Moving from one home to another is a massive undertaking. How do you decide the balance between an acceptable level of personalization and too much clutter? The key is to turn the task of de-cluttering into an opportunity to get a jumpstart on your packing. As long as it’s not overwhelming or offensive.” That doesn’t mean you need to completely depersonalize your home.ĭart says, “The idea of someone having personal things in their house is okay with me because at the end of the day it is their home. The best way to help buyers see themselves living in your house is to remove most of the visible reminders that someone else already does. Fresh eyes will find those untidy paper stacks on your desk, the mantel overflowing with photos, the basket of laundry waiting to be folded.Īll those precious keepsakes and to-do tasks that transform your house into a home are a distraction for potential buyers. Take a stroll through your home and appraise the place as if you were a guest instead of a resident. Source: (Wendelin Jacober/ Pexels) Conquer clutter

BONUS: How to handle pet odors and dander.

Give everything in the house a final polish.

Scrub, dust, sweep, vacuum, and mop effectively.

Find and use the best cleaning supplies.

Deal with clutter the cost-effective way.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to: We’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide for deep cleaning a house while it’s on the market. Roll up your sleeves, get the cleaning supplies out, and follow along. If you take on the job yourself you not only save money - you also get a jumpstart on tackling the biggest distraction to buyers: clutter. Plus, there are certain tasks a professional crew won’t take on, like reorganizing your shelves or paring down closets. Angie’s List puts the average hourly cost at $20 to $45 per cleaner, which can add up into the hundreds to get the job done. Depending on the square-footage and cleanliness of your house, you could be looking at a full day job for a multi-person team. Hiring in a cleaning crew is one option to get the job done. A good deep cleaning at the beginning will make it easier to keep your place tidy for showings the entire time your home is on the market.

Buyers are coming in to kick your home’s proverbial tires.Īs they decide if your house will meet their needs, they’ll open closets, explore out-of-sight corners and may even shift furniture. It’s not as simple as tidying up for a dinner party either. A spotless home sends the unspoken signal that yours is a well-maintained property. In fact, according to our survey of over 900 top-selling real estate agents across the country, a deep clean alone can add nearly $2,000 in resale value.Ī messy house is a red flag for many buyers, who’ll suspect repair problems lurking beneath the dirt.

A less-than-clean home can cost you thousands off the sale price or completely turn away potential buyers.

Go hard or go home clean