09/03/2026
Thinking about MOVING in the SPRING? 🌺
It's time to start preparing, if you want to get ahead of the game.
Clean homes go a long way with buyers. And buyers notice everything!
We have put together a cleaning checklist to help you get started.
Pre-Listing Deep Clean Checklist------>
🚪 Start at the front door. This is the buyer’s first impression, and they often stand here for a minute while the agent opens the lockbox. Wash or wipe down the front door, remove fingerprints and scuffs, clean the door hardware, sweep away cobwebs, clean exterior light fixtures, and wash the glass. Look up, too—the porch ceiling should be free of dirt, insects, webs and stains. Pressure wash the porch and walkway if needed, and make sure the doormat looks fresh. Add some potted plants for color. Make your entrance welcoming!
🔑. Polish the entryway. Clean the floors thoroughly, wipe down doors and trim, dust light fixtures and make sure the entry glass and nearby windows are spotless. The goal is for the home to immediately feel crisp and cared for.
🏠. Baseboards, doors and trim. Wipe down baseboards throughout the house, especially corners and high-traffic areas. Clean fingerprints and grime from interior doors, doorframes, stair rails, cabinet fronts and around light switches.
💭Air vents and returns. Vacuum and wipe down supply vents and return-air grilles. Replace dirty HVAC filters. Dusty vents can make an otherwise clean house feel neglected.
✅Have the HVAC serviced. Before listing, consider having the system professionally serviced so it's operating properly and you have documentation available if a buyer asks. Outdoor condenser coils can also accumulate dirt and debris; if appropriate for the system, they can be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.
💡Look up! Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, recessed-light trim, air vents, crown molding and the tops of cabinets. Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners. Buyers notice these things more than sellers expect.
🪟Windows and window tracks. Clean the glass inside and out when practical, along with window sills and tracks. Open blinds and shutters and clean the slats. Clean windows make a significant difference in how bright a home photographs.
🍴Kitchen details. Degrease the cooktop, backsplash and vent hood. Clean the oven, microwave, dishwasher edges and refrigerator if it remains with the house. Wipe cabinet fronts and hardware, clean underneath countertop appliances and polish the sink and faucet.
🛁Bathrooms. Remove hard-water deposits from shower glass and fixtures, clean grout, recaulk stained or deteriorated areas where appropriate, polish mirrors and faucets, and thoroughly clean around toilets and baseboards. Don't forget exhaust-fan covers.
✅Floors and carpet. Professionally clean carpet if needed, clean grout lines, and pay special attention to corners and edges where vacuum cleaners don't always reach. Hardwood floors should be clean and polished appropriately without leaving a heavy shine or residue.
🚪Closets and storage areas. Vacuum closet floors, wipe shelves and remove enough belongings that buyers can easily see the available storage. Don't overlook the pantry, laundry room or linen closets.
▶Garage. Sweep the floor, remove cobwebs, clean around the garage doors and organize stored items. Wipe down the door leading into the house and clean the garage-door windows if applicable.
☑Back patio and outdoor living. Pressure wash dirty surfaces when appropriate, clean outdoor light fixtures and ceiling fans, remove cobwebs, wash exterior doors and windows, clean the grill/outdoor kitchen, and make sure patio furniture is clean or get rid of it if in poor condition.
Finally, do a “buyer walk-through.” Start at the curb, walk to the front door and then through every room as though you've never seen the house before. Look up, down and around doorways. Those are often the areas sellers stop noticing after living in a home for years.
