Is Your Buyer's Dream Home Actually Clean?
Sellers will dust, vacuum, clean the sinks , the hard surface floors and maybe even have the carpets cleaned. But is the house really clean? Very likely not. It is a known fact that the dust in a home is made up mostly of dander ( human and pet ) and it collects in lots of places that don't always get cleaned and in some places that are usually never cleaned. I am referring to the heat and air ducts and the clothes dryer venting.
Another area of concern are windows and doors that don't have good seals. The interior of a home is subject to all sorts of dirt and debris from outside. It mixes with the normal dust in the home and collects in areas that are not usually disturbed, such as on and behind furniture, under beds, in closets etc.
Typically when the seller gets the home ready for market, all surfaces have been cleaned. A couple days later of course, all the dust is back again. As one walks through the home creating air movement, it disturbs the settled dust and causes it to float in the air again. As a savvy buyer having purchased a number of homes in my life, I know that any home is not as clean as it could be or at least as clean as it appears to be. There are lots of reasons that this is happening and there are several things that can be done about it.
Here are some of actions steps to be sure that the new dream house is as clean as possible.
1. Have all the vents in the home cleaned. Average cost from about $400 to $1000. ( There is a caveat on this one. If the home was built before 1978, there is a good chance that asbestos fibers could be in the duct work. Be sure that the company that will clean the vents are also able and qualified to professionally remove any evidence of asbestos and protect the property from the spreading of it throughout.) In addition, have the dryer vent cleaned out. Average cost $75 to $100.
2. Have the Fireplace and chimney cleaned. Average cost $100-150 for each chimney
3. Have all the sink, tub and shower drains cleaned out. Just the cost of the drain cleaners and a little time. If the drains are slow, let a plumber clear them.
4. Have the sewer line(s) scoped and inspected for breaks or tree root intrusions. Average cost $300-$400 for the inspection. If a clean-out is recommended, the service provider will provide a cost estimate depending on the severity of the issue.
5. Walls hold dust as well. If the home hasn't been painted in the last several years, plan to at least dust all the wall surfaces but even better to have the walls washed down.
6. Window coverings are known to hold lots of dust and dirt. They many even look clean but when the blinds are washed you will see the dirty water as evidence. Draperies that remain with the home home are also very likely covered in dust. You can't necessarily see it but not seeing it does not assure you , the dirt isn't there. The default is to have all the window coverings cleaned and windows washed.
I am sure there are more things to thoroughly clean unique to the home itself. A good cleaning job will give the new homeowners the confidence that the home is as clean as possible.
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