We Sold Our Home - How Clean Do We Need to Leave It?

Congratulations! You sold your home! However, while you’re on the upside of the emotions which go along with the closing procedures, the arduous moving process may still loom over your head.

While we’ve all heard stories of buyers who purchase bank-owned homes, only to find them devoid of appliances and filled with dirt and mold, homes that are passed from one buyer to another are a different story. Whether your home is a short sale or has been handled in a regular manner, sellers still have a responsibility to make sure the home is clean.

Now, you may be wondering how clean, so it’s important to understand what is expected.

LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Generally speaking, the home’s purchase contract should stipulate that the property needs to be left in the same condition it was when the offer was accepted, but 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; however, 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 the contractual requirements, most sellers take special steps to make sure that the house is left in acceptable condition for the new buyers, but 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. Therefore, instead of going through the scrubbing process yourself, hiring a professional housekeeping company may be a wonderful solution.

FOSTER A BIT OF GOODWILL

Regardless of a sellers efforts, it’s only natural that most buyers will wind up cleaning their new home to meet their personal standards upon move-in; 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 you would like the referral of a great cleaning company, I’m here to help. Please call me.

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