Spring Cleaning

After an uneventful winter in Big Bear we are starting to experience signs of spring.  And while there’s the possibility of winter weather still to go, this reminds us that spring is just around the corner.  And with Spring, comes spring cleaning.  Now, personally I’m not one to clean myself, my house husband that graciously loves to clean. Spring officially begins around lunchtime on March 20, 2014.

Springs arrival brings with it a flurry of activity in the housing market.  Potential buyers start looking, and sellers scramble to spruce up their properties to get ready to put on the market.

Perhaps you are thinking of moving up from an older home to a newer Big Bear Lake home in 2014.  If you fall in either of these categories, here are a few spring cleaning tips that can help you maximize the resale value of your property.

• Clean your floors.  When you’re trying to sell your home, the first impression can make all the difference.  Hire a professional carpet cleaning service or rent water vacuum to remove dirt from deep within your carpet.  Hardwood floors should be thoroughly mopped and refinished if necessary.  Tile flooring is nearly maintenance free, but do consider replacing any chipped or broken tiles.

• Take care of any basement moisture.  Today’s home buyers expect a basement to serve as additional living space, not simply a place to hide the washer and dryer.  If your basement is prone to moisture problems, have a professional take a look and suggest ways to mitigate water problems. 

• Get rid of clutter.  You want prospective home buyers to picture themselves and their belongings in the space.  But the more stuff you have on display, the less room is available for their imaginations to fill in the details.  So get rid of what you can and store what you cannot part with.  The bonus is you will have less to move later and the buyer won’t ask for those items in the offer!

• Perform basic landscaping.  It’s hard to think about landscaping in early March, but the yard offers a potential home buyer’s first impression.  You don’t need to have everything redone.  Simply trim the hedges, mow the lawn, and remove the weeds right before putting your house on the market, and maintain a clean yard through the closing. 

• Apply fresh paint.  Both inside and out, a fresh coat of paint can refresh the appearance of your property and provide the extra bit of charm needed to turn a prospective buyer into a new homeowner while earning you top value.

The time you spend working on your home now will pay for itself many times over when the spring and summer housing market hustle begins.

Happy cleaning!  **I’ve found by writing this article its easy to give advice than to do the work myself…thankful