How to Keep Your House Clean When It's for Sale

Realtors know from experience that a cluttered, messy, slightly shabby house is tough to sell. Signs of neglect send a message that the house might not be in stellar condition, and will scare off prospective buyers who can't see beyond the clutter and the overgrown shrubs. For this reason, Realtors often come prepared with a list of Things to Do to make your home more salable.

While there's plenty of sound advice for sprucing up a property with a professional carpet shampoo and house cleaning, fresh paint and some minor maintenance, keeping the property clean while it's on the market is also important. Without hiring a maid service to come in once a week, how does one keep a house clean during the listing period?

Put half your house in storage

We are a country of collectors. We have junk cluttering up closets and cabinets, furniture jammed in every corner, toys lining the floors of kid's bedrooms, and shelves stuffed to the gills with stuff. Simplify your life while the house is on the market, and put half that stuff in storage. Clear off the bric a brac, box up the good dishes, pack up the books, toys, games & shop tools, pack up the seasonal clothes and linens, empty the closets, and move out as much furniture as you can stand.

Getting the non essentials out of your house will make what's left so much easier to clean and will make your home much bigger than it really is. A prospective buyer will ooh and aah at the spacious garage, closets, and storage space and wide, open passageways throughout the house. Best of all, when the house finally does sell, packing up the rest of your belongings will be a snap.

Invest in Rubbermaid Storage containers

As much as we'd sometimes like to put all our kids' toys in storage, the reality is they do need a few toys and books for around the house. Buy a dozen or so storage totes, and stash them in strategic locations around your home. When the Realtor calls from the sidewalk with prospective buyers, quickly toss the toys, games, blankets, dropped clothing, and all the other loose junk into the totes.

Leaving shoes at the door