To think that there is no such thing as too clean and tidy

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Our house went on the market just before Christmas. We were happy with the photos having put in a lot of effort to make sure it was ‘show home tidy’. We have six dc so this wasn’t a small task but we managed it and still had cupboards that had space. My parents came to stay for Christmas and made lots of negative comments about the photos looking like no-one lived in the house and the house being “too clean”. My MiL phoned whilst my parents were staying and kept on making comments over and over again about “where did you hide all your stuff?” She then shared pictures of the five bed house that she is buying with her new dp. I hadn’t realised they were buying such a large house for the two of them and expressed surprise. I will concede that it’s absolutely none of my business and they can buy any size house they like. I hope they are very happy there. But the comments continued from both sets of parents about our house being too clean and tidy and how we didn’t have stuff on show as though we should be ashamed of this. We’ve now accepted an offer above the asking price for the house and this seems to have upset the parents. I don’t get it. Surely there is no such thing as ‘too clean and tidy’? The dc are allowed toys out. We just tidy up every so often.

The less clutter there is the bigger the rooms look so the space appears bigger as uts not being used. That's a great tactic when house selling. They're bonkers. Can't understand why they'd be annoyed if you got a good price. They should be happy for you. How negative.

Just out of interest, why would it put you off?
Surely it is easier to see the space, is a good sign the home is well maintained and likely to be in decent condition on moving day?
I would have thought you make it a cosy home with your belongings when you move in!

See I don't think that's needless to say at all. I like nothing more than a clean and tidy home but to base one of the biggest decisions you can make on something easily fixed is crazy. People are often amazed at the large and lovely home i live in knowing my middling career, but I bought something that other people would have said no to based on cosmetics.

I hadn’t realised they were buying such a large house for the two of them and expressed surprise.

What does this have to do with the cleanliness of your house?

I agree to an extent, but often if people don’t clean they also don’t do essential repairs, so you could be buying a money pit. If it was the top end of my budget I’d probably rule it out too, because you never know what else might come up.

I would have managed to have kept my thoughts to myself if MiL hadn’t been going on and on about our stuff. I wasn’t in the mood to be mocked when there are eight of us in a four bedroom home and she is struggling to reduce her stuff so that two of them can fit into a five bedroom home. She is now holding this comment against me. It doesn’t have anything to do with how clean my house is just how much I didn’t feel like being mocked for it being clean and tidy.

Well done OP, getting a house ready for selling without six children is quite the task anyway! I hope you don't let those pathetic little comments rattle you and wish you every happiness in finding your new home (just remember to do a head count before you leave!)

Sometimes people say this and its more about their style/taste preferences. Not actually about cleanliness. If for example they love lots of books, art, texture, colour and you have a house that is neutral colours, minimal art or decor, clear surfaces, nothing 'on show' they might describe it as ' too clean and tidy' for their tastes.
Its not really about cleanliness but more what theyd consider to be a bit of an austere/plain look?
Either way...its still rude to comment and she sounds annoying.

Dear oh dear. MIL's comment is exactly the sort that eye-rolling was invented for. A house that's going on the market cannot be too clean and tidy. If too empty some houses can look bare and clinical, but that is most unlikely to be the case with 8 people living there. Good luck with your move.