Spring Cleaning Checklist for Selling a Home

Spring is one of the most popular times to sell a house. No longer do we feel sequestered indoors, hiding away from the chill of the Saskatchewan winter. Instead, the longer days and warmer weather have us itching to get outside and get moving—literally!

That desire to move isn’t the only thing that returns with the spring weather, though. The snow melting away and the hibernation finally coming to an end also signals the return of the inevitable: spring cleaning. And if you’ve been considering selling your home this spring, this is one crucial step in preparing your home for sale you won’t want to miss.

Spring Cleaning for Selling a Home

Entry

Starting with a potential buyer’s first impression of your home, your spring cleaning should begin in the entryway.

Vacuum or Replace Door Mats – Doormats do a great job of catching dirt and debris before they track throughout the house, but in doing so get pretty dirtied up themselves. If possible, vacuum them out as best you can or consider replacing them, especially if they’ve served their time.
Reorganize the Coat Closet – It’s easy to let this hidden cubby fall into disarray as we desperately stuff in boots and parkas all winter long. Once the weather calls for it, it’s perfectly acceptable (and encouraged!) to pack away heavier coats, boots, and other wintertime accessories to give buyers a better look at their storage potential.

Living Room

Typically the next room on a buyer’s tour will be the living room, somewhere that usually sees a lot of foot traffic and activity to get it sufficiently in need of cleaning.

Wash Cushions & Throws – These cozy accessories certainly earned their keep as we curled up on the couch all winter long but likely have seen better days. Not all cushions are washable, but if you can, at least spot clean covers to give them a second wind.
Vacuum & Deep Clean Carpet/Rug – We usually go over the carpets and rugs at least once a week, but consider renting a carpet cleaner to bring them back to life. This will help remove unwanted grime and stains and help alleviate odours and allergens you may be accustomed to that buyers will not be.
Vacuum & Spot Clean Couch – Essentially, every fabric surface can be a breeding ground for dirt and smells, so take this chance to breathe fresh life into the room that buyers will appreciate!
Organize Shelves – Books can easily be coordinated by name, colour, or size. At the same time, pictures and decorative items should be carefully placed in groups of three.

Kitchen

The number one selling feature of a home is the kitchen, so dedicate a reasonable amount of time for spring cleaning in this well-used room!

Wipe Down Everything – Appliances, countertops, cupboards, and drawers—both inside and out—wipe away all those food splatters, water stains, and sticky fingerprints lingering around. Don’t forget about the inside of the appliances, too, including the microwave, especially if you are including them in the sale.
Clean Out the Fridge & Freezer – Again, if you are including your refrigerator in the sale of your home, give it the deep cleaning it has desperately needed. Not only will this make meal planning much easier on you, but it will also help alleviate odours and give buyers an accurate idea of what they are getting.
Clean Out Cupboards & Drawers – Storage is one of the most essential functions of a kitchen, and buyers want to be sure they’re getting a lot of it. Ensure all cupboards and drawers are free from clutter and well-organized.
Declutter Countertops – Too much clutter can make a buyer feel claustrophobic and overwhelmed, so try to remove as much as possible from the kitchen counters. This will make the space more appealing to them and easier for your dinner prep, too!

Bathrooms

The next most important selling feature of a home, the bathrooms are a catch-all for germs and bacteria by nature. But these spring cleaning tips will put them in tip-top shape for selling the house.

Organize Cabinets & Drawers – As with the kitchens, buyers will be curious about how much storage space they have in the bathrooms. Show it off for them by getting rid of old medications and toiletries, then organizing what is left.
Scrub the Shower & Tub – Though it seems silly, the space where we wash ourselves would get dirty so quickly, showers and tubs are breeding grounds for soap, scum, and hard water buildup. So, in the name of spring cleaning, strap on those gloves and get to scrubbing to make these spaces sparkling clean for potential buyers to admire!
Wash Shower Mats & Curtains – If you can, throw them in the washing machine for a quick and easy refresh. However, if they’re not the washable kind (PVC or plastic), consider just replacing them.
Scrub the Toilets – The dirtiest place in your home, give your toilets a new reputation with a good clean both inside and out, top to bottom. And don’t forget about the floor around the toilet—you’d be surprised what you may find didn’t make it inside the bowl!

Bedrooms

The comfiest rooms in the house, buyers aren’t the only ones who will appreciate a little spring cleaning in here—you will too!

Wash Bedding & Pillows – Nothing feels better than slipping into freshly-washed sheets, and buyers will appreciate the cleanliness this adds to the space. And while the bed is already stripped, spring is also a great time to rotate your mattress (for you, of course, not the buyers).
Organize the Closet – I can’t stress the importance of storage more—whatever can be stowed away or donated from your closet, do so now in preparation for listing your home. Ensure the hangers are facing the same way and no loose clothes are hanging around on the floor.

All Rooms

Dust – Get into every nook and cranny possible, from ceiling fans to light fixtures, corners to blinds, even the kernels of your popcorn ceiling!
Clean Windows – Don’t just wipe down the glass; also, get inside the window tracks and along the windowsills.
Wash Curtains – You’d be surprised just how much these light-filtering fabrics can be holding onto.
Wipe Walls & Baseboards – We’re looking at these every day in our periphery, so we may not even notice the fingerprints and dirt buildup happening there. But rest assured, a buyer will.
Sanitize Doorknobs, Handles & Light Switches – We’re constantly touching these with whatever may be on our hands at the time, so a good wipe can go a long way. It’s also not a bad idea to keep up this habit before and after showings, too, with so many strangers walking through.

Outside

Just as important as the interior, the exterior of your home is technically the first impression before buyers even step inside.

Pressure Wash – These powerful hoses are masters at blasting away many signs of weather and age. Take the pressure washer to the driveway, decks, pathways, and even the driveway for immediately amped-up curb appeal.
Wash Windows – Now that the weather is warm enough, there’s no excuse for only washing the inside of your windows. Make sure to clean the outsides, too, and don’t forget the window screens while you’re at it.
Reorganize the Garage – Now’s the perfect time to go through everything you’ve been stashing away in the garage for a warmer day. Give everything a proper place and try to open up as much space as possible. And if there’s enough in the “no-longer need” pile, maybe take a look at the calendar to start planning a garage sale!

Whether you’re selling your home this spring or not, this season of revitalization and growth is the perfect chance to get those much-needed cleaning projects out of the way. And though it may seem like a lot to tackle, make it easy for yourself by creating a schedule to keep you on track. Plan to go room by room and work your way from top to bottom—you’ll be surprised how quickly it can all pass by. Before you know it, your home will be refreshed and ready to hit the spring market in no time!