Before getting your home ready for selling, always consult a REALTOR®. Each property is different and the following story should be used as a guideline to get you ready for prepping your property. For a list of Michigan REALTORS® click here To contact a local association for a list of local REALTORS®, please click here For more about why to use a REALTOR® to sell your next home, click here

Moving? Follow these cleaning tips

By Dan Ross

Just like packing, there's a method to cleaning up your old place: Materials Needed: paper towels galore and/or cleaning rags, old toothbrush, scrubbing brush, sponges with one side that scrubs, rubber gloves, broom/dustpan, mop, vacuum cleaner, bleach, bathroom cleaner, carpet cleaner, glass cleaner, tile floor cleaner, a couple of boxes marked "DO NOT MOVE" (I'll explain later), a small jam box (optional but HIGHLY recommended). Click here to print out the entire "Stuff you'll need to move" grocery list.

A few cleaning tips

Make sure you have everything on in the materials list. Put all of the cleaning stuff into the boxes. Why should you mark them "DO NOT MOVE"? When I moved this weekend, I tackled the bathroom tiles while my friends took a load of boxes to my new place. Not knowing any better, a friend of mine took the cleaning supply box with him and for the next two hours I had nothing but a scrubbing brush, some rubber gloves and some store brand tile cleaner. In case you're wondering, you cannot dust with a scrubbing brush nor clean glass with tile cleaner.

Start in one room and don't leave until it's spotless. If you pick up bits and pieces all over the house, you won't feel like you've accomplished much.

Don't clean the floors, toilets or bathroom sinks until right before you're leaving. If you do, you'll just have to do it all over again.

Clean from top to bottom. If you don't, you'll be cleaning some spots twice.

Don't blister your knuckles trying to make the carpet shine. Remember, you're responsible for coffee and pet stains, etc... but landlords will understand normal wear and tear. If you're really worried about any stains you've made, consider renting a carpet cleaning system from your local grocery store (usually around $20.00 per day). If you smoke or have stinky pets, you can get rid of some of the smell by sprinkling baking soda on top of the carpet, letting it sit for about 15 minutes and then vacuuming it up. ***Do this BEFORE you dust!!!***
Your new place should already be clean... but you may want to go over a few areas again:

• The insides of cabinets
  Chances are, the management had pest control come in and spray after the previous tenant left. While most pest control companies boast that their products are completely human friendly... I wouldn't take the chance. Take a warm, wet rag and clean the insides of drawers and cabinets to get rid of any possible residue. Once you've done this, you may want to line the cabinets/drawers with contact paper.
• Bathrooms
  You really don't know anything about the people who lived there before you. Use bleach cleaners to disinfect everything.
• Refrigerator/microwave
  As long as you're in a heavy duty cleaning mode, you may as well go over these areas again.

Since 1989 Dan the roommate man has helped 1000's of people find rooms, apartments or roommates. Need help? Contact him at 800-487-8050 or http://www.roommateexpress.com.