Do I Need to Hire a Cleaner When Selling a House?

How to Stage a House for Sale

Staging is a method of preparing your home for sale. Its purpose is to increase your home’s value in buyers’ minds by enhancing the property’s best assets. Below, learn the four main components of staging a home before selling it.

1. Clean Before Buyers Show

Your first step is to ensure that buyers are entering a clean environment during your open house. If not, it can downgrade the property itself and deter buyers.

Potential buyers want to feel like they are being thought of prior to moving in. If they feel welcomed by a clean atmosphere, there is a higher likelihood of them placing an offer on your old home.

You’ll want to pay extra attention to these areas in the home when cleaning:

• Ceiling fans
• Lighting fixtures
• Windows and window sills
• Floors and baseboards
• Toilets, showers, and sinks
• Closets
• Inside drawers and cabinets
• Oven and refrigerator
• Garage, if applicable
• Backyard patio, if applicable
• Front yard and/or doorway path

These are the most commonly inspected areas of any home on the market. Ensuring they’re in top condition will boost your chances of selling your home quickly. Not only are buyers looking to see how you managed your home when you were living in it but also as you’re moving out.

Hiring a professional cleaner to thoroughly clean your home will ensure that you’re showcasing a ready-to-move-in space. They will have the necessary skills to effectively and efficiently clean your home. You’ll also be able to save time and focus on moving into your new home rather than taking care of your old place.

2. Focus on Lighting

When staging your home for sale, lighting is essential. Bright lighting wins over synthetic lighting every time. The best way to optimize your lighting during staging is to:

• Keep windows from being covered
• Use lighter-colored furniture to accentuate the clean feel of your home
• Use mirrors to your advantage by placing them in line with your lighting fixtures
• Change your light bulbs to a whiter bulb
• If feasible, try purchasing glass or acrylic coffee tables to open your space
• Keep your walls white or a lighter shade of your choice color

3. Declutter

A staged home is typically accompanied by basic furniture like living room seating, beds, and a table and chairs. Feel free to decorate to give the home a sense of character, but try not to overdo the décor.

You want the space to feel decorated enough to be inviting, but think less is more. The buyer should be able to see enough of the home that they envision themselves living there. That said, the décor itself should be simple and understated as you’ll likely take it with you when you move.

4. Complete Final Touches

Before completing your staging process, make sure to add some extra details. Fresh flowers may be an additional expense, but they make a huge difference compared to faux bouquets.

The point of the staging process is to show potential buyers that you care for your property. This will make them more inclined to reciprocate those sentiments — thus, increasing the possibility of them placing an offer on your home.

Additionally, as people are walking through your open house, consider opening the windows if the weather permits. Fresh air can calm anxious new home buyers and make them feel more welcomed. It also helps to make the home seem more open.

The Benefits of Cleaning a Home Before Selling

A critical step of the selling process is cleaning before you leave. The chances of someone purchasing a dirty home are very slim if it’s deemed contaminated from an outside perspective. Cleaning your home before selling it can come with a few key benefits. Understanding these benefits will aid you in selling your home faster.

Enhances Property Value

One benefit of cleaning your home as you’re selling it is that it’ll enhance your property value. A clean space offers much more to look at; potential buyers are more likely to linger and imagine themselves building their next journey in your old home.

In addition, cleaning prior to selling will allow you to spot minor damages. Before you place your home on the market, make sure that all repairs are completed. While some buyers may want a “fixer-upper,” not all that walk through your home will want to purchase a space they have to fix themselves.

Leaves the Home Spotless

Cleaning your old home will leave the space in mint condition. Through the selling process, you’ll likely have strangers coming and going to view the property, causing dirt to be tracked inside and dust to accumulate. For this reason, you’ll want to clean and tidy up the space as needed so that each potential buyer has a positive experience.

Allows You to Sell Faster

Cleaning your home consistently during the selling process will enhance your likelihood of selling your home faster. This is because potential buyers feel like they are essentially ready to move in with a clean environment.

Why You Should Hire a Cleaner for a Pre-Sale Home Cleaning

Cleaning your own property during the selling process can be a bit overwhelming. Hiring a professional cleaner will be more effective than you tackling the task on your own. Not only will this help you save time, but it is also cost-effective.

Cleaning professionals have the necessary training and skill sets to complete a move-out clean with ease. If you choose to do the cleaning yourself, you may wind up missing areas of the home that need attention, purchasing the wrong cleaning agents, or taking up time that could be spent settling into your new home.

Hire a Professional Move-Out Cleaner

Looking for a cleaner to help you manage your move-out clean?

At Moveout.com, we can connect you with a reliable, vetted, and professional cleaner in your area. Our goal is to eliminate all the stress and heavy lifting that comes with conducting a final cleaning in your old home. Focus on moving into your new home and settling in while a cleaner ensures you’re leaving your old home in good condition.