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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Cleaning new house before removals men start to move things in?

30 replies

mumat39 · 02/07/2013 11:19

Hi all

I am SO confused about how this will work.

DD has many allergies including to pets and lts of everyday foods. My Sister will be looking after both my dc (5 and 3) on the day we complete, but I really can't work out how I can clean the new house before the removals people start moving things in.

I asked a removals company if they would move us in the next day. They said they could do that but it would cost almost the same again, so basically doubling their charges which we can't do.

I really want to Hoover everywhere and clean floors and kitchen cupboards but can't figure out how that will work with boxes and furniture being moved in at the same time.

I know I sound really dim, but my brain is just refusing to figure this out, so was wondering if anyone has any advice, please.

Just fr info, we haven't exchanged yet, but are hoping to complete by the end of July.

Many thanks in advance.

OP posts:

Original poster

mumat39 · 02/07/2013 11:20

Apologies for all the typos.

OP posts:

GoingUpInTheWorld · 02/07/2013 11:23

Ok, why are the removal men charging double to re arrange the day?

Can you get the keys for the house a day or two before you move in.

In my experience its much better to deep clean the property before you move in, its a PITA to be wiping out cupboards with boxes everywhere

MultumInParvo · 02/07/2013 11:23

You could get the van at the new house, chuck some sarnies at the drivers and tell them it's a lunch break. In an hour you could gets loads done, downstairs. Then whilst moving in downstairs stuff you do upstairs?

ISeeSmallPeople · 02/07/2013 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheSurgeonsMate · 02/07/2013 11:28

Not a silly question. In my experience you won't be able to once removal men are there - they move fast and they go everywhere. When are previous occupant's leaving? Could you offer to pay for a professional clean to be organised by them, it would be cheaper than a second removal.

itried · 02/07/2013 11:30

Ask a local cleaning firm to do a thorough clean early in the day before the van arrives? See if there is a local MNer who works as a cleaner and who might help? If you will be available at the new house, round up some friends or see if a kind MNer will volunteer to help.

specialsubject · 02/07/2013 11:46

you won't get the keys until you complete. If (as usual) all completions are on the same day, you need to find a removal company that will store your stuff overnight while you clean the new house. This should not cost double.

you cannot clean while they are moving in and you cannot guarantee a time of access on completion day.

Original poster

mumat39 · 02/07/2013 11:53

Whenever we've moved in the past, we've never got keys much before the afternoon. The current owners of the house we're buying are a family, like us, so I'm assuming they'll still be moving out in the morning on completion day so probalywon't be possible to get someone in to clean whilst they are still there.

The removals cost will double because we would be leaving all our things in the lorry overnight which would lose the company their business.

I like the idea of sandwiches and lunch break for the removals people.

The best solution would be to get someone else in to do a good clean, so will ask the estate agents if they think that could be feasible.

Thanks so much for all your advice.

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Original poster

mumat39 · 02/07/2013 11:56

Special, just saw your post. That's what worries me, as once in the past we didn't get our keys until 230 and then the removals men were just keen to get us in so they old finis on time.

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dippymother · 02/07/2013 12:42

Our removal people offered a deep clean service, you could choose either the house you're moving out of and/or the one you're moving into. Cost was about £115 each. Why don't you ask your removal people if they do a similar service, would be a lot cheaper than paying them to store your stuff for an extra day!

Original poster

mumat39 · 02/07/2013 13:42

Ooh that sounds good dippy. Would you be able to say which company you used? Many thanks.

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dippymother · 04/07/2013 08:18

Jeakins Removals (based in Essex), not sure what area you are in?

specialsubject · 04/07/2013 10:24

yes - if you are not the first in the chain there can be a delay, especially if it is a Friday. However dippy's solution sounds perfect if you can sort it!

Blu · 04/07/2013 14:47

There is often a gap between the removal men getting everything in the van and the All Clear being given that the money has been moved, contracts completed and the move can proceed. I would see if you can get your removal co, or the vendor's removal co to organise swift clean in that gap.

Unless it is done as part of the formal agreement, I can't see the removal men being happy to cool their heels, even with sandwiches, while you get the place cleaned, unless by prior agreement. By the time you get the keys to your new house they will probably have already taken themselves off to a caff while the solicitors do their chain thing, ready and fed to come back for the unpacking.

