How To Maintain Your Home Like A Real Estate Professional?
Have you ever strolled into a freshly listed house and noticed how it sparkles like some five-star spa? Real estate agents have a knack for making properties look flawless, like they’re ready to star in a fancy home-design magazine.
Of course, you don’t have an entire sales team at your disposal, but don’t let that stop you from turning your house into a sparkling palace that can absolutely floor anyone who visits.
You’ve probably come across the popular saying, “Fake it till you make it,” but I prefer the subtler “Shine it till you love it.” In other words, by ensuring that your house looks like a 5-star hotel room, you’ll be more eager to come home every single day, and find yourself more relaxed as you unwind.
In this article, we will let you in on some realtor tricks that can turn your average home into a luxury palace.
Work On The Foundation
The strongest part of any house is what’s underneath all that fancy flooring and cozy rugs. Think of your foundation like the skeleton holding your entire home in place. Minor cracks can lead to major headaches if you ignore them.
So, make sure to check around the perimeter for any suspicious splits. If you spot something deeper than a minor scratch, consider having it looked at by a professional. If you ignore this, there are chances that this minor gap can turn into a major fault line, which could end up costing you many times over.
Exterior Finesse
You can’t judge a book by its cover, but a house is a different story. When you pull into your driveway and see grimy siding or a moldy walkway, it doesn’t really scream “welcome!” Real estate folks place a premium on curb appeal, and for good reason.
A solid start in this regard is giving your home’s exterior a little spa day. Grab a pressure washer (borrowed from that friend who invests in random gadgets) and blast away the dirt that’s turned your once-pristine walls into something resembling a biology experiment.
If power washing isn’t your jam, a garden hose and a sturdy brush can work. For bonus curb points, trim your hedges and mow that jungle you call a lawn.
I mean, just take a look at these homes for sale in Peachtree City GA, every image you come across seems like it would fit right in on the cover of Architecture Digest. In the case of real estate, looks are second-in-line, next only to location.
The Kitchen: Where the Magic (and Mess) Happens
If the foundation is the skeleton of a house, the kitchen is definitely its heart. This is where you attempt culinary wizardry or reheat last night’s takeout. Real estate pros love a crisp, tidy cooking area.
So, start by cleaning everything from the backsplash you ignore until you see random spaghetti sauce splatters, to the corners beneath your fridge that harbor lost onion peels. Also make sure to keep your cabinets organized, and get rid of any expired condiments that might be unnecessarily causing clutter.
Bathrooms: Zen, Not Grimy
A bathroom is more than just a corner of your house to take a shower and do your business, it is a private spa sanctuary, where you can let all your worries melt away.
There is nothing more pleasing than a warm bath or a hot shower following a tough day at work. But come back to see mildew takeovers by the vent fan or slippery tiles owing to hair and oil, and the same pleasing shower can turn into a chore.
Consider a deep clean of your bathrooms at least once a week to avoid these issues. Alongside this, you can also consider scrubbing grout lines once every few months to ensure that your floor doesn’t turn into a slip ‘n slide.
Lights, Windows & Action
Bright and airy is the name of the game. If you’ve ever scrolled through Zillow or pored over those glossy real estate flyers, you’ll notice every home is drenched in sunbeams. Large, unobstructed windows are the cheat code to an open, welcoming vibe.
Make sure to clean yours regularly, coz nobody’s impressed by smudges or those weird dog nose prints. Just clean your windows after a couple of weeks, and the difference you see in the light and other aesthetics can be borderline shocking.
Swapping out old bulbs for brighter, more efficient LED ones can also transform even a dingy old den into a lively lounge. Plus, you’ll see potential dust bunnies from a mile away.
Conclusion
After all your pro-level efforts, your home should feel like a personal retreat rather than a place you’re trying to merely survive.
Maintaining your house like it is being staged for sale isn’t about putting on airs, but feeling a sense of pride each time you step in the front door. You probably don’t plan on selling your home anytime soon, but when the time comes, even an average house can look like a million dollars with the right upkeep.
In the meantime, however, you can just enjoy a blissful stay in your piece of private paradise, with friends, family, and neighbors.