The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist Before You List Your House for Sale
When you are ready to list your house for sale, you will want to do everything you can to sell quickly and get the best price. You probably know that staging is a good way for buyers to see themselves living in your home. But before you begin to stage your home and make it appealing to potential buyers, it is a good idea to clear the clutter and give it a thorough spring cleaning to make it sparkle.
Start by putting away knick-knacks and family photos that can be a distraction. Get rid of things you don’t need and get a head start on packing up items you want to keep. You can stack the boxes neatly in the garage or basement. Keep up with the latest trends and make your house easier to clean by displaying only a few larger decorative items. Now, with fewer dust collectors, you are ready to deep clean your house.
Here is a comprehensive checklist for in-depth spring cleaning before you list your house for sale.
Spring Clean the Kitchen
Most of us clean the kitchen every day, probably more than once. But a deep spring cleaning before you list your house is more thorough. Take extra steps like organizing the cabinets and scrubbing inside appliances to make your home look and smell good.
- Clear unwanted items from the refrigerator
- Clean the refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher inside and out
- Clean the water and ice dispenser
- Organize and clean cabinets and drawers
- Clean the sink and replace sponges
- Wipe down small appliances and knife block
- Clean the oven
- Scrub the stovetop and range hood
- Clean the counters and make them shine
- Disinfect the trash can
- Mop the floor
Spring Clean the Bathroom
You are likely to spend a good amount of time cleaning the bathroom. Before you start, hide toiletries, makeup and hairbrushes away in drawers and cabinets instead of leaving them on the countertops. Your goal is to give your bathroom a clean, calm, spa-like atmosphere.
- Store toiletries, makeup and hairbrushes out of sight
- Discard unwanted items in cabinets and drawers before cleaning
- Seal bathtub and shower grout before scrubbing
- Clean the shower head
- Clean the toilet
- Disinfect the toilet brush holder
- Clean the bathroom fan
- Disinfect the trash can
- Shine the sink and mirror
- Polish all door handles and drawer pulls
- Replace toothbrushes
- Set out fluffy fresh towels
- Mop the floor
Spring Clean the Living Room
The living room is a relaxing space in your home where you get together with family and friends. Make it inviting to buyers by clearing the clutter, plumping up pillows and giving it a good in-depth cleaning. If you have a fireplace, make sure it is clean and neat.
- Clean the ceiling with a dry microfiber mop
- Dust ceiling fans
- Check the walls and spot clean
- Wash carpets and area rugs
- Wash the windows to let the sunshine in
- Clean the windowsills and window coverings
- Dust the television and lamps
- Clean the light switches and switchplates
- Vacuum upholstered furniture and spot clean stains
- Touch up wood furniture and polish
- Vacuum and clean floors
- Dust decorative items
- Sweep out the fireplace
Spring Clean the Bedroom
Remember that potential buyers will be coming through, so put away your valuables and get rid of the clutter on your nightstand. Open the windows to let in the air and give your bedroom a fresh smell. Make sure your closets don’t appear overstuffed, which can give buyers the impression there will not be enough room for their belongings.
- Strip the bed
- Clean the headboard
- Vacuum the mattress using the appropriate attachment
- Rotate the mattress
- Use fresh, clean linens to make the bed
- Clear the clutter in your closet
- Organize your closet to make it appear neat and spacious
- Reorganize your shoes
- Polish dressers and nightstands
Spring Clean the Home Office
The pandemic has many of us working from home, at least part of the time. Take the time to sort your papers to decide what to keep and get rid of the rest. If you have filing cabinets, a hutch or desk drawers, put the files you want to save out of sight.
- Tackle the clutter
- Hide papers in file cabinets
- Clean the computer screen and keyboard
- Dust the cords
- Clean the phone and headphones
- Straighten up and clean the desk
- Organize and dust the bookshelves
Spring Clean the Laundry Room
The laundry room can be a catch-all space for items that should be stored elsewhere. Organize the laundry room by removing things that don’t belong and recycle empty containers you may have. Make sure to wash dirty laundry or place it out of sight.
- Wash the exterior of the washer and dryer
- Clean the washer drum and wash around the door and the gasket
- Scrub the detergent dispensers
- Make sure the lint filter is clean
- Wash the outside of containers for home cleaning and laundry products
- Organize containers neatly
Now that you have given your home a deep spring cleaning, check outside. Replace dead bushes and trees, powerwash the driveway and walkways, and clean up the front yard. Pay special attention to the front porch and make sure it is swept clean.
Count on our firm to help you make smart decisions about cleaning and staging your house when you list it for sale. Kelli Ide offers a unique, concierge-style approach to real estate, including staging, photo styling and market preparation services exclusively for clients to give them an edge over the competition. For further information about buying or selling a home, visit kelliide.com.
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