Is a dirty home a dealbreaker for home buyers?

The short answer is it depends. A fast-cash buyer won’t be too picky and will buy your home as is. But a buyer who’s looking to move into his or her dream home would think twice before considering a dirty and cluttered property.

Of course, if you’re targeting the latter type of buyer, then you know that staging your home is a must. You can’t expect to sell your home for a nice profit and do it fast if you can’t even manage the basics.

And speaking of basics, thorough cleaning is right at the top of that list. Here, we’ll share our top tips for making your home spotless before you put it up for sale.

Start as Early as You Can

Remember, you’re not just getting your home ready to sell. You also have to think about moving into your new home. If you don’t give yourself plenty of time to prepare for both, the tasks you’ll have to deal with will snowball later on.

That means if you’re cleaning a house to sell, you have to get on it as soon as you can. If you have a month or two to prepare, designate a room to clean every weekend. This way, your daily cleaning is more manageable and your house is ready to show even if a buyer unexpectedly drops by for a visit.

Now, if you don’t have time, enlist the help of pros like Master Green Cleaning Services. It may be an expense you don’t feel like paying for. But it’s better than having one weekend or even worse, one day to clean everything yourself.

Get Rid of Clutter

No matter how you insist that the things you own are worth displaying and give character to your home, it’s not going to matter to potential home buyers. To them, a clean home means dirt- and clutter-free.

This is why you may need to rent a storage unit for most of your stuff. It’s not a dig against your tastes. But the more things you have in your home, the harder it is to stage.

Also, if you have a lot of things, they can make your home look smaller than it is. Packing away your stuff and keeping it in a safe place not only makes your home roomier. It also makes daily cleaning a lot easier.

Stay on Top of Things

There are house cleaning tips you can follow even if you don’t have a lot of time to spend on thorough cleaning. These include tackling major problems first such as mold and mildew and making sure the rooms buyers will check out first, will pass inspection.

We’re talking about the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, living room, and master bedroom. If you’re doing everything by yourself, try to use the best cleaning products. And by best, we mean those that clean hard but won’t scratch or damage surfaces.

For best results, stay on top of things by doing some quick cleaning every day. Keep wet wipes or clean rags handy so you can wipe surfaces such as kitchen countertops and toilet bowls fast.

Buy some new rugs or mats if you can. And remember to clean as you go. Don’t let spills turn into stains, especially when you’re days away from listing your home.

Thorough Cleaning Your Home to Sell: Are You Ready?

Thorough cleaning your home is easier said than done. But it’s one of the most important tasks you have to do before listing your home.

For more tips on selling your home, don’t forget to check out our Advice for Home Sellers.