6 Important Exterior Surfaces to Clean Before You Sell
Six important exterior surfaces to help your listing stand out!
#1. Washing The House
Before you go inside you have to show off the outside. Unsightly mold and algae go a long way when it comes to listing real estate. Additionally, if left untouched mold and algae can damage surfaces in time. Clean it with a soft wash.
You might be tempted to take a pressure washer to it yourself, but beware, this job is not as straightforward as it seems. You must use a soft wash method to correctly get rid of the dirt. Use too high pressure and you can cause leakage under windows and blow out seals. It’s best to trust a professional with this task.
#2. Washing Walkways and Drives
While a lot of times walkways can go unnoticed, when exterior surfaces are freshly pressure washed, people will take notice. It can give the appearance of freshly poured paving! Potential buyers will be walking the paths and taking in all the fine details. While probably not a deal breaker, dingy paths can really take away from all that beautiful landscaping you worked so hard on.
Take into consideration, when viewing from the curb, your driveway will probably be the most visible surface next to your house. Not having it pressure washed, especially when it has oil stains, is a severe mistake. Pressure washing this surface will give your property the “like-new” look and advantage.
#3. Patios and Decks
Housing buyers in today’s market are looking for properties with potential for outdoor activities. Over the last 2 years, many of us have had to entertain outdoors, but that activity isn’t going away. The want to be outdoors has been trending this year, as we are already seeing an upward demand for deck building and patio pavers! Pressure washing these hang-out areas could be more crucial for health priorities, as mold and algae growth are not good to breathe in or be around.
#4. Fencing
You might think your faded fence has already seen its best days. Potential buyers will think the same thing. Fear not! Unless it’s damaged, it can look new once more! Pressure washing takes years of wear and tear off to reveal like-new wood! Top it all off with stain and seal to impress all dog-owners that need a fenced-in yard. Note also that this route is far less expensive than installing a brand-new fence.
#5. Stonework
If you are lucky enough to have an old stone wall or special paver stone sculptures adorning your property, get these treasures pressure washed! It’s sometimes the little charming details that set your property apart from others on the market today.
Be wary, just like the house, these surfaces will be a lot trickier to address than they would seem. The pressure you use on an old rock wall or statue will depend on its age, material, exposure to the elements, and fragility. Having a professional handle this one is probably best.
#6. Roofing
It might not be totally obvious at first, but start looking at rooftops. You’ll take instant notice of those crazy dark streaks. While it is probably just algae, the appearance is enough to make potential buyers run. Roof issues can be a huge deal breaker when it comes to selling property. You’ll need a low-pressure process that gently applies a cleaning formula to properly remove algae spores.