You’ve decided to rent out your Nevada City, Grass Valley or Auburn CA house and have everything all squared away except the cleaning. Your first thought is that you can just do it yourself to save money. It can’t be that hard, can it? Just run the vacuum, mop the floors and wipe down the kitchen counters. It won’t take more than an hour, right? WRONG!
You’d be surprised at how often our investment property owners ask if they can clean a rental home themselves before it gets listed for rent. The answer I usually give is, “Sure, as long as you do the same quality job a professional would do.”
Here’s the thing: you may think that you’re doing yourself a favor by saving money to clean the house yourself, but you’re really not. If you don’t do a thorough job, you leave yourself open to having the tenant return it in the same condition or slightly worse. And then the next tenant will turn it over in slightly worse condition and so on.
If you’re not going to hire a professional, be sure you’re prepared to get dirty during the cleaning process. Here’s a list of the top 10 most commonly overlooked areas during a house cleaning.
1. Windows – They often provide the best views of the house, but can be easily overlooked. Be sure to have the windows professionally cleaned inside and out to avoid any unsightly streaks.
2. Appliances – We often find YEARS of dust caked on the top of the refrigerator and old food trapped inside the little grooves on the inside. Washers, dryers and dishwashers are also often overlooked. We’ve seen mold, broken glass, trash, and things we can’t even identify! ALL appliances should be wiped down from top to bottom and a full cycle should be run (where applicable) to ensure they work.
3. Ceiling Fans – Same as above; just because you can’t see what’s on top, doesn’t mean it’s clean! Fan blades are often loaded with dust. Get a Swiffer and get to cleaning those blades!
4. Shower Door Tracks – These tracks are a breeding ground for gunk buildup and mildew. If left uncleaned they can really gum up the tracks and cause the rolling door not to work properly.
5. Baseboards – These simple decorative pieces often go unnoticed, but when you get up close you can definitely tell if they haven’t been tended to. They are notorious for collecting dust, pet hair and other debris that gets whisked around the room.
It’s always best to leave the nitty gritty to the professionals to ensure nothing is left untouched. Whether you tackle the job yourself or hire a professional, be sure these spots get added to the list! If you need some references on quality cleaners we are happy to help! We want your Grass Valley, Nevada City or Auburn rental property to SHINE!
Written by Jessica Ornelas | Realtor/Property Manager | DRE# 02042367
Edited by Barrett Property Management Inc
