaping. Planting yellow flowers such as marigolds has been said to evoke a buying emotion and is an inexpensive way to make a great impact.
Having a clean home reflects the owner’s level of activity when it comes to maintenance and keeping up with the property. Finishing touches does matter and your home can never be clean enough for the discriminating buyer. With careful planning and a little elbow grease, your house should sell in no time.
Andree
http://www.andreelavigne.com/
Source: http://homebuying.about.com/
0 comments: