There’s nothing hosting like a big holiday feast to motivate you to clean your kitchen. That’s when you know you need fresh food, clean counter space, and a cut-down on clutter.
If you’re trying to rent out your house or condo, the same principles apply. To create a positive rental experience you’ve got to make the effort to impress where it’s noticed most: in the kitchen, or the heart of the home.
Read on for quick tips to a clean kitchen, and remember to apply these principles any time you plan to host an open house to lure in prospective renters.
Tip #1: Curb paper clutter
If you have mail, newspapers, magazines, takeout menus, or other paper products lying around your kitchen, gather them up and find them a new home. Recycle the items you no longer need and take the other pieces to your home office.
Your goal is to remove all non-kitchen items from the kitchen area. Even if your kitchen is spacious, having unnecessary things lying around will make it feel smaller to your prospects.
Tip #2: Stash all appliances
If you’re like most people, you probably have several kitchen appliances out on the counters. In most cases, you don’t use those appliances on a daily basis so you should find a place to store them. Consider unused cupboard space, drawer space, or a shelf in your garage.
Go for convenience here – there’s no need to box them up and stick them in the attic, but do find a spot where they’re out of eyesight.
In most cases, the two exceptions to appliances you can leave on the counter are your coffee maker and your mixer (if you have the large, standalone kind). The former is typically used on a daily basis while the latter is simply too heavy to tote around.
Tip #3: Clean that oven
The oven, in most kitchens, gets a lot of use but not a lot of attention. Take the time to clean your oven and you’re guaranteed to give off a tidy kitchen glow.
Most ovens have a self-cleaning option – if yours does, take advantage of it. If you don’t have that option on your oven, head to the store for some basic oven cleaner.
If you’re pressed for time and can’t manage the few hours it takes for a thorough cleaning, at least make the effort to wipe down the glass window of the oven. Put a little baking soda on a sponge and scrub off all grease spots. While you’re at it, wipe down the handle as well.
Tip #4: Create shelf space in the refrigerator
You want any prospective renters to feel like they’ll have enough space to make themselves at home, so take the time to create space in your refrigerator. Go through and locate any expired items then recycle the jars or containers.
It’s also a good idea to clean spots and spills off the refrigerator shelves and the front of the veggie bins. Do this by wetting a sponge with warm water.
You might also place a fresh box of baking soda in your fridge to curb any stale odors. Finish up by wiping down the doors and door handles of the refrigerator.
Tip #5: Knock out trash and dirt
Nothing stops a renter from making an offer like a dirty floor or smelly trash bin. Take care to empty the contents of your kitchen trash bin before your open house takes place (and for that matter, go ahead and empty all the other trash bins around your house).
Next sweep up dirt and debris from the floors – don’t forget the corners. Then take a moist rag or a mop and shine up the floor. Finish off by placing a soft, welcoming floor mat in front of the sink area.
