Selling your home is an anxious time. You may be in need of a quick sale because of the timing of your move or the pending purchase of another home. You are most certainly anxious to get an offer as close to your asking price as possible. Some things are out of your control, like the current state of the housing market in your area, or interest rates. One thing you are definitely in charge of, however, is the state of the home you’re hoping to sell.

Read on for some ideas and advice from Theochem Laboratories, Inc.

The Nose Knows: Many things strike a buyer as soon as they enter your home, the size of the rooms, the structure, and the overall layout and design. But those are not the only things they notice upon first entering. The National Association of Realtors notes that their noses will pick up any disagreeable odor and that can be a huge turnoff. It will be hard for a buyer to have a good impression of a home that they find smells or doesn’t appear clean no matter how many pretty objects you’ve set out to stage it.

A lot of things can produce obtrusive odors. The most common culprits are the family pets and cigarette or cigar use inside the home. Mildew is next as are cooking odors that have permeated surfaces, walls, and flooring. Surface cleaning, no matter how thorough, will not resolve the issue. You’ll need to take extra steps that include deep cleaning and air purification. If necessary, you can even purchase an air purification system or add UV light to the HVAC system to remove particles and allergens.

Preparing to Clean: The first step you’ll need to take is to purchase the proper mask to wear while cleaning. Breathing in the chemicals often found in cleaners, especially those intended for deep cleaning, can be harmful to inhale. This is compounded by the mixture of fumes from several different cleaners in the same area, and if you’re cleaning in an enclosed space, the air can become highly dangerous to breathe. Masks also prevent inhaling the dust and allergens that become airborne during the cleaning process. Wearing a mask while cleaning can prevent you from becoming ill.

CNET points out that gloves are also important to prevent burns or dermatitis that can come from many of the chemicals found in common cleaning solutions. Even if you’re using all-natural products, the hot water alone can damage your skin.

Cleaning: Start at the ceiling and work your way down on all the walls. Use a microfiber mop with a small spritz of water mixed with white vinegar, especially in places you’ve found mildew.

For carpets, it’s worth the expense of hiring a professional. They’ll have all the equipment and cleaners necessary to perform a deep clean.

In your kitchen, remove everything from the refrigerator, and after a thorough cleaning try to only refill it with foods that don’t give off any strong odors as long as your home is on the market.

Replace the range hood if it’s older or if odors cannot be removed. A good range hood will purify the kitchen air and help prevent odors from accumulating by venting grease and smoke. If you keep your old range hood, then purchase a replacement vent since that’s the first point of contact with odors.

In the bathrooms, replace shower curtain liners and machine wash the shower curtain, floor rugs, and mats using bleach in the water. Better yet, use products from Theochem Laboratories, Inc. like non-acid liquid Crème Cleanser or Safe-N-Clean to quickly remove rust, soap scum, stains, grease, oxidation, and hard water minerals, and filth from a variety of surfaces. Also, empty the cabinets and vanities of everything but the essentials. Replacing the toilet, if necessary, is not difficult or you can hire a plumber to do it for you.

Getting your home ready to sell is never an easy chore and it will take days or longer to make it look its shiniest and smell its cleanest, but the effort will be well worth it when you finally see that “sold” sign go up in your yard.

Theochem Laboratories, Inc. provides a healthy, safe environment with the highest quality of products that protect our families, employees and customers. Contact us today for more information! 813.237.6463