To ask the seller if the cleaner can go in the day before we complete on house purchase!

[Deedippy]

So we are buying a probate house. House being sold by adult children and currently empty (ish) and hasn't been lived in for over 2 years. The house is very dated and needs alot of work but we are planning to live there whilst it's being done. The day of completion will be bonkers as we are selling our current home to purchase this one and the last thing I need to be doing when we finally get in whilst settling two kids and the dog is run around with the bleach and hoover. So aibu to ask the estate agents to ask the sellers (we've met the son and he's very nice) if our very lovely and trusted cleaner could go in after exchange but before completion to blitz the place? Or is this idea a totally absurd?

I think it’s low risk to them with a professional cleaner. If the sale fell through somehow they’d have had it cleaned at your expense.

I would say yes and cancel the cleaner I had booked to do it.

Having been through recent probate sale I would have been delighted if someone had asked us this as the seller. Would have saved me a job!

Whenever I've sold a house (it's been about 6x now due to work) I've always booked a deep clean for the new owners so I can focus on packing.

Your vendors might have done the same, but you could just ask them if they were happy to book one. They might ask you to pay since it's at your request.

The problem with getting your own cleaner in is that they'll be worried that there might be some sort of inspection from your side, leading to pre-buyers remorse and a late withdrawal.

I’d have thought they will say yes. Also Definitely say you’ll clear the furniture if you like it. They’re going to have to pay to get it taken away; at the very least it’ll save them time and energy

Assuming the cleaner is a professional with liability insurance etc then surely the worst that can happen for the vendor is the sale falls through last minute leaving them with a freshly cleaned property at someone else's expense? Definitely worth asking.

I would ask, has the water been turned off if its been empty. The Solicitors may say no, it may affect the insurance but you won't know unless you ask.

How will the cleaner gain access, the keyholder will need to let them in and go back later to check the house and ensure its secure,

This 100%. I was thinking 6-8 hours and our cleaner is a miracle worker. 2 hours may sort out the bathroom!

I'd be inclined to say no, but no harm in asking.

Bathrooms and kitchen a really good scrub and general hoover and wipe was what I was thinking. To be fair it's not in an awful condition at all, just very very dated and not lived in

Why would you say no? Assuming exchange has happened, its an empty property and someone is going in to clean that you don't have to pay for. What do you think will happen?

The furniture left is about 4/5 really lovely pieces. Dresser/hostess trolley etc so I have a feeling they probably either have plans to sell them or take them. Will offer though just in case

There is also an old VW hightop in the garage. We are vw campers and previously had an old hightop. If they forgot to get rid of that we would be very happy but I think very likely

Key holders are the estate agents who are very local and have been great so far so hopefully that shouldn't be an issue

As it’s empty, I’d say it’s fine to ask.

You can ask, from a legal point they’d be idiots to agree (because in the unlikely situation that the cleaner damages the property eg by accidentally setting fire to it / causing flood, after exchange and before completion, it’s legally very complicated).

I’d suggest a well known local company or if they prefer a cleaner selected by them.

But they would be fools to allow any unsupervised work in the property before completion, even only cleaning.

They’re going to have to pay to get it taken away; at the very least it’ll save them time and energy

Not G Plan, they won't.

It fetches very high prices at auction. If it's still there, I'm guessing they're going to sell it.

OP YANBU to ask, but I wouldn't want 'your' cleaner to do it. I might say yes to a professional deep clean (assuming that the property still has water and electricity, which it may well not do), but I wouldn't book anything at all at the moment. So much can slip and slide with house purchases.

It's a reasonable request seeing as it's a probate sale and empty

In these circumstances I'd ask.

Definitely worth asking. My Mum once asked for a shower room to be fitted before completion and they were more than happy as if everything fell through there'd be added value to the property. They could say no but as it's vacant I think it's a reasonable question.

I’ve sold a probate house and would have said yes to this. The worst they can say is no!

Me too

Clean it once you own it

I hired a cleaner to clean old house once we loaded lorry, however new house, 1 mile away was vile (also probate but son had moved back in) so I directed the cleaner there instead, could you just book cleaner for day of move? As soon as keys released cleaner goes in whilst you finish packing?

I would ask. It might help if you are willing to pay for a cleaner of their choosing if they are uncomfortable with using yours. In the end, what matters is the job is done.

it should be clean when you get it, but after an 8 month nightmare buying my house the seller picked a tortoise slow solicitor,i could not believe how dirty it was i mean filthy,very annoyed ,ask,or make sure its going to be clean before exchange as no one has lived in it for so long