Selling your home? Get out your scrubbing brush. In fact, if there was ever a time where becoming completely pedantic about keeping your home spotless equated with money smarts, this would be it.

Real estate experts say a deep clean is an essential part of any sales campaign that can add value depending on how well it’s done.

But what are the most important jobs that need to be tackled?

And what do you stand to lose if you forget about a few things here and there?

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WORST THINGS FIRST

Smell. It’s an absolute killer when it comes to first impressions, says founder and managing director at Horwood Nolan Ben Horwood.

“Bad smells really, really turn people off,” he says.

“It’s the worry of not being able to get rid of the smell. It makes them question what has gone on to create it – it just makes people very suspect.”

It is for this reason anything likely to hold odours, namely soft furnishings, needs to be cleaned.

Mould also should be dealt with, both inside and out, and windows should be cleaned, he says.

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Professional cleaner and co-founder of Ministry of Cleaning Prerna Jain says kitchens and bathrooms should be deep cleaned, adding that buyers notice small details such as the condition of the grout, whether the shower screens and mirrors are streak-free and whether the tapware shines.

“People often forget to clean window tracks, skirting boards, light switches, the tops of cupboards, and behind appliances,” she adds.

“These little things can make a big difference. If buyers spot dust or grime in these areas, they might wonder if other parts of the home have been neglected, which could make them hesitant or offer less.”

Other things to focus on include decluttering, cleaning the flooring, tidying the garden and sprucing up the entrance.

“When a home looks clean and well cared for, buyers see it as move-in ready and are often willing to pay more,” Jain says.

Horwood says a well-executed deep clean and declutter can add 5-20 per cent value to the property.

PSYCHOLOGY OF CLEAN

A spotless property creates a good first impression among buyers who equate cleanliness with good maintenance, says Jain.

But there is also the convenience factor, says director and principal stylist at Vault Interiors Justine Wilson.

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“Buyers are really looking for move in ready,” she says. “Everyone’s time poor and they don’t want to spend their first few weekends in the home sugar soaping the walls.”

She says a professional clean can even change the buyer’s perception around whether the home needs a renovation, especially if the cleaner you engage is able to do things like rectify discoloured grout. Alternatively, there are grout pens and paint available to consumers if you are feeling confident.

Wilson says it’s also important to declutter and remove as much of your personal items as possible, even if you are still living in the home.

For example, you could have extra cabinets in your bedroom to house your collection of designer shoes, or over the toilet shelves in the bathroom. But if you leave these items in your home, buyers might think there isn’t enough built-in storage, she says.

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DEEP CLEAN CHECKLIST

Don’t forget to do these things before you list your home for sale.

• Deep clean bathrooms – focus on grout, screens and tapware

• Deep clean kitchen – don’t forget the oven, inside and above cabinets, exhaust fans and behind appliances

• Remove any mould – check inside and out

• Steam clean carpet – and any other soft furnishings to remove odours

• Clean all flooring – and keep it clean

• Clean your grout – if you have tiled flooring you may need professional help

• Clean windows – get a professional if they are up high and don’t forget window tracks

• Tidy garden – weed, mulch, prune, mow and keep it neat

• Tidy entrance – make it inviting

• Scuff marks on walls – sugar soap wipes are very handy

• Light switches and skirtings – give them a wipe down

• Declutter – also depersonalise so buyers can imagine it as their space

• Do a smell test – see if there is anything you missed

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The post Crucial move to boost your home’s value by 20 per cent appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) lawsuits against real estate companies are beginning to pile up again. Plaintiff Jessica Murch filed a TCPA suit against Compass and Compass Washington on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon.

“The Plaintiff brings this action to enforce the consumer-privacy provisions of the TCPA alleging that Compass violated the TCPA by making telemarketing calls to Plaintiff and other putative class members listed on the National Do Not Call Registry without their written consent,” the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Murch’s phone number was listed on the Do Not Call Registry for more than 31 days prior to the first of several calls at issue. Additionally, the filing notes that the plaintiff has never been a customer of Compass, nor has she ever consented to receive calls or text messages from the company. 

