If you plan to sell your house, it's important to thoroughly clean your home before listing it so that it creates a stellar first impression with potential homebuyers. Our REALTORS® know that a sparkling clean home photographs better and appears larger and more inviting. Here are a few deep cleaning tips to help home sellers prepare their homes.

• Start by Decluttering
  Before you break out your cleaning supplies, spending a little time decluttering your home is essential. Too many personal belongings make it difficult for prospective buyers to envision themselves living in your home. A lot of stuff makes your home's spaces feel cluttered and smaller than they really are. 
  
  Pack away anything overly personal, like family photos, personal collections, and mementos. Next, go through your stuff and make a pile for trash and another for items you can sell or donate. Consider getting rid of anything you haven't used in the past six months or the past year for seasonal items (like holiday decor or winter gear). 
  
  Even if you have a lot of clothing and accessories that you wear, you want to put some items into storage so your closet and drawers appear organized, neat, and universally appealing to homebuyers.
  
  Check that there's about a half-inch of space between each item in your closet. The items in your drawers should be neatly folded so your drawers open with ease. 
  
  
• Clean One Room at a Time from Top to Bottom
  It's less overwhelming if you focus on cleaning a single room at a time. When it's time to list your home with Suffolk County homes for sale, you'll be ready. 
  
  Start at the top, dusting the ceiling, ceiling fan, light fixtures, and vents with an extendable duster. If your fixtures or vents are extremely dirty, clean them with a microfiber cloth, dish soap, and warm water. 
  
  Next, focus on your home's walls, baseboards, doors, and surfaces. You can clean your walls using a mop, vinegar, and warm water. Go over the walls with the mop and cleaning solution to remove dirt and debris, then use a dry cloth to dry them. If there are any stubborn spots, scrub them with a microfiber cloth. 
  
  Dust your home's surfaces with a cloth and dusting spray. Remember to dust your blinds or launder your drapes. You'll also want to clean any mirrors or fixtures with a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner.
  
  Clean your home's fabric surfaces, like rugs and furniture, with a portable cleaning unit. Finish the job by sweeping or vacuuming and mopping the floors. 
  
  The kitchen and your bathrooms will require a little more work. In the kitchen, thoroughly clean all your appliances, scrub your cabinets, and wipe down your counters and backsplash.
  
  Get your bathroom looking its best by scouring the showers and toilets so they're free of stains and odors. If your grout is looking dingy, clean it with an old toothbrush and grout cleaner. 
  
  
• Remember to Clean Your Windows
  Before listing your home with other Nassau County homes for sale, remember to spend a few hours cleaning the interior and exterior of your windows. Clean windows optimize the amount of natural light entering your home, a feature popular with many homebuyers.
  
  Dish detergent, hot water, and a window squeegee make cleaning your windows a fast, simple process. Remember to clean your window sills and hardware to ensure your home looks its best. 

Spending a little time spring cleaning will create a clean, welcoming home that appeals to homebuyers. Ready to list your home? Contact us to get started.