Tips – Spring-clean your home

Maintaining a property is a constant responsibility that every homeowner must manage to preserve their home’s resale value. Some maintenance tasks require daily or weekly attention, while the owner can add others to the annual spring-cleaning routine.

“Regular cleaning is the foundation of preserving a home’s value. It is the simple, consistent care that ensures your investment shines when it is time to sell,” says Adrian Goslett, the regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Maintaining certain key features at least once annually to safeguard a home’s investment value is advisable, while other aspects within the home will require more regular ongoing care. To help homeowners about to embark on their annual spring-cleaning, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares a few cleaning tips.

• Declutter first: Before deep cleaning, start by decluttering each room, and donate or discard items you no longer use or need. Keeping a home clutter-free is a great way to keep it market-ready if the need to sell suddenly arises.

• Work top to bottom: Begin cleaning from the ceiling down. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and shelves before moving to lower surfaces like countertops and floors. This way, the dust and debris fall on areas you will clean later. Sometimes, dusting ceilings and walls is not enough. In these scenarios, it might be time to add a fresh coat of paint.

• Deep clean the carpets and rugs: Your annual spring-clean can be a great reminder to deep clean carpets and rugs. Consider renting a carpet cleaner or hiring professionals to remove the built-up dirt and stains.

• Wash the windows and curtains: Clean the windows inside and out and, while doing so, check for damaged frames. Do not forget to wash the curtains and blinds to remove any dust and allergens.

• Kitchen cleanout: Empty the fridge and pantry, toss the expired items and wipe down all shelves. Deep clean your oven and stovetop, and run a cleaning cycle on your dishwasher and washing machine.

• Clean and check safety devices: Test and replace batteries in any alarm systems and/or sensors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other safety devices to ensure they function correctly. Regularly dusting the alarm sensors helps ensure they are in peak condition.

“Spring-cleaning is more than just a seasonal chore. It’s an opportunity to refresh and maintain your home. Tackling the deep cleaning tasks often overlooked during the rest of the year will help ensure your home is ready for the warmer months ahead. Beyond this, a clean and well-maintained home enhances your daily comfort and protects your investment in the long run,” Goslett concludes.