Do I need to do a huge clean before house valuation?

[shit2020]

We’re getting our house valued next week. It’s a good house but currently a bit untidy as we have a young DC and there’s stuff all over the place! Do I need to do a massive clean before the estate agent comes round to make it look more presentable? Or does the state of the house (immaculately tidy vs a bit of a mess) not actually have any bearing on the valuation they give? I’ve never sold a house before so wasn’t sure!

Yes you need to do a big clean. Certainly for the estate agents photographs. But just for the initial visit you can get away with just a good tidy up. Depends on how bad it is.

If not now then when? We put loads in loft and had a bag which we bunged stuff in before a viewing and put in the car. You need to make the house as quick and easy to tidy at short notice as possible otherwise you will lose out on viewers.

Definitely clean and tidy a lot before photos, it's also worth photographing yourself to see what shows - you often don't notice things after years but our photos showed every inch of our house inside and out. People can also enlarge photos.

Not sure if it will affect valuation, but untidy houses generally take longer to sell. I would start asap, also decluttering.

If you can afford it maybe worth getting a cleaner in for a one-off clean though best to tidy first. We had one in for 5 hours and she was great.

Thanks everyone. We're not at photos stage yet - just getting it valued by a couple of agents then making a decision who to go with. We won't do photos until early January, so I was hoping to do a big clean up after Christmas in preparation.

It was just the valuation itself that I was concerned about - whether an untidy house could affect the price they put on it?

I would expect there would be a psychological impact on the valuer, even if there isn’t supposed to be.

As a pp said, use this as an incentive to get your family to part with their clutter and have a tidier home for you to enjoy for Christmas. I was lucky once to have a friend come do a a weekly clean and it gave us a deadline to pick up the family stuff so she could vacuum and dust etc. Since she went back to her usual profession we no longer have the “Jane day” deadline to threaten the family with and the house isn’t the same.. embrace the deadline! Go!

Tidy and clutter free would be beneficial as they will get a better feel for the size and condition.

It's in your interest to get the most realistic and highest valuation possible.

I think it does make a difference, because if it's awfully presented the agent may worry it won't look good in the photos and on viewings, which will impact the price it gets. If it's "done" with no work needed, then you need to show it off to the best of your ability.

Untidy houses do sell for less and take longer to sell so it could affect a valuation. It depends how untidy / in need of a clean though - if its a bit untidy but you could still invite a friend round and not feel embarassed it probably won't affect value especially if you say you will tidy it. If you can't move for clutter saw online a messy kids bedroom knocks £8k off so it could be quite costly.

If it is very untidy and you haven't got time to tidy now maybe push valuations back. If its just a bit untidy then do what you can and get valuations done now.

Not for the valuation imo, estate agents can see past it. But be clear what you would do before photos/viewings.

It's in your interest to get the most realistic and highest valuation possible.

These are not the same thing usually!

You need to show your home off.
Remember new builds have professional house dressers and increasingly sellers are following suit and spending time and money to dress their house to sell. This includes removing stuff so rooms seem bigger and airier, as well as presenting a lifestyle through home furnishings.
You might not want to go the whole hog with this, but certainly a major de-clutter is the key....I’d say it’s this more than the nooks and crannies are deep cleaned which makes the difference. De-clutter and think about putting your nicest, co-ordinated bedding on for the photos. Don’t allow washing up to be drying on a rack or kitchens applicances to be out or toys to be visible. Ensure the bathroom has toiletries out away or removed and just an attractive coloured towel visible or folded on the loo seat which should be down.

You should expect to spend time on this. It will affect the valuation and photos which are taken and the first impressions possible buyers get online. If you don’t bother, expect an impact in terms of no of viewings and possible valuation.

Thanks everyone - great advice. I might delay the valuations until the new year so I have time to do a proper declutter and clean.

We went on the market in August. DH kept telling me it didn’t need to be tidy for the valuation. I told him he was wrong and we spent a whole weekend decluttering and tidying (with a five month old baby). Had bin bags full of stuff in both cars.

We also took our own pictures just to see.

Turns out our estate agent does the photos same day to minimise visitors during covid.

Thank god. Sold first day. Was glad I’d forced it because we hadn’t known they’d be taking photos that day!

Yes a big clean and tidy up so you can present it in the best light. I think estate agents see past alot but you dont want them saying stuff like "if it was clean and tidy"

Honestly, clean and tidy is a must. If it’s unitidy it often indicates little in the way of maintenance. If you cannot be bothered to tidy I would be worried you wouldn’t do repairs either. We saw a house a few years ago that was really dated (and overpriced!). It was also very over cluttered with old newspapers piled up behind the sofas. The old couple who owned it were hovering around asking whether we wanted their manky bath mats and whether we wanted to buy their old as the hills white goods even though the washing machine seems to have sellotape around the dispenser draw.

Tidy and tidy again and it’s not as daft as it sounds to store all the clutter in the car. It’s surprising how often a EA will call and say they have someone in the office NOW and could they just pop round.

I work on the fringes of property and you would be amazed how many people just cannot see beyond what is currently there.

Thanks people. Okay this might be an odd question but should I tidy INSIDE cupboards ahead of viewings? I’m thinking people might open kitchen cupboards and fitted wardrobes and if they’re bursting at the seams it might not be a good look!

Yes people look inside cupboards. As you are moving eventually anyway it is time for a really good clear out.

A mortgage valuation may last a couple of minutes and be a quick glance and comparison of other house values in the street. Don't bother with a deep clean.
Do bother to tidy etc for the EA pictures.

No they can't touch your house right now so don't worry about the cupboards. Agents will probably wear gloves but will touch as little as possible.

No cupboard opening in Covid times.

No cupboard opening in Covid times.

Thanks - didn’t even consider that

I loved having the deadlines of EAs and viewings in the selling process - you have to be able to get your house in perfect condition at a minutes notice

After I showed each person round I left them to look themselves so they could very well look in cupboards etc