Have you ever visited a home filled with clutter and an odd smell?

While there might be nothing wrong with the property, per se, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. 

Negative associations and poor first impressions can prevent your home from flying off the market as soon as it deserves to. 80% of home buyers know whether a house is right for them as soon as they step inside. So, follow our cleaning tips to ensure your property is ready to sell. 

1. Declutter and Depersonalize

Ideally, you only want to keep essential items. The unnecessary clutter prevents home buyers from seeing the home's actual value. If too much of your personality is in the house, prospective buyers will struggle to project themselves onto the property. 

Get rid of family photos, mementos, and excess furniture. Try to create a blank canvas. You want just enough home staging to bring out your home's best features. But try to keep it as unobtrusive as possible. 

2. Wash Your Windows

Don't just look at what's inside the house. Nothing can make a wrong impression quite like dirty and dingy windows. They'll make the property look unkempt inside and outside the home. Giving all your windows a sparkly shine will make the house look better. You might want to hire a professional to reach those windows on the second floor. 

3. Focus on the Entrance

When the prospective home buyer walks through the door, the chances are they'll make their decision there and then. If you're going to do anything to your home, focus on the entranceway. 

Consider giving the front door a fresh coat of paint or replacing it entirely. Also, clean shutters and paint them to match or complement the door. Brainstorm what else you can do to smarten up the entrance. Can you put fresh flowers in the hallway? Brighten it up with a lamp?

4. What About the Smell?

The scent is an integral part of memory association. According to Harvard, your smell memory links strongly with your emotions. You're more likely to think well if you enter a new, nicely scented home. Putting out fresh flowers and opening windows is an excellent way to increase your home's potential.

That said, masking foul odors with flowers isn't always possible. For example, carpets, curtains, and walls soak up cigarette smoke. If your home carries an unpleasant smell for some reason, you'll need to go to the root of the problem. 

To remove the scent, thoroughly scrub the walls with water and vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and vacuum it up. Throw your curtains in the washing machine.

5. Clean and fix Appliances

Understandably, you don't want to spend money on a property you will leave. However, handing broken appliances to the next homeowner might damage your sale. 

36% of home buyers looked for properties without plumbing issues. The last thing anyone wants is to move into a home to discover problems. Moreover, you might risk lowering the property value or losing the sale if the inspection unveils issues. Make sure you fix your plumbing and unclog your drains. Ensure you also give all your appliances a quick clean.

6. Maintain Your Yard

Your front yard is the first part of the home buyers will see. Mow your lawns, trim your plants, and clean up rubbish. You don't need to spend a lot of effort landscaping your yard, but make sure it's tidy. Consider giving any garden furniture a lick of paint. And don't forget about your backyard too. 90% of Americans consider their outdoor space more important than ever.

7. Let in the Light

You will be amazed how much difference opening a few curtains can make. A light-filled room will feel roomier, warmer, and more welcoming. If you don't have many windows, invest in a few lamps to brighten your home. 

8. Add Fresh Paint

A fresh coat of paint will go a long way. No one wants to spend a fortune renovating their home to sell it to someone else. But you don't have to. A quick coat of paint will hide marks and scratches on the wall and make each room brighter.