Fresh flowers on polished table tops and the waft of freshly brewed coffee from the kitchen may help to sell your home, but an uncluttered interior and a pristine garden will achieve much more. Dust and untidiness can take away from the most splendid decor, while something as simple as an unmown lawn gives the impression of neglect.
So making sure your home is clean and tidy before the For Sale sign goes up is money in the bank. If moving, you'll have to do a major clear out anyway and the task can be very daunting if it's left to the last minute. Most of us gather a huge amount of possessions over the years.
Our wardrobes can be stuffed with clothes we will never wear again, our bookshelves groan with volumes we'll never read again, our surfaces may be thick with ornaments and bric-abrac, attics clogged with toys, cots, college notes, Christmas trees, sporting gear. There may be drawers full of old tablecloths and pigeon holes with old receipts and letters. You have to get rid of a lot of it before you put your house on view. But how?
If you are planning a major spring clean prior to house sale and feel you will need some professional help, give yourself enough time. Many of the domestic cleaning and garden maintenance companies are booked up weeks in advance. The Society of St Vincent de Paul, which takes away unwanted furniture and bric-a-brac, needs a month's notice.
