I'm super-stressed packing up the house and getting repairs done before escrow closes, so I doubt I'll have time to do things like clean the fridge or the oven, etc; do I need to have a maid come in before I leave, or is it just understood that when a buyer moves into a new house they will need to do a thorough cleaning?
2006-09-06 14:37:40 · 18 answers · asked by Jamie G 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
I can relate to your stress level. I sold my house last December (moved a week before Christmas, EEK!), and it was horrific. I did my best to clean the house, but I just couldn't leave it as neat as I would have liked. Do the best you can, but don't run yourself ragged. Moving is hard enough! Take care!
2006-09-06 14:42:37 · answer #1 · answered by zia269 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Most likely the buyer will do a cleaning themselves just because they want to know that it's cleaned. But if you can, try to at least wipe down the inside of the fridge and get the oven wiped out. It doesn't need to be scrubbed clean but not gross to use. If you can't do this hire a cleaning lady or a cleaning service. Think about it........ If you were to move into YOUR house (the one you are leaving) would you be grossed out? Would you be telling the neighbors how nasty it was? Could you put food in the fridge? Take a shower? Or walk barefoot around the house? Base your decision on the way you'd answer those questions.
2006-09-06 15:57:18 · answer #2 · answered by fiestyredhead 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just moved in May and I hired a maid service to clean before I even put the house on the market. It sold in 6 days at the first showing. I also had a cleaning service to finish up after the movers came, because the contract specified a "clean and move-in ready condition." I wish my new home was as clean as the last one.
2006-09-06 16:17:41 · answer #3 · answered by lynnewa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very distressing to move into a dirty house. Once the furniture is out, it's not hard to sweep the floors. Give the bathroom and the kitchen a quick clean-up as if company were coming. In the fridge, wipe up major spills and rinse out the drawers. Cleaning the oven would be low priority.
Nobody expects the place to be spotless, but leaving it dirty is going too far. Just imagine how you will feel moving to your new place... let that be your guide.
2006-09-06 15:02:45 · answer #4 · answered by MailorderMaven 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is usually anticipated that the house will be clean for the new person.
Your realtor can find somebody. When I moved a year ago, the cleaning service charged $150 for cleaning , including washing the walls which I had just finished painting.
If you wish to be especially nice and follow an old Italian tradition, leave a new broom, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine.
2006-09-06 14:46:18 · answer #5 · answered by Telcontar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If on the final walk through they do not find it clean enough, they can balk at the sale and request money during settlement to pay for a cleaning. I would just have a maid come in after you are gone and do bathrooms, oven, fridge, etc. you have enough to do with the move.
2006-09-06 14:44:49 · answer #6 · answered by Caroline H 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that according to your contract, the house is supposed to be "broom clean".
On the other hand when we bought this house the former residents never cleaned and mice had taken up residence in the kitchen cabinets and even inside the stove. I guess they never cooked either. We threw out the stove.
The upstairs bathroom was dirtier than the dirtiest bathroom at the dirtiest gas station on the way to North Carolina. I had to close my eyes to clean it so I could open my eyes to clean it.
2006-09-06 14:42:04 · answer #7 · answered by WendyD1999 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The house and everything in it should be very clean. Even if the new owners are going to clean it again themselves, it needs to be cleaned before they move in. If you cannot do it yourself, hire a cleaning service. Have a good night.
2006-09-06 14:45:05 · answer #8 · answered by Sue F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hire someone to come in and clean and give you a break. It is in bad manners to leave a place not in good shape. Even broom swept condition is better than nothing. the new buyers will clean again, but would you expect to buy something that was left filthy.
2006-09-06 17:25:15 · answer #9 · answered by damsel36 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't believe you would even consider NOT cleaning it. Moving is very stress-full, but so would be moving into your new house to find out that it was left a mess. Wouldn't you want your new house to be clean? You've gotta use common sense on this one.
2006-09-06 17:45:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clean it or hire someone to clean it. Anything else is really tacky and rude.
You can call any maid service- they will likely do a one-time clean really affordably, especially if the house is empty.
2006-09-06 14:43:51 · answer #11 · answered by emilystartsfires 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