The art of housekeeping

Discover how one family increased their home’s market value by over $100,000 in two months.

A fresh coat of paint places the perfect final touch on any deep-cleaning and de-cluttering project. Light colors can also help a space appear brighter and bigger—big benefits in new home listings.

For many families, a home wears its marks of love proudly. Shoes by the door. Childrens’ and pets’ toys scattered about. Pantries and refrigerators brimming with snacks. Remote controls commandeering prime coffee table real estate.

Scenes like these take place all over South Florida, including inside the home of one current True Floridian Realty client who invited her realtor over in late 2021 for a brainstorming session.

Three human and five fur children

The client loved her home, but after 15 years in the same .25-acre location, and with eight living, breathing additions to the family, she was ready to move on.

She knew that her home, a 4-bedroom, 3-bath ranch, would sell quickly. She had only one opportunity to get the absolute best offer possible.

At the time, based on comparable sales, the market value of her property was approximately $700,000. She was hoping for more.

So, last year she and her realtor took a second walk through her humble abode, this time with a buyer’s eye. Everything was on the table—from the kitchen to the bath, from decor to paint colors.

What a difference two months make

“We pulled together an ambitious yet reasonable plan. My client has excellent taste, so I had no doubt she could accomplish our goals. But wow—today the house looks like it is straight out of a magazine. I’m extremely impressed,” said Realtor Noelle K. McIntyre.

Over the course of eight weeks, the client, her husband and children upgraded the kitchen, and cleaned and decluttered the entire home. They added fresh, neutral-colored paint throughout, which helped to update and transform their space.

According to the client, the process was emotional and rewarding. She said that in the end, the home finally looked the way she had always hoped it would. After all of their years of living and loving in it, she said, “It was picture perfect.”

She listed the home in January at $849,000 and received multiple offers. She closed this month.

Cleaning is an art form

While not every client has the budget for a remodel, smaller strategic improvements can be just as meaningful.

Deep-cleaning and decluttering a home can add more than $4,000 to its resale value, according to a 2019 report by HomeLight. A tidy home can make spaces appear larger and houses seem more efficient—both benefits that can help a potential buyer imagine living there.

So, although most people have a love or hate relationship with cleaning, it’s important to remember it is an art. And art has value.