Competitive markets across Austin, TX (say it with us – North Austin, Downtown Austin, East Austin, South Austin, West Austin) know how important first impressions are. With our housing inventory constantly changing here in the Austin market, staging your home with just a ‘clean’ won’t cut it anymore. If you want to sell your home for top dollar, we’re talking ‘Austin-Spotless.’ Cluttered homes scare buyers away, literally costing sellers thousands in waived offers. They want to move into their new home as soon as possible, not buy a “project.” After all, first impressions are everything in real estate. Listings that are cleaned, decluttered, and staged strategically sell faster and for more money. A professional move-in-ready or make ready clean makes buyers feel at ease and confident that the home has been taken care of. This promotes smooth escrow and beautiful offers on your HOME!

Clean for the highest return on your investment with these first impression tips.

A smoothly moving escrow is even more important for out-of-town buyers who are relocating to Austin from places like California and New York. These buyers aren’t looking to buy a home that needs work, they want to move their boxes in and start work at their new job the next morning.

Sell your home with the wow-factor by showing it in its best light. Make sure your home shines by taking care of the psychological tricks that come with cleaning, improving curb appeal, and focusing on areas of your home that are known for creating lasting first impressions.

The Psychology of a Sparkling Clean Home 

Who doesn’t love walking into a spotless home? When potential buyers walk into a home that is decluttered and clean, they feel calm and at ease. This allows them to imagine themselves living there without distractions. An immaculate home also portrays that the home has been well taken care of by its current owners. Creating a clean home that shines will manipulate buyers’ minds into leaving offers on your table.

Just like cleaning the interior of your home, make sure you spend extra time cleaning every nook and cranny. You want buyers to know you love your home and take pride in everything you own. This is especially important for Austin buyers. Our market is filled with buyers from other competitive markets like San Diego and Washington D.C. If they love your home enough, they could become full-price offer hunters.

Clean House Tip: Make sure you rent that carpet cleaner because if you want your rugs to pop, they NEED to be cleaned professionally. A quick vacuum just isn’t enough to wow these Austin buyers!

Curb Appeal: How Your Front Yard Impacts Your Sale 

When buyers pull up to a home, they first see its exterior, which sets the tone for a good impression. Simple changes like a tidy yard, fresh paint, and a clean driveway can impact opinions before buyers even step inside.

Buyers tend to make quick decisions once they pull up to your home. From landscaping to paint color to your driveway, these are things you want to touch up before listing if you want your home to shine.

In Austin, we are known for loving our outdoor living spaces. From your patio to your pool deck, make sure you spend extra time pressure washing and spot cleaning those smaller details. You never know, those Austin buyers could decide to become full-time instead of just weekenders!

Don’t forget about your safety and accessibility when it comes to curb appeal. Make sure you take the extra time to fix any broken steps and clear your walkways.

Selling your home? Make sure these areas are Spotless

The kitchen and bathroom are the hearts of most homes. These rooms are where your buyers are going to spend a lot of their time during their home tours. Make sure you pay extra attention to these rooms and keep them sparkling clean. Bathrooms and kitchens should also be neutral in color and have bright lighting.

Before you start stressing about buying all new furniture, take a deep breath and focus on decluttering your space. Arrange your furniture to allow for the best flow and make sure you create an inviting and comfortable living space for your buyers.

Entryways are just as important as your kitchen and bathrooms. Make your entryway stand out by filling it with decor or accent pieces that your buyers will remember.

Buyers are drawn to move-in ready homes and properties that have been well cared for and cleaned top to bottom. Because preparing your home for sale adds 3-5% to your home’s value in today’s ultra-competitive market conditions, selling a home that is clean and move-in ready will net you thousands more than if you were to sell “as is.” Again, because buyer demand is high and competition is fierce, clean homes that are move-in ready are receiving multiple offers within days of listing. Whether your home is a Hyde Park bungalow, Downtown Austin condo, Modern lofts in Castle Hill or a family fixer-upper in Circle C, we have discovered that the secret sauce to selling your home quickly is a make-ready clean.

Higher Offers

Move-in ready homes appeal to buyers because they can see the full potential of your home and don’t have to think about investing in repairs down the road. Since there are less repairs that need to be made immediately after moving in, buyers are willing to pay asking price or above. Today’s buyers aren’t interested in projects. If you want to give yourself the best opportunity to net maximum dollars from your sale, start with a clean slate.

Impact On Days On Market

Every real estate sale is impacted by how long a home sits on the market. Move-in ready homes spend less time on the market because there are no obvious hurdles for buyers to overcome. No repairs, cleaning or work that needs to be done means less holding costs. Holding costs include mortgage payments, HOA fees, utilities, and more. The more time your home spends on the market, the more likely you are to have to lower your price. Move-in ready homes allow you to close with confidence and limit financial loss.

