Cleaning Tips to Keep Listings Sharp

Cleaning Tips to Keep Listings Sharp

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015
One of the most common pain points for sellers is the last-minute showing. It's bad enough that they have to ensure that they’re ready to vacate their home at a potential buyer’s whim. The need to keep their living space clean at pretty much all times is also a stressor.
Houselogic compiled these maintenance tips to help you and your clients keep a home cleaner for longer periods at a stretch, reducing the last-minute scramble to get a listing ready to show.
Get the humidity right to help banish dust. Too much moisture in the air an ideal environment for dust mites, while an overly-dry space causes static electricity (which attracts dust and makes it harder to remove). The sweet spot is a humidity level between 40 and 50 percent.
  1. Keep soap scum off glass surfaces using rain repellant. After cleaning the bathroom, coat glass shower doors and walls with a rain-repellant product made for car windshields. It’ll create an invisible barrier that causes water, oils, and soap suds to bead and roll off.
  2. Use a countertop sealer to repel stains. Liquids such as red wine, juice, or soy sauce can easily stain porous materials, but spills on well-sealed granite and marble will bead instead of getting absorbed. Most natural stone countertops are sealed when installed, but re-applying sealer twice a year can make them much easier to clean. To see if you need a fresh coat, pour a tiny bit of water on the stone countertop. If the water doesn’t bead or doesn’t stay beaded for two to three minutes, it’s time to reseal.
  3. Right after a deep-clean of upholstery and/or carpet, apply protective furniture sprays and carpet sealant to guard against inevitable spills. Added bonus: Some of these products also protect fabrics from fading and resist mold, mildew, and bacteria.
  4. Create a spot-cleaning kit for quick touch-ups before showing appointments. Many people have different products stored all over the home, making chores more of an all-day production than a quick touch-up job. Putting together a basket of general cleaning supplies—including scrub pads/sponges, general-purpose spray, and sweeper cloths—can help your clients be prepared.
Source: “How to Keep Things Cleaner Longer,” Houselogic.com

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