Page 6 - Lakewood Village Real Estate Edge May 2019

selling and cleaning
IN THE HOME

CREATING A READY-TO-SELL HOME

by Kathryn Weber

ow that spring is here,
for-sale signs will pop
Nup with the daffodils.
An early start to home-selling
season helps homeowners
move faster and be ready once
it’s time to get their houses on
the market. If you’re thinking
about selling your home, it’s a
good idea to get it into a show
state before the for-sale sign is
out front.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Everyone has heard that
you only have one chance to
make a first impression, and
it’s true. Begin with a deep
clean. Outdated light fixtures
are forgivable, but a dirt ring
where the carpet meets the
baseboard isn’t. It makes
potential buyers wonder what
else was missed. A deep clean
includes steaming carpets, paint dings and smudges. impression that the house is more visual space. This means like curb appeal. It’s like a
dusting walls, cleaning Really motivated to sell? in good shape. Look at areas having closet rods that aren’t pretty box with a satin bow:
HVAC returns and vents, and Have the house painted inside of use, such as door handles. packed full and bending in visually inviting. Polish up
polishing light fixtures. in one neutral color. Fresh Ensure that all the doors, the middle. your home’s look so that the
Even refrigerators and paint has a smell that registers including garage doors, are Clear off countertops in sale isn’t lost at the street. Find
ovens should be cleaned as clean and fresh to buyers, oiled and are squeak-free. the kitchen and bathroom, small ways to update, like
and look appealing. For one and helps them envision and make as much clear, open fresh mulch in the front yard
homeowner, while everything living there. MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL space as you can. If decorating beds or a pot of welcoming
looked neat, one peek inside Think home buyers won’t isn’t your strong suit, hire flowers by the door. Create
the oven killed any potential REPAIRS look in drawers and under a home stager to help you
sale. It looked like a war Give your home a head the sink? Think again. Go work with what you’ve got a welcoming entrance at the
had been waged there, and start by hiring an inspector through cabinets and closets, before the Realtor sends a foyer, and before long you’ll
made a sight that couldn’t be before the sale. This enables and pare down. Throw photographer to put up be putting “sold” sign out
unseen. Avoid that mistake you to find problems before out excess, and keep all photos that will either close front. n
by cleaning everything, a potential buyer does. Plus, closets, cabinets and drawers or sink the deal.
everywhere, thoroughly. having a list of corrections orderly. One rule of thumb ©2019 Kathryn Weber
Make windows and light that were made in advance is to remove 30 percent of ADD STYLE Distributed by Tribune Content
fixtures sparkle, and touch up of the sale makes a positive everything you have to create Nothing can sell a house Agency, LLC.

10 FREQUENTLY

OVERLOOKED

PLACES THAT

NEED CLEANING

by Kathryn Weber dusty and benefit from a good, hard spray of a
hose to remove dust in crevices.
A s much as we try to keep up with basic GARBAGE CANS
dusting, vacuuming and cleaning,
Yes, it’s where you put your refuse but
we’re simply going to miss some
need cleaning because of frequent touching.
HEADBOARDS
areas. There are some places in your home regular cleaning will help your house smell Your headboard could be harboring dust Unplug computer keyboard and tap lightly
you may not have even thought to clean. fresher and make a trip to deposit trash less that makes your nose stuff or congested when to dislodge crumbs and particles. Use
Attention to these often-neglected areas can odious. Wash indoor and outdoor cans with you go to sleep at night. Dust and vacuum compressed air to dislodge dust, then wipe
make your home feel cleaner, and you might soap and water. Let soak to remove caked-on the entire headboard and the floor behind it with a soft cloth moistened with a mild
even breathe easier afterwards. grime. to remove excess dust. vinegar cleaner. Take batteries out of remotes
LIGHTING CABINET INTERIORS ICE DISPENSER and wipe thoroughly, using a cotton swab to
From lighting in the kitchen that collects You may have put down shelf liner years Dripping water or ice can create mold or go between buttons. Wipe down tablets with
dirt and grease that turns into a sticky goo ago, but have you cleaned the inside of your other growth that you don’t want in your cold a lightly moistened microfiber cloth.
to living room lampshades that are furry cabinets lately? Remove dishes and vacuum out drink. Using a mild soap or vinegar cleaning
with dust, all lighting needs cleaning. Wash cabinets to remove crumbs, dust and debris. solution, wipe out the ice shoot and clean out APPLIANCE FILTERS
glass shades in hot soapy water and let Some non-adhesive vinyl shelf liner can go in the ice container if it’s removable. You may not know that your appliances
dry. Vacuum lamp shades with a soft brush the washer. Consider replacing shelf liner with have filters, but many newer ones do. Check
attachment. a washable variety so when maple syrup spills, GASKETS the dishwasher, the clothes washer, ice makers,
the liner can be tossed in the wash. Refrigerators, stoves and freezers all have
AIR VENTS AND RETURNS them; and they all need to be cleaned. Use refrigerators and hot water dispensers. All
Registers on the ceiling and the floor need a WINDOW AND DOOR TOPS a mild vinegar cleaner to wipe down gaskets may have filters that need cleaning to work
good vacuum. Remove vents then vacuum and We rarely come in contact with these and remove mold or dust. efficiently. n
wipe down thoroughly. Be sure to wipe the areas, but they can become notoriously dusty.
inside of the vents before reinstalling. Don’t When dusting, make a quick run over door ELECTRONICS ©2019 Kathryn Weber Distributed by
forget air returns. These are often notoriously and window tops. Tablets, keyboards and remotes really Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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