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4. Deep clean, then keep it clean
Once you have decluttered, you might realize you’re overdue for deep cleaning. It’s worth the effort. A clean home feels more valuable to buyers, making them more likely to put in a better offer. Plus, it leads to eye-catching listing photos that help your property stand out online.
When you’re ready to tackle cleaning, make a separate list. Kitchens and baths are good places to start tackling grime. Be sure to include appliances such as the refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven. Make mirrors and faucets sparkle. Scour the grout. Wash the walls. Mop the floors.
Every room can use some attention. Put fresh linens on the beds. Wash or dry-clean the window treatments. Shampoo the carpets. Dust everything.
If you don’t have time for deep cleaning, house cleaners charge an average of $25 to $80 per hour.
5. Deodorize, but say no to fragrance
Malodors make a lousy impression on buyers. Whether it’s cigarette smoke, kitchen stink, pet stench, strong perfumes, or a pungent mold reek, an unpleasant smell could be so distracting that a buyer can’t get past it to notice your home’s wonderful features.
If odor lingers after you have deep-cleaned your home, it’s time to take more drastic measures. Deodorize your home with these simple steps:
- Stay on top of the laundry and dishes
- Use baking soda to refresh carpets
- Scrub walls with a diluted vinegar solution
- Repaint
- Shampoo the carpets
- Use an enzymatic product to remove odors from hardwood floors
- Increase air circulation in the bathroom and kitchen
- Look for and fix leaks
- Change your home’s air filters
You may have to call a professional to eliminate dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These invisible chemicals can come from things like paint, cleaners, or old building materials, and breathing them in too much isn’t great for your health.
Whatever you do, don’t try to mask odors with heavy perfumes. Get to the cause and eliminate it. Once you have eliminated odors and their causes, add a fresh scent, like citrus, as this increases a home’s perceived value. Buyers generally prefer simple, neutral, and natural scents to heavy aromas found in plug-ins, candles, or essential oils.
6. Make judicious repairs
Every homeowner continually chases routine maintenance and repairs. However, when you’re trying to sell your home, leaving too many of those items on your to-do list leaves a bad impression.
If you haven’t taken care of the little things, buyers may wonder what bigger problems you have neglected. That can turn away buyers or lead to low offers.
“If you’re not willing to do the $5 caulk job, or buy a $20 gallon of paint to fix flaking paint, then what other maintenance items aren’t you addressing?” Pappalardo asks. “So, repair the caulk around the tubs, fix flaking paint, [and] make sure every window works properly. There [are] so many little things you can fix.”
Create a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal checklist of maintenance and repairs you should keep on top of.
Repair the apparent things. Remember, in many states, the seller must legally disclose defects. By fixing some of the smaller things, you reduce the length of that list.
Know what not to fix when selling a house. Many renovations provide only little return on investment (ROI). Fixing everything will never make up for an unfixable flaw with the house, such as location, lack of parking, or a power line on your property, so it’s better to pick improvement projects wisely.
