Spring Cleaning…Real Estate Edition
Spring cleaning is an important part of homeownership. Not only does it help keep your home fresh and organized, but it can also help you save money, improve indoor air quality, and extend the life of your home…protecting its value and your investment!
Here is a short checklist of items you can tackle this spring to keep your home in tip top shape:
1. Clean your washing machine: this protects your family from bacteria and germs, prevents bad odors from building up, and helps reduce energy consumption!
2. Clean out the gutters: this helps prevent water from overflowing and causing potential damage to your roof, walls, and foundation. It also helps to keep your gutters from becoming clogged with debris such as leaves and twigs, which can lead to water damage and flooding. Additionally, cleaning your gutters helps to reduce the risk of pests such as mosquitoes and rodents nesting in them, as well as the growth of mold and mildew which can contaminate your home’s air quality.
3. Wipe down all baseboards: let’s be real…baseboards are expensive! Keeping them clean not only makes your home look more attractive and inviting, but it also helps to reduce dust, dirt, and allergens…prolonging their lifespan and saving you money.
4. Check your smoke alarms: safety first!
5. Tidy the junk drawer: we all have one and we all know the junk drawer can get out of hand. This tip is not so much about maintaining the value of your home, but more so about maintaining the value of your mental sake! Something about easily finding a pen or some loose change really his the spot.
6. Wipe down the outside A/C unit: this helps to keep your system running efficiently, reduces strain on the system, and can help to extend its lifespan. It also helps to reduce energy costs and can improve indoor air quality!
7. Plant fresh flowers: nothing says curb appeal like fresh, bright, spring flowers. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so sprucing up the exterior of your home goes a long way.
8. Fix the little things: that wobbly door knob or light bulb that has been out for 4 months…it’s time to knock off those minor tasks that have been lingering on our to-do list. While they may not have a major impact on your living situation, keeping the little things in working order demonstrates the sort of care and attention that doesn’t go unnoticed. If selling, these are the little things potential buyers may pay more money for.
Happy Spring! Happy Cleaning!