“Despite that fact, on August 14, 2024, the Plaintiff received at least four calls from Rachel Olson, from the telephone number 206-794-1045,” the complaint states. “Ms. Olson stated that she was a Realtor, asked the Plaintiff if she was looking to sell her house, and further stated that she could help the Plaintiff relocate.”

Murch claims that she instructed Olson to email her instead of calling or texting. But Olson reportedly followed up with five text messages, to which Murch claims she responded, “Compass, do not call us or e-mail again, I am sorry.”

Despite making this request, in early September 2024, Murch received another call from a woman claiming to be “Leah” at “Compass Realty,” who was calling about the same property Olson was interested in listing. 

“The Plaintiff stated that she thought that she was pretty clear that she no longer wanted to receive calls from Compass and didn’t want to talk to Compass, and reiterated her internal do not call request,” the filing states.

The complaint claims that Murch continued to receive these unwanted calls even as recently as June 5, 2025. 

“The text messages and call were plainly sought to encourage the Plaintiff to list a house for sale with the Defendants’ real estate agents. Plaintiff does not own the subject property, and did not request the Defendants’ services,” the filing states. “The aforementioned calls and text messages were all made seeking to solicit the Plaintiff to use the Defendants’ real estate agents in the sale of a home, as well as ancillary real estate services.

“Plaintiff did not recognize Compass, is (and was) not selling any home, and was not looking to sell her home. In fact, the Plaintiff does not own a home.”

Murch is seeking class-action status for her suit and is demanding a jury trial, as well as damages and injunctive relief “preventing the Defendants from making calls to numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry.” 

Compass did not return HousingWire‘s request for comment.

A similar lawsuit against Keller Williams Realty was filed last week in New York.

As the real estate industry faces unprecedented transformation, Century 21 Real Estate has stayed active through aggressive franchise growth, market consolidation and engagement with evolving homebuyer demographics.

In an in-depth conversation with HousingWire, Century 21 CEO Mike Miedler opened up about the company’s strategy, its foundational franchise model and preparation for the future of homeownership.

Q: Century 21 seems to be growing through mergers, affiliations and new franchises. What’s driving this level of expansion and how does it fit into where the industry is heading?

Miedler: If you look at the industry as a whole, there is this consolidation play that’s happening. It’s literally in the statistics. Go back to 2017 — the top 1,000 companies across the country held like 45% or 46% of the overall sales volume. Fast forward to 2023, and it’s something like 60%.

Century 21’s franchise-based model allows local autonomy while benefiting from global branding and support. We announced numerous recent moves in markets including California, Florida, Oregon, Georgia, Colorado and Nevada.

Our model, even though I joke around and say we were one of the first disruptors — certainly one of the first franchise models — offers what I believe is the best of both worlds. We are a franchise-based model where decisions aren’t made at some Wall Street private equity company. They’re made at the local level. Our offices are independently owned and operated. Their kids go to school in the market, they shop in the local market and they serve the community.

Q: Beyond affiliations and M&As, what other growth areas are you prioritizing?

Mike Miedler: A big one we work on frequently is growth in diverse marketplaces. We’ve been founding partners of NAHREP — the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. By 2050, 70% of net new homebuyers will be Latino or of Hispanic descent.

The past president of NAHREP is a Century 21 team leader out of Las Vegas, Nora Aguirre. The current president is a Century 21 broker out of Chicago, Oralia Herrera. And the immediate past chair is Edwin Acevedo out of Southern California. We’re super proud of that connection.

Q: Let’s talk affordability and inventory. What can realistically be done to address the housing crisis?

Miedler: From an affordability perspective, we’re probably a bunch of years off from actually getting to a spot where inventory levels meet demand. Even if we dropped mortgage rates tomorrow, you’d just drive in more demand and have more people competing for the same supply.

