Moving into a tip! Can I clean before I move?

[Firelilly67]

We are buying a house that is vacant, owners still live locally, but house has been vacant a few months. It’s pretty disgusting in there and needs at minimum a fall clean, carpets to be cleaned and all the walls/skirting boards painted.

We have two young children and I don’t fancy the idea of moving in before getting it cleaned. Do you think it would be unreasonable to ask if we could pay to get it cleaned and carpets cleaned prior to completion? We have nowhere else to go without paying for storage and a hotel.

I’m thinking it would only take a day to blitz it completely, and then 12 hours for carpet to dry.

What do you think? Unreasonable? Any better ideas out there?

Thanks!

I don't think it would be. I would ask them at the end of the day if it don't work out you have cleaned the house for them lol

Yes, that’s true! Thank you! I will ask x

It sounds like a good idea on paper, but their solicitor will probably (rightly) advise them that they should not allow access before completion. You have to look at it from their point of view - if you failed to complete, how would they get their money or get you out of the house? Not saying you are dodgy or anything, and you have the best of intentions, but it is not something I would agree to.
No house you buy is going to be perfect; it's all part and parcel of the joys (or not) of buying. I have bought a couple of filthy houses. It is quite possible to tackle one room at a time while you are already living there. Dirt is easily cleaned away. What you are talking about is largely cosmetic. If the carpets are that bad they may need replacing anyway.
Are you using a removal company? They could hold your stuff for you for 48 hours if you are, I am sure.
However, there is no harm in asking.

Just to clarify (having read your post again), would you be getting a cleaning company in? That wouldn't be so bad, but a decorator would take ages to paint a whole house, or even you if you wanted to do it, it is much more than a days work.

Their solicitor will advise them it’s a definite no. Your only chance is if you get a chance to butter up the vendors directly and they are not bothered about their solicitors advice.

Last time we moved we had a similar problem, we asking the vendor and he gave us the keys a full week before 👍 never hurts to ask

I actually offered this to my buyers as I was moving out a week before completion. I cleaned it but it needed a deep clean and carpets. I'd certainly ask, but say you'll only book it in after you've exchanged.

I would book yourself into a hotel for a couple of nights and get your removal company to put everything into storage at their depot while you get cleaners in to clean the empty house. It's easier to clean an empty house. Then once carpets etc are dry start moving in.

You can ask - no harm in asking. Otherwise book storage and hotel like the PP suggests.

More likely to be able to do this after exchange - so if you agree to have a week or two between exchange and completion you could do it then. We were able to do this on our house as carpet all needed removing and we wanted to get the house sprayed for woodworm before moving in.