When do you start cleaning up?

Moreover, it gives the viewer the chance to imagine how they would live in the house without being distracted by your belongings. In this article, I will give you some tips to make your house ready for sale by cleaning up.

Start Early

Cleaning up is a task that you cannot complete in one day. It takes time and energy to sort, discard, donate, or sell all your items. Therefore, start cleaning up early, preferably before you put your house up for sale. This way, you can avoid stress and rushed work. Make a plan and work room by room or by category. Stick to the rule: if you haven’t used something for more than a year, you can get rid of it.

Be Critical

Cleaning up also means saying goodbye to items that may be dear to you but that you no longer need. Be critical and honest with yourself. Ask yourself for each item: do I really need this? Does this fit my future living style? Does this make me happy? If not, get rid of it. Keep only the items that truly have value for you, such as photos, souvenirs, or heirlooms. But even for those, less is more.

Store Away

Once you have sorted your items, it’s time to store them neatly. Ensure you have enough storage space, such as cabinets, drawers, baskets, or boxes. Use labels or stickers to indicate what is in each storage place. This way, you keep an overview and can easily find something. Try to keep as few items in sight as possible, such as on tables, windowsills, or walls. A few accessories are fine, but keep it calm.

Clean

Once you have cleaned up your house, it’s time to clean it. A clean house gives a fresh and well-maintained impression. Clean the windows, vacuum the floors, mop the tiles, scrub the doors, clean the sanitary facilities, sweep the baseboards, wipe the furniture, wash the bedding, etc. Don’t forget the places you usually skip, such as behind the couch, under the bed, in the cabinets, on the lamps, etc. A clean house also smells nice, so use an air freshener or a scented candle.

Maintain

Once you have cleaned up and cleaned the house, it is important to keep it that way. Ensure a daily or weekly routine to keep your house tidy. Clean up your items every day, make your bed, do the dishes, take out the trash, etc. This way, you prevent your house from becoming messy again and having to clean up before each viewing. Moreover, you will also feel more comfortable in a tidy house.

Empty the Pantry

There are several advantages to emptying your pantry. You have fewer boxes to fill for the move, often you have enough to throw away because it is many years past its expiration date. You save money because you often have three packs of rice. Eat it up and start with a fresh stock in your new home.

Start cleaning up as soon as possible using the above tips. See what can go to the thrift store, what can go on Marktplaats, and on Vinted!