How Clean Do You Need to Leave Your Newly-Sold Home?

Congratulations! You sold your home! However, while the initial high of finally selling may take a large weight off your shoulders, the arduous moving process is just around the corner.

During the recession, it wasn’t uncommon to hear horror stories regarding the condition in which many previous owners left their foreclosed homes, but if you’re selling directly to a buyer, it’s important to understand that you have a responsibility to make sure your home is clean and presentable.

Still, this notion of clean is obviously somewhat subjective; however you have some basic responsibilities that are important to follow.

LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

When selling your home, the new buyers will sign a purchasing contract which should set several stipulations regarding how the property is left. In particular, it will generally state that the home should be left in the same condition it was in when the final offer was accepted; however, the actual language used may vary from state-to-state. Most contracts will assert that the home needs to be “broom clean,” which simply means the seller needs to sweep the floor, walls, and ceiling. To determine the extent of the cleaning that you are contractually bound to perform, make a point to carefully read your contract or go over it with an experienced Realtor.

STANDARD WAYS TO LEAVE A HOME

Aside from contractual requirements, most sellers take special steps to make sure their home is left in acceptable condition for the new buyers. Still, after going through the hassle of packing and making sure everything gets moved, many sellers may not feel like putting a whole lot of effort into cleaning. To remedy this issue, instead of going through the scrubbing process yourself, you may want to consider hiring a professional housekeeping company who can tackle the dirty work for you.

FOSTER A BIT OF GOODWILL

Regardless of a seller’s efforts, it’s only natural that most buyers will wind up cleaning their new home a second time. However, for sellers who are looking to be extra considerate, the following is a list of things that can be done to make sure the home is reasonably clean:

Inside the Home

• Remove all personal items
• Clean the inside and outside of all kitchen appliances (i.e. refrigerator, oven, microwave) and wipe down the counters
• Vacuum the floors
• Clean/dust any blinds that may be staying in the home
• Scour all sinks and tubs
• Wash all vinyl and linoleum flooring, as well as hardwoods and tile

Outside the Home

• Remove all personal belongings
• Throw away trash
• Clean up after pets
• Properly dispose of toxic chemicals in the garage
• Organize items in the garage that may pertain to the home—i.e. roofing materials, extra flooring, and cans of paint
• Sweep the garage

CONCLUSION

As the adage goes, “Treat people as you would like to be treated,” or in the case of selling your house, “Leave it in the condition that you would like to find your new home.” While it may be tempting to do the bare minimum under the assumption that you’ll never see the new owners again, keep in mind that they may receive some of your mail by mistake or a few packages over the holidays. Should you need something, you don’t want to discover that you’ve burned your bridges—plus, making sure things are neat and tidy is simply the right thing to do.

If you have any questions about the closing process or your contractual obligations, or you would simply like the referral of a great cleaning company, I’m always here to help. Please call me.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate| www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551