A lot goes into getting your house ready to sell. When you finally have everything in order, you want your house to shine for every single prospect that walks through the door! And while our current market certainly favors sellers, the average time on the market between listing and accepting an offer is actually about 3 months. As anyone who’s ever sold a house can attest, that’s a long time to keep things tidy between showings!  

Here are 5 tips to keep your house clean while it’s for sale. 

#1 – Declutter

Before you even list your home, you can make your life easier by doing some major decluttering. We’re not just talking about taking down family photos and packing away heirlooms. We’re talking about renting a storage unit (better yet, have a portable storage container delivered to your driveway!) and packing up of all of the non-essentials. Basically like you’re already in “moving” mode.

At the end of this task, everything should have a purpose and a place. 

#2 – Clear Counters

Empty kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room counters make rooms appear larger. Prospective buyers are able to see the space better and envision their own possessions in the room. As part of decluttering, find a spot in drawers and cabinets for everything that’s normally on your counters. Ideally above or below where it usually lives so that family members don’t panic about finding the toaster every day.

#3 – Clean While You Live 

The best way to stay on top of tedious tasks like laundry, dishes, garbage, and floors is to do them every day, even multiple times a day. Make them a part of your daily routine versus thinking of them as a big, looming chore. Clean the kitchen as you’re cooking. Do smaller, more frequent loads of laundry. Wipe counters and mirrors daily instead of waiting for a big clean. And invest in a dust mop or cordless vacuum for quick clean-ups between meals. 

#4 – Go-Back Baskets

Another part of cleaning while you live that is especially helpful for larger families with kids is a go-back basket system. Create a basket for everyone in your house. Keep them in a central location in your house – like the kitchen or living room, or bottom of the stairs, where everyone tends to congregate, drop their stuff, and make a mess. Pick up things that are out of place as you go about your day and drop them in that family member’s basket. At the end of every day, each person is responsible for returning their belongings to their dedicated space (see #1 above). 

#5 – Create New Habits

If you’ve never been one to make your bed every morning, put shoes away as soon as you come home, or do dishes before bed, now is a great time to start. Getting these tasks out of the way means you don’t have to rush and do them before a showing. Get into the habit of stashing essential items away in drawers and cabinets to keep counters clean, too. 

TGIF!

It’s no secret that weekends are the busiest time for showings. Every Friday, have a game plan to get your house show-ready for buyers that weekend. Do a full vacuum and mop floors, clean showers and toilets, change bedsheets, do a quick dusting of furniture, stash any clutter, and get ready to sell your house!If you’re considering selling and want a real estate professional who knows the Southwest Florida market inside and out, contact The Link Team. We have more than 20 years’ experience helping sellers get top dollar for their home throughout Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Fort Myers.