Spring Cleaning for a Fast Sale

When the weather begins to warm up, the house hunters come out of the woodwork.  It seems like nearly everyone puts in a call to their Montclair NJ realtor in the springtime.  If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, take advantage of this season’s renewed interest in real estate.  But before you list your home, make sure you’ve don’t your spring cleaning.

Clean Green
When you start you spring cleaning projects, remember to think green.  Use environmentally friendly cleaners; they’re easier on the Earth and on your body.  Don’t just toss out old clothes and furnishings.  Send them where they can live another life, like to a shelter or local charity. 

Watch the Details
Your Glen Ridge NJ realtor will tell you it’s the details that sell a house — unless those details are grubby and covered with fingerprints!  Open up all the window treatments and get a good look at your window sills, trim moldings and baseboards.  A simple mixture of mild dishwashing liquid and water will take off most of the dust and grime that accumulates on these surfaces.  Clean the surfaces that surround your door knobs and cabinet pulls.  Give any spots that still look discolored or dirty a fresh coat of paint.

Don’t Forget the Garage
Buyers will be looking at every corner of your home.  This includes under the sink, inside the cabinet and definitely inside the garage.  You may not think the garage can be spruced up but there are lots of ways to get it looking its best.  Start with a thorough cleaning out and get rid of the junk.  This could be a great time for a garage sale.  Organize what is left and put up some shelving so everything has a place.  Use a pressure washer to clean oil spots from the floor and rid it of dirt.  If you have stubborn stains, get some paint designed for concrete or an epoxy garage floor finish.  Either one will give you a new looking floor.

An Inside and Outside Job
Don’t forget that spring cleaning is both an inside and an outside job.  Your patio, desk and walkways could probably use some attention from that pressure washer, too.  If you have vinyl siding, check for mold and mildew growth and spray that away as well.  Clean out the gutters and downspouts and get the lawn looking healthy with some patch filler and fertilizer.

When you’re done you’ll not only be ready for a competitive housing market, you’ll also have a fresh, clean home to enjoy until you get that perfect offer.