How To Clean Your Home’s Outdoor Area To Increase Its Value

Published On: March 13, 20200 Comments on How To Clean Your Home’s Outdoor Area To Increase Its ValueTags: , Last Updated: February 11, 20244.2 min read

People are advised to clean their houses not just for aesthetic purposes, but also to minimize health hazards. After all, all sorts of germs and bacteria are attracted to any unkempt corner of the house. See, a house’s cleanliness isn’t just for presentation’s sake. Even if you can live with all the dirt and mess, and you can personally say that you haven’t had any health problems due to it, that certainly won’t fly if you’re planning to eventually sell your house.

man washing home's extarior

You’ll need to perform a deep cleaning if you wish to get the best bargain possible.

Keeping Your Outdoors Spotless

You can increase your home’s value by improving your curb appeal. Now you’re probably thinking that you have to mow the lawn, add some plants, pull the weeds, and prune the hedges. However, it also includes thoroughly cleaning your home’s outside area, driveway, and even the sidewalks. Ultimately, beautification and cleanliness should go hand in hand if you want to boost your home’s selling power. If you’re ready to take on the monumental task of cleaning your home’s exteriors from top to bottom, the following sections will help you come up with your own strategy.

Honestly Assess How Dirty Your Exteriors Really Are

Before you go to the home improvement depot to buy the most hi-tech cleaning tools that you can find, you must first assess the dirt levels of your exteriors. After all, your house may not be dirty enough for advanced tools. For instance, a light layer of dirt can already be cleaned through gentle scrubbing, with the help of a garden hose. Although it may be tempting to get the pressure washer right away, it’s best reserved for scenarios in which you’re dealing with serious, years-long grime.

Using A Garden Hose

Houses that are made of delicate wood shingles, stucco, or brick are best cleaned using scrubs, cleaning solutions, and a garden hose. You can even buy specialized nozzles and cleanser reservoirs so you can properly clean areas that have stickier dirt. Typically, spraying water alone should be enough if your house is only mildly soiled. Otherwise, make use of the cleanser reservoir to remove the dirt more easily. Make sure that you work your way from top to bottom, and aim the hose at a downward angle.

women cleaning window

Using A Pressure Washer

The pressure washer is a great tool if you’re dealing with dirt and grime that have already made themselves at home for as long as you have been there. However, a pressure washer is very much like a power tool that can pose risks in the hands of a total beginner. In fact, its pressure is so strong that it can break windows if you’re not careful. Make sure that you choose the right nozzle for your home’s needs. Nozzles typically come in degrees, from 45-degrees all the way to 0-degrees. 0-degrees has the strongest spray and its water will be concentrated only within narrow areas.

Should you decide to get a pressure washer, make sure that you always spray downwards and keep the hose moving from side to side. Don’t aim it too long on one area as it might get destroyed. Also consider the material that you’re using it on, as not all materials will be able to withstand it. It’s also recommended to test it on a small area first before proceeding to wash the whole house. Move on to other areas only when you can confirm that there’s no damage.

If All Else Fails, Hire Professional Cleaners

If you’re not confident in your ability to carry out this task, you can always hire professional house cleaners like Propel Pressure Cleaning to do the job for you. They have a complete set of equipment that can reach even the most seemingly unreachable areas. And, even if you have the initiative to do this on your own, sometimes your tools have limits, and it’s certainly not worth it to buy upgraded versions. In this case, it’s best to leave it in the hands of professionals.

A Clean Exterior Is Just As Important As A Presentable Interior

When you’re spending most of your time “at home”, it’s easy to forget that the exteriors are also a part of it. Oftentimes, it tends to be forgotten until it becomes undeniably dirty. While it may not hurt to ignore all the dirt, it certainly matters if you plan to sell the house. Hence, if you want potential buyers to see the true value of your home, make sure that you turn your exteriors into something that can positively catch their attention at first glance. If you’ve maintained your home quite well throughout the years, a thorough cleanup can be all it takes to make it look new again.

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