When you start to think about putting your house up for sale, you'll take a close look at the property to determine the selling points that will work for your marketing campaign. You may paint the interior walls to freshen things up or invest in small repairs that a potential buyer would appreciate. Ultimately what you want is to get the property looking in its best possible condition without over-investing cash on it.

One of the reasons for this is coined ‘curb appeal'. This refers to the first impression a potential buyer will get off the property when they drive past or walk towards the house. A messy, unkempt yard, peeling paint or broken windows may say ‘renovator's dream' to one person, while to another it will mean your property is uncared for and will cost a lot to repair, and may delay them being able to move in. Either way, when your home looks dirty or poorly maintained, you risk losing buyers or lowering the price you can get for the home. You want to get rid of that mold, lichen, and even graffiti before you have your home photographed and put on the market. 

There’s a cost-effective and quick solution that many property owners don’t consider. It’s called pre-sale pressure water clean. High-pressure water cleaners are easy to rent or purchase. However, not all surfaces are easy (or safe) to clean unless you have the correct safety equipment. Also, you can easily cause damage (such as on your roof surface) if you don’t know how to use the item correctly. The key is to use the correct pressure for each material you’re working with. Let’s look at how a professional high-pressure water clean can turn the following features of your home into a selling point: 

Make your driveway an entrance to remember

Your driveway creates the link between your home and the outdoors. You want your potential buyer to walk unhindered to the front door without worrying about slipping on moss or vehicle oils or having to wipe their feet of grime when they get there.

The majority of driveways are made out of stone, concrete, or brick. These surfaces can easily be restored to their prime condition by cleaning them with a high-pressure water device. The other benefit? Ensuring they are kept free of moss and lichen, you will actually extend the life of the materials. What do buyers want to know? That you have maintained the driveway so they won't have to replace it down the line when it starts to fall apart.

Make your entertainment area sparkle

If you have a pool or garden, this will be a significant selling point for buyers wanting to invest in a home that offers them a pleasant lifestyle and a comfortable space to entertain friends or family. Here are key areas to give a cleanup with a high-pressure water treatment: 

• If you barbeque regularly, oils and grease can collect on brickwork leaving unsightly stains.
• A deck, although wooden, can still be cleaned with a pressure-cleaning device without affecting its integrity. Lichen and mold (and other growths that give them an aged appearance) can be removed from decks. In fact, all outdoor wooden structures can benefit from this form or cleanse, freshening them up and reducing the weathered appearance.
• The glass safety structure around your pool can become watermarked and dull. The look can be restored using a pressure cleanse.

Get rid of graffiti quickly

If you have a ‘for sale' sign outside your home, you can actually become a target for taggers. Painting over the mark may leave a telltale patch on your wall, which means you would have to repaint the entire wall to achieve a color match. Instead, you can remove the graffiti with a pressure washer.

One of the reasons it's recommended you leave pressure cleaning to a pro is that certain surfaces can be permanently damaged. The pressure of a power washer can shred aluminum window and door screens or bend the frames. It can also shatter exterior window glass, particularly in older properties. There's also the risk of the high-pressure water smearing abrasive debris across the glass, causing tiny scratches that leave it looking dull. High-pressure cleaning can dislodge stones in pathways that can even crack them. 

Then there’s paint. Used correctly, a pressure cleaner can restore walls to a fresh state without needing to repaint them. It can swiftly remove dust, cobwebs, and other residues. However, it can also shred peeling paint and remove seal coating and other topcoats designed to protect the surfaces. 

A presale pressure cleanses for your property can help you achieve a quick sale and a reasonable price. However, it's also recommended that you power wash your home annually as part of your annual maintenance work.