8 tips to make your home sparkle

A home should be welcoming and comfortable, but as a real estate agent, I see many homes that have been conquered by clutter.

Clutter affects your attitude towards your home. When you decide to sell, it means you face  more work to prepare your property than setting a few moments each week to get on top of the hurly-burly of modern living.

Here’s my quick list of jobs you can do to make any home more comfortable. 

  1. There’s never a wrong time to check your insulation around your doors and windows. Proper insulation will keep the warmth in during winter, and the heat out during the summer months. If you have doors or windows that rattle when it gets windy, that’s fixed easily with rubber strips around the frames.
  2. Staying on the insulation theme, take a look around the floorboards and skirtings to locate any pesky drafts. Seal gaps with the appropriate caulking or silicon.
  3. If you’ve been coping with Covid by cooking up a storm, then the kitchen will probably appreciate a decent clean – or ‘deep clean’ as everyone’s saying these days. Clear out the pantry shelves and give them a good wipe to get rid of the grime that often comes with food cans. Use vanilla in your spray to revitalise the fridge and the microwave. And shine up those gadgets sitting on the counter – be brave and shake out the toaster!
  4. While we’re deep cleaning, let’s not forget the bathroom. The best place to start is to turn on the shower, shut the door and trap the steam. Get rid of grout-grime with bicarbonate of soda mixed with water. Another home-brew of vinegar and water is just as good. Finish off by wiping over with a light, bleach-based spray.
  5. If you’ve got floorboards, give them a wash. A good old mop and bucket does the trick, of course. But it’s a lot faster and easier with a steamer which is highly recommended for this task. Add some essential oil to the steamer cloth and your home will smell amazing.
  6. Walk through your home and see what furniture and ornaments are tired and outdated. Fresh cushions and throw rugs are a great way to revitalise a room. Get onto Amazon and online home stores, and let your imagination run away!
  7. Never get bored with your bedroom! If you’ve got linen that’s thin or you’re sick of seeing it, then bring in the new. Think about all the possible color schemes that’ll brighten the room. Back-to-nature themes that feature greens and browns are in fashion right now. For a dramatic effect, you might embrace metallic greys and blacks – another hot color-combo. If you warm to the task, consider repainting your walls and hanging new drapes.
  8. Get down to the garden shed or garage and have a clean out. Throw broken tools, resharpen those that are blunt or replace. Also, remove any chemicals or paints that are old or in unmarked containers. Consult the appropriate local authority to find out how to dispose of these legally.