Cleaning & Home Buying
So you’re on the market for a new home? Congratulations!
There are so many things to consider as a buyer. Price, paperwork, maintenance, repairs, the loan process, lions, tigers, and bears! (Just kidding on those last three! I hope…) With all those big considerations, cleaning can easily be forgotten. There are four options for having a house cleaned when you are buying: sellers DIY, sellers hire someone, you DIY, you hire someone. Here are the notes on each.
Ask the sellers to clean it
So the house is in pretty good shape, and you think that you and the sellers have a similar idea of what “clean” looks like. You think it is reasonable to ask them to have it clean, but you aren’t going to require them to have it done by a professional. This needs to be addressed during the initial offer. The clause can be simple, but it needs to be clear: “The property shall be turned over in clean condition with all surfaces wiped down and clear of dust, dirt, debris, trash, and personal property.”
Ask the sellers to hire someone to clean it
Upon viewing the property, you notice that it isn’t in a condition you would want to move into. Maybe their idea of “clean” and your idea of clean don’t jive. Maybe they have renters in the property and you can’t be sure that it will be turned over in awesome condition. Maybe specialty tile, carpet, air duct, window, or floor care is required to get the house back up to spec. These are great reasons to require them to provide a receipt for professional cleaning. This also needs to be clear. Your cousin’s best friend’s little sister can buy a receipt book at WalMart and provide a receipt. If you want a professional company to do this work, you should specify that the work “shall be completed by a bonded and insured company whose primary business is interior cleaning.”
Clean it yourself
Look, you’re good. Like, real good. Why trust someone else to get the job done right when you can do it yourself? If you’ve got that DIY spirit, especially in all the stress of a home purchase, more power to you. You probably don’t drink coffee or get sleepy after lunch, do you? You’re a superhero. But even superheroes need time to get the job done. Schedule a day after closing to just clean. Not pack and move and clean. Just clean. Having breathing room is going to make this process much less stressful. Plus, without a helper, a job like that can easily take all day.
Hire someone to clean it
Alright, So cleaning, packing, moving, and closing are a lot. Ain’t nobody got time for that. But the house hasn’t been on the market long, it is listed at a great price, and you and your Realtor think they will get multiple offers. Maybe having them hire a cleaner isn’t a great move in your negotiations. If you want to hire cleaners yourself, there are a couple options. If the house is unoccupied, it is quite reasonable for your Realtor to ask their Realtor to get your cleaning company in before closing. It’s usually a couple phone calls. This is ideal, since your home will be ready for you to move into it right after closing. If it is occupied and everyone is playing “musical houses,” a situation where both parties are buying and selling, it may be very difficult to get your cleaning company in early. Plan a day for them to be in separate from other vendors.
General Advice
Plan ahead. Like in most industries, real estate has busy seasons. If you are in the market for a new home, chances are, a lot of buying and selling is happening in your market. Bonded and insured companies are typically not available at the last minute, so if you want to hire a professional you should definitely be an early bird. As soon as your offer is accepted, start reaching out.
If you are going to DIY the cleaning, be sure to pack your cleaning supplies separate from your other belongings and clearly label it! You will not be a happy camper when your husband loads them on your moving truck at the bottom of everything.
Keep an eye out during the showing. Savvy buyers are already looking for maintenance issues in the home. While you are thoroughly inspecting the property, keep an eye out for cleaning needs too!
Amber Starling, Author
Founder and President of
Good Witch Cleaning Services, LLC
IICRC Journeyman Textile Cleaner