Cleaning etiquette

Orchid12

Tiglet2 said:

Orchid12 said:

To give some context we bought a house that went through probate. No one has lived in it since the beginning of the year. So no issues with the moving out on the day etc. 

There was years worth of grime in the kitchen cupboards. Crumbs everywhere. Dust in all the rooms. The toilets & bathrooms hadn’t even been cleaned!!! Honestly horrific. 

We were in such a rush on the day we moved out to get out in time for the new people but still made sure it was spotless. 

Perhaps the executors didn't live near the property and they had a house clearance company in so didn't visit the property prior to completion.

That would also be acceptable. But they live in walking distance! 

lookstraightahead

Orchid12 said:

Tiglet2 said:

Orchid12 said:

To give some context we bought a house that went through probate. No one has lived in it since the beginning of the year. So no issues with the moving out on the day etc. 

There was years worth of grime in the kitchen cupboards. Crumbs everywhere. Dust in all the rooms. The toilets & bathrooms hadn’t even been cleaned!!! Honestly horrific. 

We were in such a rush on the day we moved out to get out in time for the new people but still made sure it was spotless. 

Perhaps the executors didn't live near the property and they had a house clearance company in so didn't visit the property prior to completion.

That would also be acceptable. But they live in walking distance! 

When we sold our mum in laws house after she died, it was really sad. We did our best to remove everything. We had to saw up old furniture, get rid of a really old cooker etc. 

I think sometimes probate sales are difficult. You have to buy them as you see them, the likelihood is everything is going to be ripped out anyway.

lookstraightahead

The worst thing is when a trampoline is moved that had been in the garden fir years. Our nee property looks like a spaceship has landed 😂

Silvertabby

Ex Armed Forces married quarter occupant here.  If the house wasn't parade spotless when you moved out, you were fined (the cost of the cleaning bill).

Pity that wouldn't work on civvie street.

newsgroupmonkey_

Silvertabby said:

Ex Armed Forces married quarter occupant here.  If the house wasn't parade spotless when you moved out, you were fined (the cost of the cleaning bill).

Pity that wouldn't work on civvie street.

But that's like living in rented. And if it isn't spotlessly clean, your deposit is deducted (so effectively fined).

We're talking about people buying and selling. As long as you don't leave stuff in the house, you've no liability to clean it. Particularly as mentioned above, a probate.

It's like buying a car. Yes, of course, it's nice to have it fully serviced, cleaned inside and out, detailed and underbody sealed.

But realistically? it's sold as seen.

When selling, I've always given it a good hoover, mopped floors, cleaned down sides and so on. But no, I didn't get the oven professionally cleaned or the carpets steamed.

Definitely clean though.

I moved into a house that was an absolute !!!!!!-pit though. All the carpets had fleas (previous owner clearly didn't de-flea their dog). Took months to put right and we had a new-born which wasn't fun.

Skiddaw1

I cleaned our previous house from top to bottom (and made sure I had bits to finish off on moving day when the furniture went). We also left a bottle of fizz, makings for the fire, some home made jam and a home made cake. House we moved to was also spotless (as was our previous house when we moved in). We've been really lucky....

AdrianC

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Silvertabby said:

Ex Armed Forces married quarter occupant here.  If the house wasn't parade spotless when you moved out, you were fined (the cost of the cleaning bill).

Pity that wouldn't work on civvie street.

But that's like living in rented. And if it isn't spotlessly clean, your deposit is deducted (so effectively fined).

Not just "like", it IS rented. It's one of the perks of working for that particular employer.

And with rented, the obligation is only to leave it in the same state as when you moved in. If it was a tip on move-in, there is no deduction from the deposit possible for not leaving it spotless on move-out.

sammyjammy

Some people just live in a pit of their own filth so they don't even realise they are leaving you an unacceptable house!  Do as you would be done by is my mantra, but be prepared!

maisie_cat

The last 2 moves couldn't have been more different, in both cases we cleaned the old house from top to bottom.
When we moved in here we had low expectations of cleanliness, the house was a probate sale and the family lived 300 miles away. The house was actually immaculate clean, very bleachy, due to the mould they'd found when they moved furniture but at least they'd tried.
The house before that was a dive, the guy hadn't even emptied the cupboards on the morning of completion and it was disgusting. The kitchen had so much greasy residue that I removed the entire kitchen the first weekend because I could not get it clean. We lived with a camp kitchen for the next 18 months or so but at least I wasn't gagging!

Reddington85

I've tried to clean as we go to keep on top of things as we pack but I know once furniture moves (dreading the sofa move!) there'll be more to do!

We're cleaning the oven and we've given the garden a good sweep but the house we're moving to is only occupied a few days a week as the owner gradually moves up to Scotland. I don't hold out much hope but I know he works full time as a doctor, lives alone so I'm not expecting much!