Spring Cleaning 101
Spring Cleaning is never fun, but if you’re planning on selling your home in 2023 it’s more important than ever to put that extra love in this year’s cleanup (and clean-out!). Start your planning now, setting aside time on your calendar in the upcoming months to do things a bit at a time, and you’ll save yourself considerable anxiety when you get down to the dirty work. Done with intent and effort, proper spring cleaning will add curb appeal to your home, make the inside more appealing to potential buyers, and help make moving out an easier, less stressful experience.
Declutter
It’s always a good idea to get rid of clutter after a Winter trapped inside your home, but you’re preparing to sell your home it becomes much more important. Cleaning out your home and getting rid of the clutter sets the stage for potential buyers to envision the home they want it to become. It allows them to see themselves in the space, see what they could do with it, and picture their family growing within the walls.
Go through your closets, your basement, your garage, and be honest about what you use, what you haven’t used in a while, and what you are unlikely to use in the future. Bag clothes that don’t fit, box books you aren’t going to read again, pack away the kitchen gadgets you haven’t used since Iron Chef was popular, and either donate them to a thrift store for a tax deduction or sell them using a resale app like Facebook Marketplace, Decluttr, or EBay.
It’s not just what’s inside that counts.
Spring Cleaning is just as important for the outside of your home as it is for the inside, maybe more. Curb appeal is one of the most important assets in selling a home quickly and for the best price, as many house shoppers will determine their interest in the few moments it takes to drive by your house or park in the driveway. Plan exterior cleaning for the warmer months, putting these tasks later on your planning calendar, but give them the same priority as any cleaning you do within your home this Spring.
Exterior Spring-Cleaning Checklist:
Make sure the lawn is well-maintained and free of leaves.
Trim hedges and tree branches close to your home.
Spread fresh mulch around the base of trees and plants.
Pull unsightly weeds and spread grass seed in bare patches of lawn.
Clean gutters.
Power wash home exterior, decks, stairs and walkways.
Repair obvious damage to fences, walkways, and siding.
Remove clutter from the yard.
Windows are the windows to your home.
Clean windows are important for several reasons, but for some reason are often neglected during Spring Cleaning. Clean windows make a good impression as potential buyers get their first close-up look at your home. They also let in natural light, giving your buyers a beautiful view of the interior, and allowing them to see it without thinking about the inherent costs of lighting. Clean windows also give potential buyers a view of the neighborhood from “their future home,” adding a sort of reverse-curb appeal and helping them to envision living there. This is a powerful sales technique easily ruined by dirty, smudged windows.
Remember, cleaning windows means cleaning them from both sides. It doesn’t do you much good to clean the inside of the windows but neglect the bug splatter, pollen, and streaks on the outside. Want a pro-tip? Outsource exterior cleaning to young neighborhood children looking to earn money working outdoors. The same kids that will mow your lawn for a few dollars will also Windex your glass until it sparkles. And while they’re at it, make sure they remember sliding glass doors, viewport windows on doors, and any other exterior window you may not think about often.
Pay attention to the little things while you work.
While you’re going through your spring-cleaning routine, pay close attention to the “little” things that might draw the eye of a prospective home buyer. Make a list of the little things that add up to influence a prospective buyer. Holes in the wall where pictures were once hung, damaged or missing caulk, leaking faucets and squeaking door hinges are all little things that add up to lower offers and buyer interest. Fixing these small details while you take care of your Spring Cleaning will cost you very little but make a significant difference in the eyes of potential buyers.
