Now is the perfect time to get started on your spring cleaning. Improve the air quality, your mood and see your home in a brand new light!
And it’s a mandatory first step if you are thinking of selling your home. Today’s home buyers want properties in pristine, move-in condition. Selling or staying, make productive use of these days at home — tackle it a task at a time, an hour a day, or get the whole crew to pitch in and power through!
Organize closets and drawers. Messy closets give the appearance that your home doesn't have enough storage space. Time to get rid of what you don’t wear or use — donate or recycle if you can.
Remove clutter. Clean surfaces and bookcases by removing knickknacks, photos, extra and other personal items. Excess furniture, even your favorite chair, could be crowding your rooms. Take a critical look at each room.
Need checklists or more suggestions on organizing and decluttering? Check out these sites: 100 Best Organizing Tips for the Tidiest Home Ever, How to Store Your Winter Clothes, 10 Marie Kondo Organization Tips That Will Change Your Life
Make every surface shine. From ceiling fans to floors and everything in between, clean your home until it sparkles. Don’t forget the appliances. When did you last clean out your refrigerator? Wash all woodwork along cabinets and baseboards that are sometimes overlooked during winter. Wipe down the walls in the kitchens and bathrooms and all window frames. Clean all blinds to remove dust and cobwebs. Wash curtains and vacuuming lamp shades and air vents to eliminate lint and dust.
Take color down a notch. You might like your lime-green bedroom, but it may sour buyers. Paint your walls a neutral color that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.
Attack the garage. Go ahead and put the outdoor furniture out. Now see what else is in the garage besides the cars. Get busy – this might take awhile!
Improve your landscaping. Curb appeal is crucial to a good first impression, so spend a few hours outdoors:
To help the plants recover from the winter, prune all dead portions of the plant back to healthy wood (where you can see green). This will help promote new growth. Make a 45-degree cut just above where the leaf attaches to the stem, which is where the new bud will emerge.
Rake up the dead grass throughout your lawn. This will allow the new growth to surface while also providing for better nutrient penetration and water infiltration.
Start thinking about color. Spring annuals in your flower beds or front planters will add visual interest to your landscape. Shop catalogs or online for seeds and ideas!
Clean the outside. A sloppy exterior will make buyers think you've slacked off on interior maintenance as well. Be sure to clean the gutters and pressure wash your home's siding. Grab a partner and tackle the outside and inside of your windows. A product we love, Wet and Forget, is fantastic at removing Moss, Mold, Mildew & Algae from decks and patios.
Make the front door inviting. A fresh coat of paint, especially in a color that contrasts with the home, will make the front door stand out. Replace faded house numbers so buyers can see them from the curb. Remove cob webs from front portico. Buy a new welcome mat. Someday (hopefully) soon visitors will be welcome!