There are ways national or local governments could dust off regulations to get more affordable housing out there — like allowing more [accessory dwelling units] or converting commercial properties in major [commercial business districts] into condominiums or townhomes. It starts with getting that supply in the market.

Q: How are first-time homebuyers adapting?

Miedler: We’re seeing more multigenerational households, more people using family members and the silver tsunami of wealth to create down payments. First-time buyers are getting more creative, and I think it’s a great play. As we all know, real estate and homeownership create wealth for families.

Q: How is Century 21 keeping the franchise model relevant amid all the technological disruption?

Miedler: When I first took this job seven years ago, people were asking how Century 21 was going to keep up with iBuyers. Now we know where iBuyers are. Then it was Purplebricks offering discounted services from Europe. Now, it’s AI and blockchain. But I think what people have to recognize about this business is that, because of the fragmentation, every market is a little bit different in the way that people close deals, and in the way that they search for deals.

Q. Despite the latest trends, do you think the core of real estate remains unchanged?

Miedler: Because of fragmentation, this business is hyper relationship- and personality-driven. The basics still matter — recruiting and retaining great talent, coaching them to win business and grow value. That hasn’t changed.

Q: Are there particular regions where you’re seeing more growth through conversions or acquisitions?

Miedler: From a conversion perspective, we like to look at mom-and-pop brands that match the vision and mission of Century 21 — taking care of the consumer at a high level. We’re converting 30 to 50 new offices a year. And we’re strategic about the markets with some of the things that we want to do from a Latino standpoint, based on where those markets are underserved. That is a real big mission for us, to make sure that we’re getting the right companies to uphold our brand standards. On the M&A front, we’re doing about 60 per year with our current network.

Q: What is Century 21’s stance on NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy and off-market listings?

Miedler: In my mind, it’s almost embarrassing that the real estate industry is actually talking about this. At the end of the day, we should be doing what is in the best interest of the customer. You [learn] that and understand that from talking to the customer and seeing what their wants and needs are. A majority of the time, most [sellers] want the highest price and the quickest sale. As the statistics bear out, that happens when you put a listing out in the public domain, meaning in the MLS, where more consumers can see it.

There’s the off chance someone wants the first offer — maybe they’re doctors who don’t want showings. Will we be able to serve those folks, those consumers, if the need arises? Absolutely. We’ve already put out technology that will allow us to carry private listings inside of Century 21 and inside of Anywhere if need be.

Q: Final thoughts on where the brand is headed and how it’s maintaining momentum?

Miedler: We’re seeing an uptick in people looking for solutions — from a conversion perspective, we’re up 200% in Q1 over last year. We’re bringing in about 1,000 new agents a month. So, we are seeing an uptick in people who are looking for solutions from an entrepreneurial perspective and a brokerage perspective, from an M & A perspective.

We don’t stray too far from the basics. We help brokers grow, coach their people, and bring in relevant tools. But at the end of the day, this is still a people-first business. We’re just making it easier for agents to be there for their clients, where it matters most.

A Geelong West property ravaged by a suspicious fire is looking for a fresh start a year on from the blaze.

The three-bedroom weatherboard house that formerly occupied 20 Clarence St sustained significant damage when it was engulfed by flames last May and has since been demolished.

Now the 418sq m parcel of vacant land has been listed for sale with $675,000-$725,000 price hopes.

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A police investigation into the blaze, which long-term resident Avril Leishman escaped unharmed, remains ongoing.

“The fire is still being treated as suspicious, and the exact cause is under investigation,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

The destruction of the house creates a rare blank canvas in a premium Geelong West position just a few doors down from Pakington St’s shopping and cafe strip.

Whitford, Newtown director John Moran said he’d already had an offer on the property and several other inquiries within days of it hitting the market.

“In terms of a block that close to Pakington St I went back the last few years and I can’t find anything that has been vacant land in that proximity so it’s a pretty rare offering,” he said.

“Obviously it is an unfortunate situation with the fire but with the heritage overlay you would not have been able to pull the house down so every cloud has a silver lining.”

