3 Exterior Surfaces to Clean Before Selling your Home

Guest Blogger #509, Entry #1159, May 8, 2012

Even before a potential buyer enters your home, they will size up the property by the exterior. If your home had a shoddy exterior, you will automatically lose market values. If you have neglected the maintenance of your home, or are just looking to attract more buyers, you should look into pressure washing your home exterior. This is also useful if you are looking to do some home renovations.

Clean, pressure wash, or stain your deck before selling your home

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Deck Stains

The deck is one part of your home that is always exposed to the weather, and also takes the brunt of damage. The deck is often made of wood for aesthetic purposes, but this also means that the deck is easily damaged. Over time, the wood will splinter when it dries after being wet. The sun will bleach the wood, and dirt will accumulate in the cracks. The result will be a deck that seems to be made from parts salvaged from a shipwreck, minus the barnacles.

The deck should be washed with a pressure washer to remove the debris, then polished and painted over. This will give your home an instant makeover, as the deck can be one of the most attractive features of the home.

The Driveway and Garage

Nothing ages your home more than a dirty driveway and garage. The driveway asphalt can be notoriously difficult to clean, and often the only way to do so is by pressure washing. The dirt and grease from your car can’t be removed by hosing down the driveway. Remove all grease by using a chemical degreaser, and proceed to pressure wash. You will be surprised to see the real color of the driveway come through. When a buyer enters, they will be greeted by a fresh driveway, making the home seem brighter and newer.

Ensure your driveway and garage are clean and welcoming

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The Roof and Wall

Moss often grows abundantly on roofs, and birds will also deposit droppings there. When a buyer arrives at your house, they will size up the house and the roof can play a major role in their first impression. Seeing an old roof will make the buyer think your home is in a state of disrepair. A clean roof will enhance your architecture, and make your home stand out.

If you also want to get the walls cleaned, having the front of your home cleaned is much more important than getting the boundary walls cleaned. The walls surrounding your property are not as prominent to a prospective buyer as the architecture of the home itself, and this includes the walls of the home.

Pressure washing is the easiest way to clean the exterior of your home, as a jet of water is able to dislodge the accumulated dirt and grease. However, you can also opt to use chemical cleaners and scrub down the areas, but this will not give you the same results and will be much more of a hassle. Of course, you can go ahead and get the entire exterior of the home cleaned, but the above mentioned are often the most noticeable. Opting for a light coat of paint on walls and wood will freshen up the surface and help to protect it.

Francis Lamb runs a small home maintenance company that helps to improve homes for sale. She previously worked for a firm dealing with pressure washing in San Francisco, and plans to start her own San Jose pressure washer service as an extension of her business.

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