Cleaning tips to maintain and grow your property’s value

There is little doubt that a clean and neat house sells faster and achieves a better price. According to agents from the Seeff Property Group, regular cleaning and maintenance can ensure your property retains and grows in value.

Start with the most-used areas, such as the kitchen. Ensure you scrub the kitchen cupboards thoroughly at least every quarter. Clean the stove and the cooking areas weekly to avoid grime build-up. Clean the extractor and replace the filter every six to 12 months, depending on the make.

Clean tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms monthly, and touch up the grouting when needed, especially if it is a white or light colour. Sanitaryware should be kept clean. Clean and shine the taps to prevent tarnishing.

Every six months, scrub bedroom wardrobes and any other cabinetry, such as in a study, to remove stains and dirt. Consider putting fresheners in the wardrobes, especially those used for storage and linen.

Steam-clean carpets at least once annually to remove all stains. Replace carpets every five to 15 years, depending on their quality. To retain the value of wooden floors, clean and maintain them as the installer prescribed.

Steam-clean tiled floors at least annually, with attention to the grouting, which should be touched up occasionally to ensure it retains its appearance and does not distract from the floor. Replace broken tiles, taps, hinges and handles as soon as needed.

Service air-conditioners annually (or more often, depending on the make). If you have a fireplace or built-in braai, clean it thoroughly at least monthly and paint or refurbish it as needed.

Clean and treat areas where you see mould as soon as possible. The same applies to cracks. If you find any structural cracks or issues, call in an expert immediately and get it repaired to avoid further damage.

Always invest in the best-quality paint you can afford and ensure it is washable. Paint the interior of your home every three to five years, depending on the paint’s quality.

Paint the exterior every five to 10 years. Maintain boundary walls and repair and paint cracks every few years. Check that gates are in good working order, especially gate and garage door motors.

Replace broken roof tiles. If there are leaks or cracks, repair them as soon as possible. If you have wooden windows and exterior doors, sand, treat and seal them regularly. Older homes or those in wooded areas might need annual fumigation.

Clean and maintain the swimming pool weekly. Replace the sand every three years. Most pools need resurfacing every eight to 10 years to keep them well-maintained. Also, ensure the coping around the pool is maintained and repair any cracks.