Should You Clean House Exterior Before You Sell?

Are you preparing your home for sale?

There are a handful of things you ought to do before selling it, depending on your needs. For example, if you’re looking to increase the home’s value before selling, it’s generally agreed that you need to make some repairs or even remodel some rooms. The same goes for when you want to sell the property quickly.

What about the exterior of the house? Does a clean house exterior help you sell the home quickly and/or for more money?

If you’re debating whether or not to give the exterior of your house a thorough scrub or power wash, the verdict is a no-brainer. Continue reading to learn what you should do.

The Importance of Curb Appeal

As a homeowner, you certainly know the value of curb appeal.

You want the exterior of your home, right from outside the gate, to look beautiful. If you’re ready to sell the home, you might not give a hoot about the curb appeal anymore, but you’ll only be shooting yourself in the arm.

It’s not just you who cares about the property’s curb appeal. The vast majority of potential buyers are attracted by curb appeal. Some may even opt to skip checking out the interior of the property if the exterior doesn’t please them.

And, curb appeal isn’t just about the flowers and the patio furniture. It’s also about how clean the exterior of the house is. A dirty exterior reduces your property’s curb appeal, consequently reducing your chances of selling the house quickly or for more money.

Kick Up the Value

Before a home goes on sale, a property appraisal is done. Among other things, an appraisal enables you to determine the listing price.

You’re probably wondering how much value a clean exterior will add to your home. Well, it’s not going to add a huge value, but even something as little as $5,000 is worthwhile. This doesn’t sound much, but when you factor in the cost of selling a house, including real estate agent commissions, you quickly realize that even a $1K increase in home value is worth it.

A clean exterior adds to a property’s curb appeal. Your appraiser will no doubt consider it when writing an appraisal report.

Cleaning Isn’t a Lot of Work

Deep cleaning the exterior of a house, including the siding, can be time-consuming and energy-draining — but that’s if you’re doing it on your own.

While there’s nothing wrong with taking on the cleaning job, why waste your time when you can bring in exterior cleaning pros? According to bakerhomesolution.com, cleaning professionals are more effective and will notice problems that you could have missed. 

You Need a Clean House Exterior When Selling

You need a clean house exterior all the time, but when you’re selling, the stakes are higher. A well-scrubbed exterior will not only boost the value of the home but also attract more potential buyers. This is what every home seller wants to see.

Stay tuned to our blog for more real estate tips and hacks.