When it comes to cleaning your home for sale in Austin, it doesn’t stop at the typical “spruce up” that most homes receive before listing. Your goal when cleaning a home for sale is to remove years of cedar dust, oak pollen and limestone buildup that has accumulated on every surface of your home. From top to bottom, you want to focus on the details throughout the home that are typically overlooked by the average homeowner but are sure to catch a buyers’ eye. Here is what you can expect from a Make Ready Clean:

Scope Of Deep Cleaning Service

• Dust high areas like ceiling fans, light fixtures, tops of windows and doors.
• Pay extra attention to floors and carpets.
• Clean all window sills, blinds and mirrors to let in natural light.
• Makeup sure all appliances are sparkling clean: inside the oven, fridge, and dishwasher (yes, make sure to clean those nooks and crannies too!).
• Run a lint brush along baseboards and move-in vents to remove dirt, dust, and most importantly – Cedar pollen and oak tree allergens.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Scrub bathrooms until grout and faucets shine.
• Degrease range hoods, stoves, and backsplashes.
• Clear countertops and tidy closets to create extra storage.
• Say goodbye to odors using air purifiers and fresheners to keep your home smelling neutral and inviting.

Commonly Overlooked Areas

• Door knobs and handles are famous for attracting dirt and fingerprints.
• Clean air vents or change your filters to promote cleaner breathing indoors.
• Cupboards and drawers should be wiped down as well because food and dust tends to collect inside.
• Exterior areas of the home should be tidy as well, like patios and entryways (pressure wash everything!).
• Screened in porch’s, limestone patios, and pool decks are also hot items in Austin and are utilized year-round.

Preparing for showings and open houses will speed up the process. If you focus on cleaning your home, staging, and a few things you can do right before buyers arrive, you’re already halfway there.

Keeping Your House Clean Between Showings

As you know, first impressions are everything. You want your buyers to feel welcome when they step into your home, which is why it’s important to always keep your house clean between showings. It’s not as difficult as you think. Set aside just a few minutes each day to stick to this simple cleaning routine and you’ll never have to worry about large messes building up again.

Daily Tasks:

• Wipe down countertops. 
• Sweep or vacuum areas that tend to get dirty.
• Make the beds and pick up clutter.

Additionally, schedule a “touch-up” cleaning once a week to keep your home looking fresh for even longer. Services like dusting, mopping, and bathroom cleaning can all be scheduled. Checklists like this can help ensure you don’t forget anything.

Stage Your Home

When you stage a home, you are essentially doing everything in your power to allow buyers to see themselves in that home. Staging increases your property’s perceived value and sometimes can even add to your sale price. Some simple staging tips include moving your furniture around to create an open floor plan. Furniture should be arranged away from walls to open up the space.

You can also add color with neutral throws and décor. Adding subtle artwork or plants to your home can bring life and warmth while keeping it neutral. Lighting also plays a key factor when staging your home; make sure you’re taking advantage of all natural sources of light.

Checklist For Last-Minute Preparations

You can do everything in the world to prepare your home for sale, but there are a few things you need to do right before buyers walk through your front door. Last minute preparations take little to no time, but are essential to ensuring everything in your home is squeaky clean and smells great. Below is a short checklist for you to follow before showings.

• Open all windows. 
• Turn on all lights. 
• Hide clutter. 
• Set out fresh flowers.

Selecting a cleaning company when selling your house in Austin is essential. The right cleaners can take your house from cluttered to show-ready while increasing curb appeal. In this post, we will cover why you should hire professionals, how to identify a trustworthy service, and which services you should be considering.

Why Hire a Professional Cleaning Company? 

• Deep cleans your home of visible debris, unseen dust particles, and allergens!
• Our trucks are equipped with specialized tools and cleaning solutions to reach those hidden areas.
• Increase curb appeal- Who doesn’t want their home to appear tidy and fresh? Professional cleaning will help your home sell quicker!
• Free up time and energy- Let the pros take care of the deep cleaning and spend your time elsewhere. We know how busy life can get when selling your house.

Tips For Selecting A Reputable Service

• Look for credentials and reviews online.
• Ask family or friends for referrals.
• Call to ensure the cleaning company is insured and bonded. Inquire about the methods and products used when cleaning your home.
• Ask for a written estimate with details of what services they provide and how much they cost.
• Get estimates from different cleaners until you find one that fits your needs.

No more worrying about convincing a buyer to put in an offer or creating a good first impression. Move-in ready homes allow your property to stand out from others, receive offers quicker, and you won’t have to worry about spending your weekends cleaning once you move!

Professional Austin real estate cleaning companies provide a more in-depth clean than what most homeowners could achieve on their own. They know what to target, like carpets, high traffic surfaces, limestone patios, screened-in porches, and exterior windows, doors, etc. Making your house shine will allow you to show your home has been taken care of properly while increasing buyer confidence. This could lead to a faster sale and you selling for more money!

Let Juany Cleaning Service provide you with quality make ready cleaning services in Austin, TX. Allow our professionals to deep clean your home while you focus on moving.

Selling your home in Austin, Round Rock, or Cedar Park? Get your instant Make-Ready quote today and let us help you get that “Under Contract” sign up faster.