Real Estate Ready: Keep Your House Clean With These Free or Cheap Tools

When you are ready to sell, one of your most pressing concerns is how to keep your house clean and “show ready” since you have to live there, too. If you’re a parent, however, you might laugh off the idea as wishful thinking. Thankfully, it’s not. Here are a few of the tools you need in your arsenal of cleaning items -- as a bonus, most aren’t going to burden your budget.

A checklist.

In order to get a good handle on the selling process, you’ll need a detailed checklist of everything that needs to get done. This way, you can easily tick off the items one by one when they’re completed. On this checklist, don’t just include cleaning and decluttering tasks. It’s also a good idea to address curb appeal, any necessary updates you’ll need to make on the home, and getting a professional photo shoot scheduled for those listing photos. Once you have everything written down, you’ll get a better grasp of where you should invest your money and where you can cut corners with the budget (like doing the decluttering yourself instead of hiring a service).

Bribery.

Before you can really get your house to manageable levels, you have to clear it out as much as possible. But kids hear the word “declutter” as a battle cry and a threat to all they hold dear. Thankfully, most kids will be receptive to the idea of selling you the stuff they don’t really love. There is no shame in bribing them with a few bucks to clear out the toy box. A few quarters (or even a $20 bill if they’re older) can save you hours of tears and anxiety. It’s really a small investment when you consider the payoff.

Technology.

Scrolling through your smartphone won’t get your house in order, but it can give you ideas on ways technology can assist your endeavors. Take some time to research tools like robotic vacuums, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, smart dishwashers, and other household goods and appliances that make cleaning and freshening your home an automatic action. It’s true that these items are an expense, but you can shop smart and save. Look for deals online from stores like Target, and don’t be shy about searching for a Target coupon code when you have to shop.

Grocery bags.

Grocery bags are so very underrated. While we usually save them in a kitchen cabinet, we rarely use them to their full potential, but now is the time to take them out of hiding. Those plastic bags you’ve been hoarding are great for keeping trash to a minimum. Hang one on each interior door, and instruct the kids to deposit their paper/wrappers/crackers/broken items in them nightly. This way, you’ll have less trash to pick up in each room, and your trash can won’t be overflowing when there is a showing scheduled. Bon Appetit offers ideas on more ways to reuse these free bags.

Storage furniture.

If your kids aren’t keen on getting rid of things, you’ll have to hide their hoard of stuffed animals, blankets, and Pokemon cards. A DIY storage ottoman is a great way to do this, and comes with the added benefit of being fully customizable to match your decor. A few pieces of inexpensive plywood and fabric from the clearance bin at the craft store are the foundation for a clever (and stylish) addition to your living room or bedrooms.

The clock.

You already have one of the best tools to help you get things in order. Your kitchen clock (or smart device timer) is a great motivator for everyone in your crew. Set a timer for 10 minutes a few times each day, and see how much cleaning you can get done in that time. If the kids are older, send them to their respective rooms and challenge them to out-clean the other. As a reward, the winner gets to stay up 10 minutes late that night or gets an equal amount of time playing games, reading, etc. As you can see in this CleanMySpace.com kitchen cleaning tutorial, you can get a lot done in 600 seconds.

You don’t have to pay a maid to make your home sparkle. You have many of the tools to do it already, and the things you will have to acquire don’t have to break the bank. By presenting your home to buyers in its best state, you’ll likely get an offer sooner, and can go back to messy bedrooms until moving day.

Image via Pixabay