Before you show your home to potential buyers, it needs to look its best. It may seem fine to you since you are used to the space, but what about people comparing it with other Colorado Springs homes for sale? For that, you'll need a deeper, more thorough cleaning than you've done in a long time. Consider hiring a professional, but if you'd rather do it yourself, here are a few deep cleaning tips to get your home in shape before your open house.

• Forgotten Places
  When was the last time you cleaned behind your refrigerator? How about the tops of your cabinets, the blades of your ceiling fans, or your light plates and doorknobs? Are there cobwebs in the corners - particularly the ones on the ceiling? It's easy to forget about these places, but if you're having an open house, they need to be taken care of. Go over every inch of your home, especially the parts that don't get used as often, and make sure everything that's due for a cleaning gets cleaned.
  
  
• Carpet Cleaning
  After years of dirt, dust, spills, and stains, your carpet may not even still be the same color it was when you bought your home. Carpet shampoo will help, but what you really need is a steamer. It will remove more dirt and grime than any other cleaning method and leave your carpets looking like new.
  
  
• Mop and Polish
  Steaming will take care of the carpets, but for wood or tile floors, you'll need to mop. Scrub thoroughly, then add a coat of polish to give it a sheen. And if you have area rugs, remove them to make your rooms look bigger.
  
  
• Windows
  Sunlight will make your home look more inviting, so ensure your windows are as clean as possible. Scrub them thoroughly, inside and outside, and make sure there are no streaks. Then dust and vacuum the drapes, curtains, blinds, or other window coverings. If there are shutters outside, give them a thorough cleaning too, and if there are screens, hose them down to get rid of any dirt or gunk they've accumulated.
  
  
• Odors
  Avoid air fresheners and other artificial scents. You may think they're pleasant and welcoming, but they may not appeal to everyone. They can also make it seem like you're covering up underlying bad smells, which may turn off potential buyers. Instead, try boiling a few lemon slices in water. This will eliminate any lingering odors and give your home a fresh but natural scent.
  
  
• Outdoors
  You'll need to clean the yard as well as the house. Rake any leaves, sticks, or other debris, mow the lawn, and pull all the weeds from the garden. The day before the open house, hose down the driveway and walkways so they have time to dry. If you have a deck, that should be either swept or hosed down as well.
  
  
• Paint 
  Cleaning is great, but sometimes the best way to make your house look like new is a fresh coat of paint. You don't necessarily need to do the whole house, but if there are any rooms where the color has faded over time or that could stand to be a bit brighter and more inviting, see about painting them a light, neutral color.

In addition to cleaning, there are a variety of other things that need to be done to get your home ready for an open house. Our real estate agents can help you through the process and get your home looking its best to attract more buyers and a better price. Contact us to get started!