We all know that the sale price of your home will be affected by its condition, location and the state of the economy. However, knowing this bit of information, why do many sellers leave so much money on the table when they sell their homes? The answer: lack of staging.
Let’s say you put everything together to make sure your home sells quickly and for top dollar. But what does having a nice but empty house mean for the buyer? Having a well-staged home makes it easier for buyers to imagine living in your home and seeing themselves owning your house. Plus, research shows that an indecisive buyer will make up their minds 10 times faster if you can show them how they would live in the space.
Staging helps sell houses because it takes an empty house and makes it inviting.
The First Step in Staging is Deep Cleaning
So you’ve decided that staging your home makes sense. What is the first step in this process? A deep cleaning of course!
When you’re getting your home ready to sell, you’ll want to make sure that you give it a deep cleaning, because “everyday cleaning” and “selling cleaning” are two very different things.
DIY or Hire?
If you have the time, you can clean your home yourself. But to thoroughly deep clean your home may take several days.
Another option is to hire another person, or a cleaning company, to do it for you and include the cost in your sale price. Professionals usually have more experience with cleaning on a deeper level and are less likely to overlook details that homeowners might overlook.
This room is very clean, but it’s empty.
This is the same room, staged. Which seems most inviting to you?
If you opt to do it yourself, here are some items you will want to pay special attention to. It is also important to keep in mind what a potential buyer will notice.
- Clean the inside of each window as well as the window sills.
- Blinds should be cleaned or replaced, depending on their condition.
- Light fixtures and even the globes should all be cleaned.
- Wipe down the wall socket plates and light switches.
- The blades, the lights, and the base of ceiling fans should all be cleaned.
- Make sure the ceilings are free of cobwebs.
- Ensure all baseboards and the tops of door frames are clean.
- All furniture should be cleaned underneath.
- Any rugs, both throw rugs and any room-sized rugs, should be dry cleaned or washed.
- Remove all the cushions from the couch and vacuum under and between them.
- Wipe down kitchen chairs and table legs.
- Check and clean areas of the walls that need to be washed, as well as the doorknobs.
- There are times when you should repaint a room, if the paint no longer looks good.
- All trashcans should be cleaned and emptied.
- Be sure to clean the screen door and front door of your home, and wash the lights on the porch.
- Make sure every cabinet in the house is clean.
- Clean out the refrigerator and freezer and wash all the appliances.
- Clean the disposal and make sure it smells good.
- Don’t forget to dust all towel racks.
- Make sure the bathrooms are free from discoloration and that the mirrors are clean.
- Replace the bed’s sheets and blankets with fresh ones.
- Get everything organized.
- Floors should be swept, vacuumed, and mopped as necessary.
- Make sure the carpet is steam cleaned or professionally cleaned to get rid of odors.
- Pet bedding should be washed, as should the pets! Make sure all their toys and dishes are clean.
- Using scented candles or air fresheners in the rooms is a good idea, but make sure their smells don’t overwhelm. The scents in your home – you can become immune to them – so ask a friend to check the house and tell you if it has any strange or unpleasant odors.
- Do one last walk-through of your home and make sure you’ve left nothing behind.
Doing a deep cleaning like this will make a world of difference in selling your home. When it comes to staging, the devil’s in the details, so don’t overlook anything.
