The San Antonio real estate market can be competitive, and preparing your home to sell can be an exhausting process, especially if your home hasn’t been deep cleaned in years. Though deep cleaning your home for sale can be a daunting task, it must be completed. Dozens of people will walk through your house, poke around in your storage areas, and decide whether or not your house is worth buying. Because every square inch of your home is being scrutinized, a thorough deep cleaning is the only way to make it look its best. Though deep cleaning your home can be exhausting, it can add $2,000 to the resale value of your home if done correctly. Here is a comprehensive house cleaning checklist to get your home ready for potential homebuyers.
Control the Clutter
Before you begin cleaning, clear away any clutter so that your clean counters and polished floors can be seen. Over 98 percent of real estate agents advise homeowners to declutter before listing their home for sale. Fortunately, getting rid of excess clutter is a simple process. Divide what you need to declutter into categories within each room. Begin with clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and mementos. Each category is further subdivided into subcategories. For example, if you’re decluttering your linen closet, you can divide your linens into pillowcases, sheets, fitted sheets, blankets, heavy blankets, comforters, and so on. Go through each subcategory and decide what you absolutely must keep. If you don’t need the item right away, donate it to charity or throw it away. This method should be used to declutter every room. Don’t worry, you’ll find a lot of things you’d like to get rid of. That, however, is the purpose of decluttering.
Gather Your Supplies
Everyone has a favorite multi-purpose cleaner that they use on nearly every surface in the house. A deep clean, on the other hand, must be more detailed than a basic cleanup, which necessitates the use of additional cleaning supplies. A bucket, reusable rubber cleaning gloves, microfiber cleaning cloths, a shower/bathroom cleaner, an all-purpose cleaner, multi-surface floor cleaner, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, cook-top cleaner, a non-scratch sponge, paper towels, vacuum, mop, broom, dustpan, and carpet and upholstery stain remover are all necessary supplies. Special materials, such as leather, brass, or granite, may require a different type of cleaner, so keep that in mind and look for the recommended product if you have any of those.
Finishing Touches
Everyone has a favorite multi-purpose cleaner that they use on nearly every surface in the house. A deep clean, on the other hand, must be more detailed than a basic cleanup, which necessitates the use of additional cleaning supplies. A bucket, reusable rubber cleaning gloves, microfiber cleaning cloths, a shower/bathroom cleaner, an all-purpose cleaner, multi-surface floor cleaner, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, cook-top cleaner, a non-scratch sponge, paper towels, vacuum, mop, broom, dustpan, and carpet and upholstery stain remover are all necessary supplies. Special materials, such as leather, brass, or granite, may require a different type of cleaner, so keep that in mind and look for the recommended product if you have any of those.
In addition to your evening checklist, you should give your rooms a few finishing touches. You should straighten your throw pillows and make all of the beds before each showing. Wipe down any counters or surfaces that require special attention. Finally, vacuum the carpets and open the blinds and curtains. Give each room a once-over to ensure that it looks and feels warm, inviting, and well-kept. While deep cleaning takes some time, it is well worth the effort and will increase the value and marketability of your home.