CHAPTER 12 The 8-Second Rule – Clean, P ule – Clean, Paint, and Impress Bef ess Before They Blink Let’s play a game. You walk into a house. You’ve barely crossed the threshold. You look around and— bam! —you already know: yes or no. That, my friend, is the 8-second rule of real estate. Buyers decide whether they’re interested in your home within the first 8 seconds of walking in the door. Which means if their first impression involves cobwebs, clutter, or a toilet seat from 1997… well, let’s just say they’ll be sprinting back to Zillow faster than you can say “price reduction.” So let’s make those 8 seconds count. Step 1: Channel Your Inner Neat Freak (or Hire One) There’s clean… and then there’s show-ready clean. We’re aiming for the kind of clean where buyers wonder if anyone has ever lived there. Here’s your deep-clean punch list: • Declutter like you're moving into a tiny house. • Hide personal photos (sorry, Grandma’s vacation slideshow goes in a box). • Dust places you forgot existed (top of fridge, baseboards, fan blades). • Wash walls, mirrors, windows, and every surface that reflects light. • Make the kitchen and bathrooms sparkle like a toothpaste commercial. • Eliminate odors. (Yes, even the one you’re used to.) Pro Tip: Declutter like you're being judged by a minimalist
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