Intense cleaning of the house, inside and out, will pay for itself many times over. There are cleaning services that will do this for you, but with a guided plan, you can certainly do it yourself and allow you to put any investment dollars toward other items that may need to be addressed.
A Professional Stager can and will provide a plan of action, including anything that needs to be cleaned. These punch-list reports are your best bet to be sure that you have done everything you can to reap the most $$ for your house and a swifter selling time.In this and in subsequent posts, we will outline some of the places in your home to clean and shine that will impress the Buyer!
Kitchen
Range - If you have drip pans, replace these. They can be found at Home Improvement Centers and are very reasonable in price. If you have a glass top, clean with an appropriate cleaner. No matter which one, this should shine!
Oven - Clean thoroughly, including window and replace the oven door seal (looks like a white cord) if it is stained. Replacement racks are also available if yours are rusted, etc.
Dishwasher - Wipe around the inside door - this area gets clogged with soap. If there are any splits in the dishwasher rack, these can be mended with Dishwasher Repair Solution. For the prongs, you can also find caps that fit over the existing prongs.
Disposal - Pull out the stopper and clean thoroughly with a scrub brush. When showing the home, run a lemon through the disposal before the showings. This gives a nice, fresh, clean aroma to the kitchen.
Refrigerator - You may not be planning on leaving your refrigerator but this appliance is still in the house and if a potential buyer is interested, it will be opened and inspected. Many times appliances are written into the offer. Be sure and remove anything on the outside or on top of the refrigerator. If this area currently serves as Grand Central Stations for all appointments, calendars, and Art/Homework Gallery, you can consolidate this into a folder when you have showings. 
Clean out the entire inside of the refrigerator, using warm soapy water and replace only the necessary items. Continue to monitor this appliance for spills, etc.
Trash Cans - Well, to be honest, you don't really want to have your trash can showing when the house is being viewed. What to do? Just place it in the garage. If the trash can is under a cabinet, be sure that it is empty for showings.
Cabinets - These should be no more than 2/3 full. If your cabinets are completely full or overflowing, this gives the impression that there is not enough storage. So, this is the time to go through and remove everything that is not being used on an every day basis. Pack these items for the next house. Go through the pantry now and discard anything that isn't going to make the move. If there are unopened items, you can donate these to your local food pantry. Face and group all remaining items, but leave some blank spaces here and there.
Check to see that the cabinet under the sink is clean and not in disrepair. Sometimes this area gets damp. Make sure that any leaks are repaired and if necessary, paint the bottom of the cabinet. A waffle weave cabinet liner can also be effective.
Woodwork - Go over every piece of wood in the kitchen, including cabinet doors, with a gentle cleaner, like Murphy's Oil Soap. Then, depending upon the wood, you may need to pay attention to some touch-up paint, or use the Howard's line of wood products for wood-stained cabinets. Howard's can be found at Ace Hardware.
Lighting - Check that all bulbs are at the highest wattage available. Dust bulbs that are exposed. Florescents get darker with age. Replace if necessary.
Tile - If your kitchen contains tile, check to make sure the grout isn't stained or dirty. If it is, a professional carpet cleaning company can restore the grout to it's freshest appearance. There are some grout paints on the market as well.
Countertops - If you have Formica in a Granite subdivision, you should seriously consider replacing your countertops with a solid surface material. Being aware of your house's competition is very important. However, there are times when keeping the existing countertops makes sense. Contact your REALTOR or Accredited Staging Professional for their advice.
Sometimes Formica countertops get a chip on the edge. These replacement edges are very economical and can be purchased at Home Improvement Stores. They are applied with heat and will improve the appearance of your counters. Formica can also be painted, but should be done by a professional for the best results.
Look for our other Cleaning for Dollars $$$ Posts coming soon! And always remember that you are investing time, energy and $$ that will bring you a great return!
Do you need help preparing your home for the market? Do you know what will bring a great return on investment? We are experts in helping you get you the greatest return on your investment. From a complete analysis with recommendations for the do-it-yourselfer...or all the help to get it done for you. We can do as little or as much as you need. Our personalized packages fit every budget and timeframe. Call today to find out more! 251-377-2527
Jane Ann Lance, Enhanced by Lance, 251-377-2527
Visit our website! http://www.enhancedbylance.com/
