Did you know that, in 2018, over 5 million existing homes were sold in the United States? That’s a lot of people finding and buying their dream homes, to say the least. If you’re getting ready to sell your home, you’re most likely already doing research on what you need to do to sell your home fast and for the most money. Well, what if we told you that power washing your home’s exterior could help you do just that?
The benefits to pressure washing your home, especially before listing it for sale, are numerous. On top of improving your home’s curb appeal, you’ll be checking a few other boxes that potential buyers care about, too. But is it really worth the time and money to power wash your home before selling it? And will you really sell your home faster, and make more money, if you clean up the exterior first?
If you’re asking yourself these kinds of questions, wonder no longer, because we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll tell you why power washing your house before listing it for sale can help you get it sold faster… and for more money!
Bring Your Vinyl Siding Back to Life
If you have vinyl siding anywhere on your home, odds are you’ve noticed it’s accumulated quite a bit of dirt and grime over the years. That’s pretty normal, and easy to fix, thanks to power washing. And although vinyl siding may show dirt and mold more than other building materials, it’s actually one of the easiest types of homes to clean, which is great news because you won’t have to spend as much time to get the result you’re looking for. In just a few short hours, you can bring your vinyl siding back to life and make your home look as good as it did the first time you saw it. And what better time to get the job done than right before selling it?
Make Your Home Look Good as New
Sure, vinyl homes may need to be power washed a bit more than homes constructed with different building materials. But even if you don’t have a vinyl home, that doesn’t mean you should skip out on power washing before listing it for sale. In fact, regardless of the material your home is made of, you should consider having it power washed before even taking photos for the listing because making a good first impression on a potential buyer is of the utmost importance. Your brick or stucco home will look as good as new once you have it power washed. And again, this works for any kind of home, regardless of the building material. A pro tip? Check your pressure washers manual before you get started to make sure you’re using the right settings and cleaners for your home. Because the last thing you want is to damage your home and have to spend money on repairs right before you put it on the market to sell.
Clean Up Your Home for Picture Day
Most people are finding and buying homes via the internet nowadays. This is super convenient for the buyer but puts a bit more stress on you, the seller, because you have to rely on pictures to sell your home for you. This means that now more than ever, your listing photos play a crucial role in the sale of your home. So, before you schedule picture day for the listing, make sure that you’ve had it pressure washed, along with taking care of any other details that make your home look its best online. This will make your home stand out amongst other homes in your price range, which can help you get to moving day that much faster. Don’t just stop with your home itself, either. Take care of any dirty sidewalks or driveways, so the entire area surrounding your home looks as picturesque as possible. And if you have a shed or small building in your backyard, don’t forget to give it a rinse, too.
Make Your Home Allergy-Friendly
Did you know that any mold buildup on the outside of your house can negatively affect the people living on the inside? That’s right, mold doesn’t have to be inside of your home to cause allergic reactions or illness to you and your family members. This is all the more reason to have your home cleaned via power washing, so you and the people you love can stay happy and healthy during the selling process. Sure, you’re selling the home, and won’t be around much longer to enjoy the benefits of a clean exterior. But, you may notice an improvement in your allergies before you leave, which can be nice during such a stressful period in your life. On top of that, you’ll have a clean-feeling home when potential buyers visit, which will only make it feel that much more inviting!
Increase Your Home’s Value
Every homeowner selling their home right now wants to make the most money possible during the sale. This often leads people to spend a bit of cash up-front to make their home more appealing, with the hopes of getting that money back post-sale. Well, power washing your home can increase its overall value, allowing you to make more money when you finally close on a deal. And the best part is, power washing your home is much cheaper than painting the exterior. This means you can make even more money because you’re spending less in preparation to sell.
Sell Your Home Even Faster
Besides making the most money, homeowners also want to sell their home as quickly as possible. Oftentimes, sellers already have a new home lined up, meaning they need to get their current home off of their hands as quickly as possible. A multitude of things go into helping you achieve that goal, but few are more important than curb appeal. The exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see, so taking care of your landscaping, and maintaining it during the showing stages, is important. But once you’ve trimmed all those overgrown bushes in front of your home, give it a good power wash, so the house itself looks as good as the landscaping. Potential buyers will pull up to your home and be wowed with how warm and inviting it is. If your home is well taken care of on the outside, you can spark buyers’ interest without ever opening your front door.
Speed up the Inspection Process
Once you have a contract pending on your home, the process of finally selling it has really only just begun. Up next comes a few different steps, including the inspection process, which can be a real pain for you, the seller. But what if we told you having a clean exterior could lead to your inspections going quicker and more smoothly? Believe it or not, when inspectors see that your home is clean and in good shape, they’re going to lower their guard and not dig as deep for issues. This also helps them see that the home is in good shape, with no major issues to the exterior, which is obviously what you want as the seller. By simply power washing your home, you can speed up the inspection process and sell your home even faster.
Power Washing a House Before a Sale
Well, there you have it! Those are just a few of the benefits to power washing a house before you list it for sale! As you can see, it’s a great idea to clean up the exterior of your home before trying to sell it, especially if you want to move out fast and make the most money. As we stated earlier, curb appeal is very much a real thing and something you as the seller shouldn’t overlook, as it plays a large role in the selling of a home. And combined with landscaping, power washing can help you do just that. Also, you’ll be knocking out potential allergens, which is beneficial to both you and the buyers. And on top of that, you’ll be increasing your home’s value, and helping to sell it faster, which is what every homeowner wants during a sale.
