How to Clean Your House on a Budget for Listing Photos
A 5-minute read for Realtors and Sellers
Spring has sprung and the extra sunlight might be inspiring you to do some spring cleaning. Every house can benefit from a good scrub, but those looking to hit the market need some special attention, especially before listing photo day.
Buyers will walk into a home with fresh eyes. That smudge on the front of the fridge might not be noticeable to the homeowner who walks past it three times a day, but potential buyers will notice right away.
To help buyers see the house at its very best, follow this cleaning checklist—and we’ll share our easy and affordable tricks along the way that will make your house look like new.
Clear the clutter
This is a huge one for real estate photos that we’ve talked about before, and it is equally important for showings. No piles on countertops. No overcrowded mantle. No overstuffed closets.
PRO TIP: Less is more. Remove small everyday things like these to make a big difference:
Paper towel or napkin holders
Trinkets in window sills
Cleaning brushes or sponges
Non-decorative soap dispensers
Windows and mirrors
Especially for photos, your windows should be scrubbed inside and out with as few streaks as possible. More light will be allowed into your house, and buyers won’t be left feeling disappointed when looking at the great view.
PRO TIP: To prevent streaks, wipe in a horizontal direction on one side of the window and in a vertical direction on the other. If you miss a spot, you will quickly and easily know which side it’s on.
Light fixtures and vents
Replace burnt-out bulbs to give the house as much light as you can, and dust fixtures, fan blades, and vents. You may have to give them a more thorough wipe down depending on their state.
PRO TIP: When replacing bulbs, be sure to match the existing color and wattage. If the entire fixture uses warm white bulbs and you add one bright white replacement bulb, it will stick out and be distracting in photos and during showings.
Appliances
The oven and fridge should be cleaned inside and out. You’d better believe that buyers are going to be opening them up.
PRO TIP: To avoid streaks on stainless steel appliances, always wipe the cleaner with the grain.
Bathroom
Soap scum will take the sheen off that beautiful tile. Take the time to really scrub the bathrooms. Buyers will be imagining themselves using this space every day, so leave them with the best impression.
PRO TIP: For tough soap scum, try using a dryer sheet. Add a few drops of water to the sheet and gently rub soap away from showers, tubs, and even chrome fixtures. Rinse with clean water.
Walls, baseboards, window sills, and switch plates
These areas get neglected oftentimes during regular cleaning. They probably need some extra muscles to get scuff marks or smudges off.
PRO TIP: Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to easily remove stubborn soap scum, to get scuff marks off of furniture, and to make baseboards look like new. You should test a surface before using an eraser pad on it, but you can use them almost anywhere safely. Before a photography session or a showing, walk through the house with an eraser pad to clean up those little blemishes. We love to stock up on our favorite eraser pad discount brand, Scrub Buddies, at the dollar store. You can get a 2 pack for only $1.
Use this checklist and our easy tips to get your house clean and ready to wow buyers. A little elbow grease goes a long way when it comes to selling a house.