How Clean Should I Leave the House When Moving Out?

Stop for a moment to consider the condition of many bank owned homes.  When a buyer finds all the appliances are ripped out, the water heater has been stolen and the front door is boarded up; dirt, filth and mold are the least of a buyer’s worries.

Some banks don’t clean anything, and they insist that home is sold in “as is” condition. Homes in a seller’s possession that are turned over to a new buyer are different. It doesn’t matter if that home is a short sale or a regular sale, sellers may have responsibilities to clean the home.

In some states, real estate purchase contracts stipulate that the home is to be “broom clean,” meaning a seller should at least sweep the floor, the walls and ceiling. The language in some of these contracts is vague. To determine the amount of cleaning that you are contractually bound to do upon vacating, you should read your purchase contract.

In the absence of a legal requirement to clean the house before moving out, most sellers take their own special steps to present the home in an acceptable condition to buyers. It’s comprehensible that after moving all day, sellers may be too tired to spend a lot of time cleaning.  Hiring a cleaning service can be a great solution. Sometimes, listing agents will pay to have the home professionally cleaned as a courtesy, not because they’re obligated.

While most buyers will clean the home to their own standards before moving in, regardless of a sellers’ efforts, following is a list of things a seller can do to leave a home acceptably clean and create goodwill:

Cleaning Inside the Home before Moving Out

Remove all personal property.

Vacuum the floors.

Clean kitchen appliances, inside the refrigerator and oven, and wipe down counters.

Scour sinks and tubs.

Wipe down interior cabinets and shelves.

Wash tile and vinyl / linoleum flooring.

Cleaning the Garage

Remove personal belongings.

Throw away trash.

Properly dispose of toxic chemicals.

Sweep the floor.

Stack items pertaining to the home such as paint cans, roofing materials or extra flooring.

Basically, leave the home in the condition that you would like to find your new home. Keep in mind, the new home owners might receive some of your mail by mistake or packages. It’s a good idea to be on good terms with the new buyers and also the right thing to do.