The Insider's Guide To Selling Your Home By Owner- Rocio Fausto I | Page 26

Hardcore Cleaning: Now that the clutter is gone, move on to hardcore cleaning. Be meticulous. Tidy up each room from top to bottom. Make sure you don’t forget to: • Get rid of cobweb first. This keeps you from getting dust bunnies all over freshly cleaned floors and furniture later. • Dust ceiling fans and lighting fixtures while you’re cleaning out the cobwebs. • Dust your blinds. • Wash walls, unless you’ll be painting. • Clean all glass surfaces: mirrors, television screens, patio doors and windows. • Polish all wooden surfaces. • Wipe down any leather furniture. • Clean out and reorganize the closets and cabinets. • Attack all appliances with cleaning fervor. Make them shine! • Sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, faucets and countertops need to be impeccable. Every room is important, but the kitchen and bathrooms will take you over the top. They need to be eat-off-of-the-floor clean. • Vacuum rugs, shampoo carpet and mop like your life depends on it. • Side note: Attack these tasks last, or you’ll inevitably have to do them twice. Solid Tip #2: Painting provides a prime canvas. 25