When you’re a realtor, you work hard to establish good rapport with your clients and help them achieve their real estate goals. You really don’t want to end up in a situation where Buyers are upset with you because the home they purchased was messy and in need of cleaning before they could comfortably move in.
In Arizona, the Purchase Contract doesn’t address the condition of the home apart from stating that the home should be left in essentially the same condition as it was when the offer was accepted. Section 6j of the Arizona Purchase Contract states, “The premises, including all additional personal property included in the sale, will be in substantially the same condition as on the date of contract acceptance, and all personal property not included in the sale and all debris will be removed from the premises.”
Courtesy on the part of the Seller would dictate that the home is “broom clean,” meaning that floors are swept and mopped, carpets are vacuumed, kitchen and bathrooms are thoroughly scrubbed, including sinks, toilets, and appliance and cabinet interiors/exteriors are wiped clean. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the Seller will leave all or most of the cleaning to the new homeowners. Gross, but true. Because Sellers are not contractually bound to clean upon vacating, many don’t.
Buyers have several opportunities to opt out of a purchase during the real estate transaction. The first opportunity is upon viewing the property for the first time. Walk away. The second is after inspections have been completed (Arizona allows for a 10-day inspection period). The third is Seller’s refusal to repair any Buyer requested repair items on the Buyers Inspection Sellers Response form. The fourth is Seller’s failure to complete any agreed upon repair items three days prior to close of escrow.
If cleanliness is an important matter to you, have your realtor write your purchase offer to include, “Home to be professionally cleaned at Seller’s expense prior to Buyer taking possession” on the Additional Terms and Conditions portion of the contract. You can always ask and they can always say no, but then you know from the day you open escrow what to expect. This tends to make the situation easier. It’s when unexpected and undisclosed items arise that real estate transactions get nasty. Best of luck in your transaction!
Jana Haren, Realtor, MSSC
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