The bathroom has to be one of the least glamorous rooms in a house; But the potential impact it can have on a potential buyer’s purchase decision can be enormous.

In response to a recent study in which buyers were asked what cleanliness conveys to them when searching for a potential new home, their response: “The kitchen sink, laundry room and bathrooms.”

You’ll notice a recurring theme throughout these tips: CLEAN! And I don’t mean cleaning surfaces once a week … I’m talking DETAILED CLEANING.

So arm yourself with the following list of supplies and products and follow me to the bathroom:

– Gloves
– Sponges (I use three different ones: one for the sinks and surfaces; one for the toilets; and one for the bathtub / shower
– Scrub brush
– an old toothbrush (great for corners, baseboards, around the base of the toilet and grout)
– Paper towels
– Bathroom cleaner (preferably one with bleach; a disinfectant – I like Soft Scrub)
– Window cleaner (eg Windex)
– Clorox Bleach pen (great for cleaning grout)
– Zap Cleaner and Restorer (removes rust, iron stains, calcium deposits, hard water stains, limescale, soap scum, mold and mildew, and embedded dirt on porcelain, fiberglass, tile and grout)
– Easy Off – BAM (for shower doors). Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to help with difficult areas.
– Gonzo Odor Eliminator (Absorbs smoke odors, removes musty odors caused by mold and mildew, and also helps with pet odors! All-natural, odorless, non-toxic volcanic crystals are safe for the environment for pets).

CLEANSED:

– Floors
– Walls
– Roofs (knock down any cobweb of cobs)
– Doors (both sides) Exhaust vents
– Bathtub (be sure to run the jets in the bathtub to make sure there are no surprises)
– Shower (clean grout)
– Shower doors
– sinks
– Faucets
– toilets
– Dresser drawers and cabinets (inside and out)
– Mirrors
– Windows (inside and out)
– Screens
– Window treatments (consider removing completely; or washing and ironing before reattaching)
– Shelves / Built-in
– Linen cabinets (inside and out)

THE BATHROOM:

Complete pending projects (improvement projects).

Wallpaper? Take it off! Why? Wallpaper is considered a custom decoration option; and it will rarely be the Buyer’s choice.

Patch all holes and cracks on the walls.

Paint the walls a neutral color. Avoid white for the walls. Instead, choose a soft (universal) color.

Touch up any wood trim. Trim, ceilings, and doors must be white. It is preferable to use the same trim color throughout the house.

Wash all windows (inside and out, as applicable).

Replace outdated light fixtures.

Replace pitted or misted faucets.

Consider replacing hardware in cabinets for an inexpensive (but effective) way to update the look of a bathroom.

Re-caulk as necessary.

Remove all cleaning supplies from sight. If the next best place for them is under the dresser (place them in a container CAREFULLY).

Dressers should be neat and organized – no clutter.

Linen Closets Must Be Tidy – Make sure the contents are appropriate for what should be in a linen closet. APPROPRIATE: Bath linen (towels, cloths); Bedding (sheets, pillowcases); Soap bar. INAPPROPRIATE: Clothing; Food; Craft supplies.

Put away all wastebaskets (place them under the dresser, if possible). When the house is shown, the bins should be emptied of all debris and lined with trash bags that “fit” the size of the bin.

Delete family or personal photos.

Put away all toilet brushes and plungers.

Remove all toilet and tank lids and remove all carpets.

Remove items normally found on the floor (for example, scales, baskets).

No personal items should be in sight. These items should be collected and placed in a basket that easily fits under the sink (inside the vanity).

If you have a “Children’s Bathroom”, I highly recommend that you change it to an “Adult Bathroom”. Themed rooms are a turnoff for shoppers.

Shower curtains should be fabric (preferably white). No “busy” patterns. I have seen that some stripe patterns work very well.

Place a full roll of toilet paper on the holder.

If there are candles in the bathroom, then they must be new candles (not candles that have previously burned out).

Put a new soap pump in each sink.

Place fresh, clean towels on each towel rack. Rule of thumb: If the walls are white, the towels should be one color. If the walls have a color or a pattern, the towels should always be white. My preference: whites.

Add a touch of green to the room (for example, potted ivy).

Place all toilet seats in the “down” position.

SUPPORTS FOR BATHROOM SCENARIOS:

– Plush thirst towels
– Vegetation (bamboo, ivy and palm trees are some to consider)
– Oily / Reeds
– Art / Framed Prints
– Soap’s bubbles
– Fresh pillar candles (varying in height)
– Fabric shower curtains
– Roll of toilet paper
– Polished river stones
– Sea shells
– Wicker baskets (for functionality as well as staging purposes)

EXAMPLE: A clean, neat and organized bathroom will create a “spa-like” experience for the Buyer.