If you’re getting ready to sell your home, you have a lot to think about, and working with a trusted company like Attic Projects can help ensure no important details are overlooked. Before you can put your house up for sale, you’ll need to find a real estate agent, declutter living areas, and repaint your walls (among many other steps).
That means it can be easy to forget about attic cleaning while going through this process. Still, attic cleaning matters more than you might think – so here’s what you need to know about getting your attic ready for would-be buyers.
Should You Stage Your Attic While Selling Your Home?
When you’re planning to sell your home, you’ll want to put some thought into staging. This process aims to make your house as appealing as possible, a goal you can achieve by taking steps such as rearranging furniture and redecorating.
According to a National Association of REALTORS survey, the most commonly staged rooms are:
- Living rooms (91%)
- Primary bedrooms (83%)
- Dining rooms (69%)
These spaces are where buyers will spend most of their time in a new home, so it makes sense to show them at their best. That also means staging your attic shouldn’t be your highest priority.
On the other hand, it’s not a bad idea to do some basic attic staging work if you have the time and money to spare. You could set this space up to look like a bedroom, office, or reading nook, letting buyers know they don’t have to use this space for storage.
How Cleaning Your Attic Can Help You Sell
Though attic staging can be helpful while selling your home, it isn’t truly necessary. But attic staging is different from attic cleaning, and you’ll definitely want to take care of the latter task before buyers visit.
An attic that’s cluttered or dirty could actively turn buyers away, making it that much harder to sell your home. If you plan on cleaning your attic by yourself, make sure to:
Stay safe while cleaning. Attics can be full of unexpected hazards. Stocking up on personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves, knee pads, and goggles can help you deal with these risks.
Get the right supplies. In addition to PPE, make sure you have a full selection of cleaning supplies and tools before you start working in your attic. That should include trash bags, brooms, and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
Control your dust exposure. The National Center for Healthy Housing has stated that indoor dust exposure can trigger respiratory problems, asthma, and allergic reactions. By misting dusty surfaces with a spray bottle and wearing a dust mask, you can reduce your exposure to dust during attic cleaning work.
Clean spaces in order. To get the best results while cleaning your attic, begin by cleaning areas that are easy to reach. When that’s done, you can start tackling harder-to-access spaces.
Increase Your Property Value By Solving Attic Problems
Dust and clutter aren’t the only problems your attic might be suffering from. Some attic issues that can negatively affect your home’s property value include:
Mold
Attics are uniquely prone to high humidity levels and other moisture issues. Between that and the fact that many homeowners rarely visit their attics, it’s all too easy for mold to begin growing there.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of mold exposure include stuffy noses and skin rashes. On top of that, mold growth can reduce the amount of money you can get for your home, making this an even higher priority when you’re trying to sell.
Water Damage
Roof leaks and plumbing problems can easily contribute to mold in your attic. But the consequences of water damage don’t stop there – this can also cause “rings” on your attic ceiling/walls, among other problems.
These signs of water damage may raise concerns about bigger issues (including, but not limited to, mold growth) among otherwise-interested buyers. That means even minor water damage can have a surprisingly big effect on your home’s sale price if you don’t deal with it right away.
Pest Problems
When rodents start living in your attic, there’s a good chance that they’ll shred insulation and chew on electrical wiring and wooden beams. The CDC has also said rodents carry diseases like salmonellosis, tularemia, and Lassa fever.
Ongoing pest problems could also bring potential sales to a halt or force you to sell your home for less than it would normally be worth. Because of this, it’s best to take rodent removal seriously before you start trying to sell your house.
When Should You Get Help With Attic Cleaning?
Many homeowners think of attic cleaning as a DIY job – and if your attic isn’t in terrible shape, you might be able to handle this task on your own. However, hiring a professional cleaning company might be worth it if:
Your attic has developed major problems. Mold growth and rodent infestations can be tough to deal with if you don’t know what you’re doing. Working with the pros will give you the best possible results while protecting you from health risks.
It’s been a while since you last cleaned your attic. Has it been years since you took care of attic cleaning? If so, it’s probably a good idea to get help with this situation.
You’re feeling overwhelmed. Staging your home can be a difficult, time-consuming process. Even if you’d normally be up to the task of cleaning your attic, hiring a team of experts could make your life that much easier in this situation.
FAQs About Attic Cleaning When Selling Your Home
How long does attic cleaning usually take before listing a home?
The timeline can vary quite a bit depending on the size of your attic and its condition. A relatively clean attic might only take a few hours, while a heavily cluttered or damaged space could take a full day or more. If you’re working with a tight listing schedule, it’s smart to plan this step early so it doesn’t delay your go-to-market date.
Do home inspectors check the attic during a sale?
Yes, in most cases the attic is part of a standard home inspection. Inspectors often look for insulation quality, ventilation, signs of leaks and structural concerns. A clean, accessible attic makes this process smoother and can help prevent red flags that might otherwise slow down negotiations.
Can attic improvements help my home sell faster, not just for more money?
They can. Buyers tend to respond better to homes that feel well-maintained, even in areas they don’t spend much time in. When an attic looks cared for, it reinforces the idea that the rest of the home has been properly maintained too which can build confidence and lead to quicker offers.
Let Us Take Care of Your Attic
Whether or not you plan to stage your attic while selling your home, attic cleaning is a non-negotiable part of this process. By finding attic cleaners you can count on, you won’t have to spend time and energy cleaning your own attic.
When you hire the crew at Attic Projects, you’ll get top-notch attic cleaning at prices that are easy to afford. Our workers also have the skills, knowledge, and equipment they need to deal with issues like mold growth and pest problems. If you’re getting your home ready for potential buyers, call us today!