A clean and tidy home is essential when presenting your property to prospective buyers. Most prospects will turn their backs on properties that are dirt traps. They won’t see past the mess and will never imagine that this is where they’d want to create the next chapter of their lives.
But there may be a few decisions you’ve made in the past that actually make it harder to keep a clean apartment or house. If your home suffers any of the problems listed below, it may be time for some small repairs or upgrades before selling.
White-out
A combination of white tiles and grout are a bathroom nightmare. Your grout will turn grey with dirt and make ugly lines against your tiles. One low-cost option is to hire a tiler to grind out the grout and replace it with a consistent grey-tone filler.
Shower spoiler
Water spots on all-glass showers are difficult to remove. When buying a new shower, ask the manufacturer to spray a special solution on the glass that’s resistant to marking by water. The additional cost is minimal.
Black edging
Long exposure to water can turn silicon black. You’ll see this most often behind the faucets of a kitchen sink. There’s nothing for it but to dig out the silicon and regrout.
Dark countertops
You might think a dark color would hide all manner of kitchen sins, but the opposite is true. Water and crumbs stand out on dark surfaces. Consider a neutral color.
No painless stainless
Stainless steel appliances show marks easily and need special wipes to clean them properly. Avoid putting magnets on fridge doors, as these can leave permanent, rust-like marks.
Out of gas
Cleaning a gas stove is a constant, daily chore. The burners collect muck with every meal that’s cooked. The best alternative may be an induction stove with its sheet of strengthened glass that’s quick and easy to clean.
Stain pains
Marble and composite stone countertops require constant vigilance. Stains from turmeric, red wine, pineapple juice, raspberry cordial and Bolognese are constant threats. A good scouring liquid will help you out, but you need to act quickly. If a stain sits too long, they can be impossible to remove.