Crucial move to boost your home’s value by 20 per cent
It’s a bit of work but following these steps could add up to 20 per cent to the value of your home.
Selling your home? Get out your scrubbing brush. In fact, if there was ever a time where becoming completely pedantic about keeping your home spotless equated with money smarts, this would be it.
Real estate experts say a deep clean is an essential part of any sales campaign that can add value depending on how well it’s done.
But what are the most important jobs that need to be tackled?
And what do you stand to lose if you forget about a few things here and there?
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WORST THINGS FIRST
Smell. It’s an absolute killer when it comes to first impressions, says founder and managing director at Horwood Nolan Ben Horwood.
“Bad smells really, really turn people off,” he says.
“It’s the worry of not being able to get rid of the smell. It makes them question what has gone on to create it – it just makes people very suspect.”
It is for this reason anything likely to hold odours, namely soft furnishings, needs to be cleaned.
Mould also should be dealt with, both inside and out, and windows should be cleaned, he says.
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Professional cleaner and co-founder of Ministry of Cleaning Prerna Jain says kitchens and bathrooms should be deep cleaned, adding that buyers notice small details such as the condition of the grout, whether the shower screens and mirrors are streak-free and whether the tapware shines.
“People often forget to clean window tracks, skirting boards, light switches, the tops of cupboards, and behind appliances,” she adds.
“These little things can make a big difference. If buyers spot dust or grime in these areas, they might wonder if other parts of the home have been neglected, which could make them hesitant or offer less.”
Other things to focus on include decluttering, cleaning the flooring, tidying the garden and sprucing up the entrance.
“When a home looks clean and well cared for, buyers see it as move-in ready and are often willing to pay more,” Jain says.
Horwood says a well-executed deep clean and declutter can add 5-20 per cent value to the property.
PSYCHOLOGY OF CLEAN
A spotless property creates a good first impression among buyers who equate cleanliness with good maintenance, says Jain.
But there is also the convenience factor, says director and principal stylist at Vault Interiors Justine Wilson.
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“Buyers are really looking for move in ready,” she says. “Everyone’s time poor and they don’t want to spend their first few weekends in the home sugar soaping the walls.”
She says a professional clean can even change the buyer’s perception around whether the home needs a renovation, especially if the cleaner you engage is able to do things like rectify discoloured grout. Alternatively, there are grout pens and paint available to consumers if you are feeling confident.
Wilson says it’s also important to declutter and remove as much of your personal items as possible, even if you are still living in the home.
For example, you could have extra cabinets in your bedroom to house your collection of designer shoes, or over the toilet shelves in the bathroom. But if you leave these items in your home, buyers might think there isn’t enough built-in storage, she says.
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DEEP CLEAN CHECKLIST
Don’t forget to do these things before you list your home for sale.
• Deep clean bathrooms – focus on grout, screens and tapware
• Deep clean kitchen – don’t forget the oven, inside and above cabinets, exhaust fans and behind appliances
• Remove any mould – check inside and out
• Steam clean carpet – and any other soft furnishings to remove odours
• Clean all flooring – and keep it clean
• Clean your grout – if you have tiled flooring you may need professional help
• Clean windows – get a professional if they are up high and don’t forget window tracks
• Tidy garden – weed, mulch, prune, mow and keep it neat
• Tidy entrance – make it inviting
• Scuff marks on walls – sugar soap wipes are very handy
• Light switches and skirtings – give them a wipe down
• Declutter – also depersonalise so buyers can imagine it as their space
• Do a smell test – see if there is anything you missed
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Originally published as Crucial move to boost your home’s value by 20 per cent