BackforGood · 04/07/2013 15:02

How do you get on with the people you are buying from?
Would it be worth explaining about your son's allergies (so they don't think you are suggesting they are minging ) and asking if there was any chance they could text you when they are almost packed up, so you can get over there with your team of cleaners early enough to beat your removal men to it ? I do think the answer is to employ some people to help you though, or call in friends to help so you get it all done in an hour or so, or it's not fair on the removal men (and there might be a clause in the contract which means they 'fine' you if you delay them).
There's often a delay with the solicitors / finances after the removal men are all packed and ready to go. Vendors shouldn't really mind, as, if it all fell through and the sale didn't complete for some reason, they've had a free deep clean

Original poster

mumat39 · 08/07/2013 22:54

Thanks dippy, for the recommendation. We're in Surrey so prob more expensive to use a company from another county.

Thanks everyone else for the replies. We don't know the people we're buying from, unfortunately. But I'll run it pats the agent we're buying from to see what they think and whether the sellers would be happy with me sending someone in when they're all packed up.

We're at the front of the chain, if that's the right terminology? Our buyers have nothing to sell, if that makes sense.

Thanks for all the advice. It's good to get an idea of what could happen on the day.

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flatmum · 09/07/2013 18:41

I always do this but have always managed to get the keys a couple o days before we move. we have always either moved into or out of rented I think so managed to have a few days clearance.

if you are completing on a buy and sell on the same day I can't imaging how this coul work unless you asked either party for the keys early it late.

well worth doing IMO if you can.

other option is to hire a one off deep clean at the house you are moving into but this will be tricky to time if they are moving out on same day.

you've got to pay somewhere along the line to do this I reckon.

oh just remembered another thing we once did wa move everything into the living room stacked floor to ceiling, send kids to stay at grandparents and then clean the rest on the house and get beds wtc out of living room once done. this is hard work thoug

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 09/07/2013 21:21

We had similar problems, moving into a house that had had several cats with asthmatic family.

Me and the DC stayed overnight with a friend while DH and my PILs (who are saints!) stayed in the new house overnight and scrubbed it top to bottom the next day.

We wouldn't have been able to do anything else on completion day, as our sellers were not hugely organised and were still packing stuff into their van at around 8pm, with our van having been sat outside, ready to move in,for about 6 hours

hotbot · 09/07/2013 21:47

Do you have a garage, if so all stuff put in there , or all bedroom stuff in 1bedroom, all downstairs stuff in 1room and start from there. Defo pay for a team of cleaners, then once 1 room is done move stuff into that room. Make sure boxes are labelled really well.
Good luck tis stressful this cleaning.

Original poster

mumat39 · 10/07/2013 23:58

Hi again.

Thanks for those replies.

Flat mum, I'm happy to pay for someone to come and give the place we're moving into, a good clean but getting the timings is the thing I can't get my head round. Moving from rented to a bought place would be ideal, but we'll be completing on our sale and purchase on the same day.

Boulevard, wow, your parents in law sound amazing! Can I hire them? . I have to admit, the 8pm thing is what worries me. We've been there too.

Hotbot, we will have a garage, but we were hoping that all the lifting of furniture and re assembling of beds etc would be done by the removals company.

Thanks again for your help. :)

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belatedmaybe · 11/07/2013 00:18

Could you get the place you are leaving to a certain point then leave it to your dh whilst you go to the new house and get the floors/skirting boards done? All kitchen stuff apart from white goods into the garage so you can do the kitchen whilst your dh directs the unloading at the new place? Divide and conquer approach!

Original poster

mumat39 · 11/07/2013 00:30

Belated, thanks. Divide and conquer sounds good!

I was thinking of hoovering and wiping down window sills. Hadn't even thought of skirting boards. There's gonna be alot to do I think. Eek!

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belatedmaybe · 11/07/2013 00:44

Wish I was close by, I love this kind of cleaning (lucky being as I am a cleaner ) starting out in a new home is just so exciting, even doing it vicariously getting someone's new home ready for them you get caught up in the excitement!

Original poster

mumat39 · 11/07/2013 01:00

Ooh. Where are you? I'm just outside London.

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belatedmaybe · 11/07/2013 01:24

Sorry I am a couple of hours train journey away but there will be oddballs people like me close by, maybe look in local shops/publications a cleaner and explain the situation?

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