If you are looking to sell your home in Tampa, one step you can take to help peak a buyer’s interest into your home is to make sure your home is CLEAN. It's crucial that both the interior and exterior of your home is clean!

As far as the interior of the home is concerned you need to make sure every room in the house is tidy. This will show buyers that you care for your home and in turn they will know they potentially could be purchasing a home that has been “loved” for many years; a BIG positive from a buyer’s prospective. Make sure you clean each room from the top down paying attention to clean: the ceiling fans/lighting, blinds/draperies, windows/window sills, dusting surfaces that need dusting, and polishing those that need polishing. Don’t forget the baseboards! Many people overlook this important step when cleaning their home and baseboards can collect dust and look unkempt over time. Make sure your carpets are vacuumed and steam cleaned if needed. Pay attention to vacuum all hard surface flooring and wash and polish where needed. In the kitchen, clean off all caked on residues on countertops and appliances. This holds true especially for stovetops. If you have electric burners take out the pans under each burner and make sure they are clean and shiny, another nod to a well-kept home. If you have ceramic cook tops that have caked on food scrape them clean with a straight edge razor and polish them to a shine. Also take notice to the kitchen cabinets, making sure they are dusted as well. Be sure things like caked up toothpaste in the sinks of each bathroom are addressed and that toilets are clean. Always have the lid down when showing your home. In the shower, be sure there is not hair gathered at the drain and that it is mold/mildew free.

When potential buyers drive up to your home, the first thing they see is the exterior. Be sure this area is equally as clean so your home makes a great first impression. Be sure the exterior paint on your home is fresh looking and that the exterior is not covered in mildew, if it is a good pressure washing will do wonders. Speaking of pressure washing if your roof and driveway have mildew be sure to pressure wash these areas too, it will make your home sparkle. Don’t forget the windows! You cleaned the interior of your windows so be sure to clean the exterior as well. Windows will only appear clean if both sides are addressed! Now let’s talk landscaping. You could have beautiful plants, trees and shrubs but in order for them to look great they need to be cleaned of weeds and trimmed where needed. Don’t forget mulch! Fresh mulch will give your home great curb appeal; mulch that is old can be dingy. Also don’t forget to clean the exterior lighting of your home. Disassemble the fixtures so you can clean every nook and cranny and give them the attention they deserve.

If you pay attention to cleaning your home it will shine and stand out whether it is five years old or fifty years old. Potential buyers will see that you paid attention to these details and therefore that your home is well cared for. It will help you to get top dollar for your home and help your agent to get it sold quickly!

Jennifer Statz is a Realtor for McBride Kelly and Associates in Tampa, Florida. She works to get your home sold quicker. Contact her via email at jenny@mkarealty.comor via phone at (813) 679-6606. Visit her on the web to learn more here.

McBride Kelly and Associates Realty is based in Tampa, Florida. The real estate company’s team of Realtors will get you the home you deserve or the buyer you deserve, or the property manager your rental deserves. Whatever your needs are, MKA Realty will fulfill them. Search the entire database of homes currently for sale in Florida, here. Interested in becoming an investor? Find more information here on how to make your money back quick.