House infestation :-(

penny_crayon

DH and I are in the process of fixing up our house to put on the market in the spring. We were due to get an extension but have decided to move instead due to the high building quotes we have received. Problem is that we haven't done much DIY recently as there wasn't much point due to the extension plan.

Now we have uncovered loads of problems in the house - carpet moths under our chest if drawers, loads of mould in our bedroom, curtains have mildew etc. it's making me feel ill :-( a also found psocids in our kitchen and mould in there too, ick. And the plaster around some of the single glazed windows has lifted too. :-(

I'm feeling a bit daunted by everything, I thought the house was relatively clean but having 2 small children means that a lot of the deep clean stuff hasn't really happened in the last couple of years. There's so much to do, I don't know where to start...

Guess this is a "let off steam" type of thread, but if anyone has any advice, then feel free to offer it, especially about dealing with the bugs, yuck!

sniggings

Just some advice...do one room at a time, bin everything you have not used in say a year, you will be glad you did come moving day, do you really want to move a load of rubbish from one house to the other.

Sort out where all the rubbish is going, council may remove the big stuff for cheap, skip for the rest etc as there will be a lot of it.

Once you start a room you will be amazed what you can do in just one day,selling in spring gives you at least 2 weeks per room,which is loads of time.

The trick is do not leave something that needs cleaning or fixing before moving on to the next room, do it there and then.

You need to work out how much the work will cost and whether it will put the same value on the house, if it doesn't then don't spend too much, the house may take longer to sell tho,so keep that in mind.

Contains_Mild_Peril

sniggings wrote: »

Just some advice...do one room at a time, bin everything you have not used in say a year, you will be glad you did come moving day, do you really want to move a load of rubbish from one house to the other.

Sort out where all the rubbish is going, council may remove the big stuff for cheap, skip for the rest etc as there will be a lot of it.

For reusable stuff, using the internet to give it away and/or sell it is even cheaper, as well as "greener".
Mould, mildew and bugs like damp conditions, so a dehumidifier might help. Indorex household flea spray will kill most bugs.

penny_crayon

Thank you for the replies so far. We did get planning permission for the extension and that should help us to sell. Houses round here seem to sell v quickly but no one wants to buy a tip!

JohnB47

Putting all together, I think the problem in your home is lack of ventilation. All of your problems are caused or are made worse by hugh humidity. Not a major problem for you to clean up the effects that now , for a future owner, but something to bear I mind for the future. Lots of fresh air is what you and your family needs.