Selling your home is a big, life-changing step. You’re in a good neighborhood, and you’ve set a fair price. You’ve done all you can to make the process as smooth as possible. You’ve done your home-selling homework, invested in repairs and hired a great realtor.
Still, prospective buyers just aren’t giving your home that important second look. You have to ask yourself, “Why is my house not selling in 2017?”
Through our residential cleaning services, we work with sellers all across the city. We help with everything from hardwood floor restoration to mold remediation in Chicago homes for sale, so we see problems you might overlook.
5 Things About a House That Potential Home Buyers Never Miss
When we point out some of the reasons houses don’t sell, homeowners are often surprised. Because it’s your home, you don’t see or smell the things that potential buyers never miss. These five problems might not seem obvious to you, but we run into them every day.
1. Carpet Smells You Don’t Notice
When you hear someone talk about being nose-blind, you probably don’t think about the things you don’t smell in your own carpets. Scientists can explain the phenomenon, and real estate agents can explain the effect carpet odors have on prospective buyers as soon as they walk through your front door.
Solution: If someone in the house smokes cigarettes or you enjoy the company of four-legged best friends, have carpets professionally cleaned before you start showing your home.
2. Dingy Bathroom Tile and Grout
If tile and grout don’t sparkle, the bathroom doesn’t look clean. When the light goes on, floors, walls and counters should light up too. Ordinary cleaning can’t remove years of built-up dirt and grime.
Solution: Arm yourself with a bucket of bleach and water, grab a stiff scrub brush, and restore the luster to bathroom tile and grout. Potential buyers always appreciate that extra shine in the bathroom.
3. Walls That Don’t Pass the Paper Towel Test
Unless you plan on painting them, walls don’t get much attention even in a house headed for market. Test for dirty surfaces by running a damp paper towel across the walls in your home. You may be surprised by what you find.
Solution: Borrow a few DIY cleaning tricks from commercial property owners. Prep, rub and spot-clean walls so that they’re ready for white-glove inspection.
4. Lingering Musty, Moldy Odors
“I’ve shampooed carpets, sanitized tile and cleaned walls. Why isn’t my house selling?” The problem could be a musty odor that doesn’t go away. It’s probably caused by mold growing inside your home’s walls.
Solution: Mold inside walls presents a real challenge for homeowners. Call in a cleaning contractor who specializes in mold removal and remediation.
5. Less-Than-Fresh Indoor Air Quality
It’s not a moldy smell, and it’s not the carpets. Still, there’s something about the air in your home that’s less than fresh, and potential buyers notice it. Blame dirty air ducts that constantly circulate dust and allergens through every room.
Solution: Selling a house is a business transaction, so take another tip from the commercial sector. Keep the air in your home fresh and healthy with certified air duct cleaning.
The Advantages of Professional Cleaning Services
Getting your home ready for market can be an exhausting experience. Don’t keep asking yourself, “Why is my house not selling in 2017?” Bring in a cleaning and restoration contractor who can help with a full line of deep house cleaning services. You deserve to relax and enjoy these advantages and more:
• Certified technicians who take on the big jobs
• Expert help with special projects like hardwood floor care
• Green cleaning options that impress potential buyers
• Emergency backup 24/7 in case of water or fire damage
Helping You Make the Sale
Whether you’re getting ready to relocate or planning a downsize, we’re happy to help you make the sale. Our full line of residential cleaning services are perfect for putting the shine on your house before you put it on the market. If you have any home-selling tips to share, join the conversation here through our Comments Section.
Getting the house ready for sale is a big job, so don’t try to do all the heavy lifting by yourself. From carpet cleaning to mold remediation, our Chicago and Skokie teams are just a phone call away. You can count on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba to make sure your home always gets that important second look.