Homeowners

You've made the decision to sell your home. The next step is to get it ready, and that means giving it a good cleaning. From top to bottom and front to back, a thorough deep clean will make your house shine. It will also cause potential buyers to give it a hard, first look. The better your home looks, the quicker it will sell. Our real estate agents can give you a few tips on how to get a little more out of your cleaning.

• Dry mop – Use a dust mop to "dry mop" your floor and eliminate any dust bunnies or stray lint balls that may be lurking in corners and underneath furniture.

• Empty all vacuum canisters – Before you start cleaning, you need to clean your vacuums. Empty the canisters and wipe them out. Check the hoses and make sure nothing is stuck in the rollers.

• Clean vacuum filters – Many new vacuums come with foam filters that can be washed and reused again and again. This eliminates any contaminants being returned back into your home.

• More is not always better – Cleaning solutions are formulated to be effective in the amounts listed in the instructions. Using more than the recommended amount can damage surfaces or leave behind nasty residue.

• Try microfiber cloths – Avoid paper towels and cloth rags when cleaning surfaces. Instead, use microfiber cloths. They are more effective at picking up dust and pulling dust and debris from cracks and crevices.

• Clean your light bulbs – Wipe down your light bulbs with a dry cloth. Dust can collect on light bulbs just as it does on other surfaces. This can reduce their ability to provide light to a room. Too much dust will make them appear dim and dingy and detract from the beauty of your home.

• Store items in totes – Cardboard may be one of the worst storage options available. It attracts dirt and dust. Instead, use plastic totes. They are easy to stack and air tight. They come in many different sizes and have handles that make them easier to carry.

• Declutter first – Before you start to actually clean, you will want to de-clutter your home as much as possible. One of the things that will help Vacaville homes for sale move quickly and prevent them from lagging on the market for weeks.

• Spray the cloth, not the surface – Never spray the surface with a cleaning solution. Instead, spray the cloth and wipe down the surface. Spraying on the surface can lead to discoloration and may get the solution where it doesn't need to be.

• Work from the top down – Always work from the top down. Start with your ceiling fans and wipe down your walls and the tops of bookcases and doors first. Dust falls. If you start at the top and work down, you will get all of the dust and debris.

• Vacuum curtains and blinds – Don't forget your curtains and blinds. You can throw your curtains in the dryer on the "air" setting for 15 minutes. Vacuum your curtains and blinds with the brush tool to get between the fibers and pull away the dust.

Selling your home will be a smooth process if you follow your real estate agent's advice. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you sell your home.

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