The front section of the character house that once stood at the property was burnt beyond salvation.

Mr Moran said the fact it had been demolished created a freedom not usually found in the heritage neighbourhood.

He expects a stand-alone dwelling to be constructed there.

“With this one you can just go for it,” he said.

Only a handful of vacant blocks have been listed for sale in Geelong West in recent times, with only one changing hands last year.

Records show that 798sq m allotment at 12 Sargeant St, Geelong West, once part of the Ropeworks site, sold for $680,000 in August.

The post Suspicious Geelong West fire triggers rare vacant block sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The housing affordability crisis often conjures images of coastal urban cities with acute housing supply shortages and heavy land-use regulations. While these places do tend to have the highest home prices, it’s not where costs are rising the most.

That’s according to a sprawling new study from JPMorgan Chase that examines affordability from a number of different angles, with a particular focus on millennials and the post-pandemic era.

Here are three key takeaways from the report.

The pandemic flight to affordability made housing less affordable

Throughout the 2010s, major employers concentrated in urban coastal cities. Part of this effort was to attract millennial workers who want to have the amenities of living in a big city.

But the pandemic reversed that trend — at least temporarily — and now millennials are seeking more affordable areas in smaller metro areas. Texas, Florida, Arizona and parts of the Midwest are some of the places that have seen an influx of residents and resulting home-price gains.

Since the pandemic, home prices have seen the most growth in smaller metropolitan areas and generally outside urban cores. Metros with a population between 500,000 and 1 million have experienced the most price appreciation — and while incomes have also risen substantially, they haven’t kept pace with prices.

In these smaller metros, rural areas (+51.3%), suburban areas (+55.3%), urban areas (+55%) and urban cores (+55.2%) all saw substantial home-price gains over the past five years. Incomes in these areas rose by roughly 38% to 41% during the same period, according to JPMorgan Chase.

Conversely, in metros with more than 5 million people, rural and suburban areas led the way for price growth. At the same time, income growth has outpaced home-price growth in these same areas.

Mortgage rates, not home prices, are fueling the affordability crisis

Household budgets are getting crunched like never before due to rising housing costs.

JPMorgan compared median incomes with housing costs at the start of the pandemic through the end of 2024. It found that homeowners today spend roughly 45% more of their income on mortgage payments.

While home prices are rising, mortgage rates near 7% are the primary affordability constraint. The study separately measured home prices and mortgage payments relative to income growth by calculating ratios of home-price growth to income growth and mortgage payment growth to income growth.

It measured these ratios over time and benchmarked them in December 2019. A ratio above 1 means that price growth or mortgage rates are outpacing income growth.

At the beginning of the pandemic, home prices began to rise relative to income growth, but mortgage payments dropped to a ratio of 0.88, meaning that income growth was outpacing growth for mortgage payments.

But that changed dramatically starting in 2020, as both home prices and mortgage rates skyrocketed. The ratio of mortgage payment growth to income growth reached a peak of 1.6 and sat at 1.45 at the end of last year.

Conversely, the ratio of home-price growth to income growth peaked at 1.11 in the fall of 2022 and is now at 1.04. This strongly implies that the current affordability challenges are primarily related to mortgage rates.

Lack of retail investing in the 2010s hurt efforts to save for down payments

First-time homebuyers often use stock market gains to make their down payment, but many millennials didn’t have that advantage.

Stock markets tanked in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and were slow to recover. Many in the millennial generation viewed investing with suspicion and homeownership as potentially risky.

Those who acted according to those sentiments missed out. JPMorgan estimated that the S&P 500 grew threefold over the course of the 2010s. But the share of retail investors in the 25-to-44 age bracket from 2014 to 2019 was substantially lower than from 2019 to 2024.

Unsurprisingly, there were fewer investors at lower income levels, meaning that first-time buyers with moderate incomes, in particular, missed out on a chance to capitalize on stock market gains and potentially fund a down payment.