How To Leave the House When Moving Out

Hi Margaret- excellent suggestion!  We've hired cleaners to thoroughly clean after the movers have left. And absolutely wait until after the movers have left to close if you can. 

I've moved enough times to know that a door frame can get dinged or a wall scuffed. 

Good afternoon Matgaret,

I always talk to my sellers for day 1 how their home should be left upon move out. Usually there is so much going on on who has times to actually leave the home in stellar condition after the movers have come and gone. I always recommend cleaning people to take the burden off the seller and to leave a lasting impression on the buyer when they are ready to take possession. It's a win/win situation!

You make an important point about this part of real estate transactions, Margaret.  I agree with you 100%.

CONGRATULATIONS Margaret, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Clubgroup!  

Good morning, Margaret... our contracts also call for broom swept clean... but that can be interpreted in so many different ways. I'm happy to report that with very few exceptions, my own sellers always have a home cleaned from top to bottom before closing.

Yes indeed. There are those sellers who go above and beyond, and the buyers will walk in the house and say "WOW". A thank you is definitely deserved in those cases!

Hello Margaret - the golden rule, broom clean and so many other thoughts come to mind while reading your post.   A thoughtful comment can go a long way.  Besides, it's just good manners.  Yes, I remember when that was common.  

How the house is left after moving out does speak volumes about the seller Miss Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 - I've seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unthinkable. 

Hi Margaret - this is such an important subject that gets passed over far to often.  Our sellers are well aware of what needs to happen before closing and having the home in 'broom clean' condition is one of them.  Except I go further in offering to have our cleaners clean the home after they've moved out.   Rarely have I needed to hire our cleaners as the sellers take upon themselves to leave the home in good condition - which volumes about the sellers.

Hi Margaret:

This is such an important message. Some sellers DO take it upon themselves to leave their home more than broom clean, including having windows done, carpets shampooed and a professional cleaning. It's certainly appreciated by buyers (and sellers should be thanked appropriately). Unfortunately some homes are left far from broom clean at closing.

I've had some offers accepted on listings where the buyers requested a professional cleaning.

It's an important discussion to have with sellers before closing.

Jeff

    Featured in BananaTUDE

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 these are very good suggestions, especially the last one you made.  I had Buyers who fortunately did their walk-through after everything had been taken out of the house.  During the move either the Seller or movers dragged furniture on the hardwood floors and put deep gouges in them.  It ended up costing the Sellers dearly at the closing.