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Original poster

What level of cleaning for handing over keys at completion

17 replies

OneWorld · 15/07/2019 14:13

While we wait for exchange, please can I ask what level of cleaning is acceptable for completion day? We’ll be moving out a few days earlier so hopefully we’ll have time to get a cleaner in.

The house is generally clean and we have laminate throughout. We are leaving kitchen appliances with the house, they are ok (not super clean, but def not dirty IYKWIM).

OP posts:
Glitteryfrog · 15/07/2019 14:32

We whizzed around with the vacuum and cleaned the fridge and left the doors open. But we were selling to BTL who would get their own cleaners/redecorate etc.

The house we bought had crumbs in the fridge Hmm so I cleaned two fridges in one day.

Stillstrawberrywater · 15/07/2019 14:40

Clean kitchen appliances
Clean bathroom/toilets
Hoovered floors

That's it I would say. More than likely they are going to blitz the place themselves anyway when they move in.

TinselTimes · 15/07/2019 14:42

Clean the bathroom and kitchen enough that they’re usable straightaway, ie the sinks, toilets, oven and hob look clean.

Wipe down surfaces.

Hoover.

I wouldn’t do more than that tbh.

Blobby10 · 15/07/2019 15:29

I was given the following tip: Clean it to the level that you would like the house you're moving into cleaned to!

Original poster
OneWorld · 15/07/2019 15:47

Thanks all. My oven is clean inside. Just the door glass has a little bit of grease between the two glass panels. (I can’t reach there to clean)

Should I be getting professional oven cleaners in?

OP posts:
everycowandagain · 15/07/2019 15:54

I really wouldn't waste money on professional cleaners. Most people like to go round themselves anyway.

The house we are in now had dirty toilets when we moved in. They had no shame!

Blobby10 · 15/07/2019 16:31

Friend of mine spent 3 hours scraping limescale off the bottom of her en suite loo - whilst her husband, his friend and me packed up her house around her! Still can't believe I did that.

I was lucky that I had my mother in law and her friend who both cleaned professionally and volunteered to clean the house as I packed up the final bits (and made coffee!) . They did an amazing job and I would have challenged any buyer to have found anything to complain about! Only one house that I've bought has been to the same level of cleanliness,

TinselTimes · 15/07/2019 16:44

You really don’t need to pay oven cleaners!

Your only legal obligation is to hand the property over in the state it was in at exchange.

Morally/socially it’s nice to leave it clean enough that they can move in and use stuff straightaway but you don’t need to do more than that.

KitKat1985 · 15/07/2019 16:53

I think kitchen / bathroom / toilets etc left clean and useable, and carpets etc hoovered is fine.

I wouldn't spent money on cleaners or anything.

Rainbowsintherain · 15/07/2019 17:13

Does anyone clean windows?

AlexaAmbidextra · 15/07/2019 17:37

I actually had a professional deep clean done when I sold my late Dad’s house. Simply because at 94, although he was very proud that he still did his own cleaning it really wasn’t up to a great standard. For instance, it would never have occurred to him to wipe inside the oven if something spilled and he didn’t move furniture when he cleaned his floors. None of which I blame him for at his great age.

Anyway, I’m glad I did as my hairdresser lives opposite his house and whenever I go to get my hair cut I invariably bump into the new owners. I can hold my head high that they moved into a spotless house. 😂

Boholady · 15/07/2019 17:54

Leave your old home as you would like to find your new home!
We completed on Friday. I had deep cleaned the house, had the windows and conservatory cleaned and paid for the range cooker to be cleaned.
I walked into a house that had swags of cobwebs from the ceilings and walls, and brown toilet bowls. My husband spent 5 hours cleaning the kitchen to make it usable, but the oven is too filthy to be used until it's been professionally cleaned.

Avacadoandtoast · 15/07/2019 19:36

Our house was spotless when we moved out - I wanted the new owners to walk in and be delighted that they could start unpacking straight away without having to worry about cleaning. I also didn’t want them to think we were living in muck!

userxx · 15/07/2019 20:09

Mine was dirty when I moved in and it really put a downer on it.

user1471504234 · 15/07/2019 23:52

Mine was spotlessly clean when I moved in. It was lovely that I could start unpacking straight away. I didn’t even have to wipe out any cupboards or wardrobes, it was immaculate! I’m very grateful to my vendors that they were so considerate and it added to the excitement of completion day 🙂

raquelW · 15/07/2019 23:56

I wouldn't bother, tbh, you've got enough to worry about with the move. Surely most people would struggle to fit in a house clean on the day they move out - there's a lot of time pressure and removal men stomping about. I appreciate you will have a few extra days, but it really does seem like a waste of effort.

SwimmerGirl40 · 16/07/2019 00:04

I scrubbed my old flat from top to bottom and even put a new toilet roll on the holder, in case they needed the loo when they arrived.

It was a rainy day when I moved though and the removal men trampled mud over the laminate when they were moving my stuff out. I had packed all my cleaning stuff too.

They got their solicitor to complain to my solicitor about the mud and the outsides of the windows being dirty. It was a third floor flat, the management company were responsible for cleaning the outside of the windows - it was covered by the service charge. I think expecting me to hire an industrial height ladder and go up and clean the outside windows was a bit extreme!

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