Crucial move to boost your home’s value by 20 per cent

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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It might look amazing, but if it smells bad, buyers won’t come back.

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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Man with rag and rubber gloves cleaning kitchen stove

The last thing buyers want to see is a filthy oven.

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.”

Buyers definitely don’t want to see clutter.

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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Designer Justine Wilson.

“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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