When deciding to put your house on the market, there is a ton of information to help you navigate
when
to list your home. With one internet search, it is possible to determine the best season, month – even the best day – to list. Other tangible facts specific to your area include job growth, mortgage rates, and tax incentives. While one can find data assisting them with timing in the market, two questions require an experienced answer. "What should I
do
to get my house ready to sell?" and "How can I
safely
show my home during the reality of COVID-19?" For help, we turned our friend and realty expert, Callie Walker of Hughey & Neuman.
"Getting your house ready to put on the market seems like a daunting task - and it is!" says Callie. "A homeowner might feel overwhelmed and not know where to start."
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Many potential sellers tend to think carpets must be replaced, walls have to be freshly painted and cabinets updated. The reality is, while these things are essential, they may not need replacing. That's why it's crucial to have an experienced real estate professional assisting with the process. "At Hughey & Neuman, we meet with the homeowner and help them by making recommendations on how to get started," Callie says. "Our recommendations will help sellers focus on putting their time and resources to help get the house sold in the shortest amount of time, for the most money."
What is the best thing a potential seller could do to get market-ready? "Clean. Clean. Then, clean some more!" says Callie. "Having your home clean and fresh is
so
important when marketing it for sale. Creating a clean and welcoming atmosphere equates to dollars and cents."
Callie has two top areas of focus for homeowners - carpets and tile.
"A deep clean of carpet can make all the difference," says Callie, "and might make the difference of someone thinking they need to be replaced when they only need to be cleaned and stretched! Not to mention, it will also give a great fresh overall smell to a house."
Here's where Bishop Clean Care Can Help!
Our truck-mounted cleaning units are the most powerful on the market for maximum soil removal. We take measures to ensure your carpets receive the best cleaning. We use filtered, soft water to remove the maximum amount of soil followed by hot water extraction to remove residue. Our technicians vacuum before cleaning and groom the carpet after – all done to leave your carpet looking good as new!
For the kitchen and bathrooms, Callie says, "Cleaning tile grout in both the kitchen and baths is so important! These rooms are where houses shine, so making sure the tile and grout look their very best is key!"
We couldn't agree more! Using our tile and grout cleaning system, we can remove the toughest of kitchen grease build-up and shower soap scum. Have stone instead of tile? "No problem," says Bishop Clean Care owner Jud Savelle. "We use specially formulated cleaner for natural stone that's heavy-duty on the cleaning but gentle enough to preserve the stone."
While you're focusing on carpet and tile, don't forget your other floor surfaces. The Bishop Clean Care iMop system is gentle on wood, vinyl, and laminate surfaces without harsh chemicals. The use of twin counter-rotating brushes allow the iMop to remove more surface soil than the
traditional mop and bucket, which will leave your surfaces sparkling.
Once walking surfaces and tiles are spic and span, it's time to think deep clean. "We have comprehensive cleaning services and odor removal packages that provide a top to bottom cleaning of your house," says Jud. "We successfully provide this service to homeowners as they get their property ready for listing on the market."
Safely Showing Your Home
When the coronavirus began shutting down businesses in early March, the real estate market was able to weather the pandemic by making a few changes in how buyers and sellers were handled. "We have had to alter the way we operate on a daily basis," offers Callie when recounting the safety measures put in place at Hughey and Neuman.
With just a few creative changes in processes, this local realty company was able to continue showing homes through guided video tours. "Hughey and Neuman has had great success in offering virtual tours for all of our listings," said Callie. "Now, we are personally videoing and walking through our listings, providing a guided tour, and highlights of the properties."
Other precautions include masks, gloves, and asking the homeowner to turn on lights and open doors before leaving home to ensure no one ever touches an object.
Similarly, members of the Bishop Clean Care team have implemented additional safety precautions when on-site to clean before and during your listing process. These include scheduling more time during appointments to allow technicians to disinfect after visiting your home and before entering another. Of course, we will wear shoe coverings, masks and gloves for your protection and invite you to wear a mask.
As you prepare your home for what realtors anticipate to be a fall housing market boom, please don't do it alone. Our post-COVID world is undoubtedly different, but this shouldn't stop you from moving forward with plans! Seek help from a trusted realtor, like Callie from Hughey & Neuman, and a proven cleaning service like Bishop Clean Care.
Together, we can make your home safely shine for that quick sell - while helping you keep more money in your pocket!
