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at what stage do you clean the new house if completion day is the day of the move?

44 replies

beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 13:00

I've moved before without cleaning first and although the place was ok, it didn't feel fresh or like an exciting new place with the vendors removals leaving the place not too clean, unavoidably.

How do people co-ordinate everything when completing on the same day (selling and buying)? Does the removals co keep stuff in their lorries and then moves it all in after a day or two of cleaning in the new place? Doe it cost extra for removals to wait a few days with stuff in their lorry?

Or is it normal to pursuade vendors to leave a couple of days early so you can clean? (if they are going into rentals themselves)

Or do you move in furniture and boxes - and of course your own removals may make it a dirty again esp if raining outside - then clean around it all before unpacking, assuming there is a lot of stuff?

argh!

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 13:01

oh and would you pack the day before completion (a risk?), then on completion day move into the new place?

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NickNacks · 08/03/2014 13:02

How dirty are these places?!?

We've just cleaned as we go along, wipe out cupboards before putting plates away that kind of thing. Run a vacuum around the rooms and bleach the bathroom takes minutes.

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ginmakesitallok · 08/03/2014 13:04

Clean as we go along here too. We've been lucky that the places we've moved to have been relatively clean

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 13:07

I mean pack everything into removals lorries the day before completion? so that you could have time on completion day to clean (hire cleaners in the morning) while they are getting to the new place and the legal completion takes place (usually before 12am)?

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Mutley77 · 08/03/2014 13:07

Clean as we go along - as the others have said. And yes - pack the day before completion day (aka moving day). In my experience once you have exchanged contracts you are all held to a completion date and if anyone renages on it, there will be penalties, therefore you are fairly safe. I have never exchanged and completed on same day - that I would find stressful!!!

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starfishmummy · 08/03/2014 13:08

What the others say unless you want to pay for the removal company to store everything for a day or two.

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Minnieisthedevilmouse · 08/03/2014 13:10

Day of move. Hoover only :)

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 13:12

Nick - not especially dirty but the new place would be quite a sizeable house, so it's not that fast to clean. I like to have carpets professionally cleaned ideally. And especially thoroughly clean kitchen and bathrooms - it takes time, I was going to get prof cleaners in as it's much faster and better than what I'd do in a big rush.
And when would you be doing it? you wouldn't be going around cleaning/hoovering when removals are bringing stuff in! also as I say if the day is wet they could bring mud in - how to protect carpets?

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 13:14

Mutley, so pack before completion and store all in lorries? do they charge extra for that?

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 13:16

Minnie, and when do you a proper clean?
It just sounds like you you have to live in a relatively dirty house for a few days while unpacking - and then clean? But what if carpets need prof clean - it's much better without furniture and boxes around..

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HMG83 · 08/03/2014 13:26

I moved in the day I completed and the previous owners had left the place in a state. It was disgusting. Black dust everywhere, food up the walls, grubby handprints everywhere.

I didn't get the keys til 4:30pm either, so was in a right state by the time the removal guys arrived.

Horrific.

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Spickle · 08/03/2014 13:52

If you are prepared to pay the extra, you can hire the removal lorry overnight to store your belongings enabling you to clean thoroughly without all the boxes being brought in the new property at the same time, (or to clean the old house on completion day without all the boxes). My removal company also offered a cleaning service (at the house you were leaving and/or the house you were moving to), but of course this would all be an "extra" to pay too. So, pretty much anything can be done but don't expect it to be free. After all, the removal company loses a lorry for a day or two when it could be out on another removal job.

Solicitors would advise anyone not to move out early before monies have been received by all people in the chain.

Unfortunately no-one knows what the weather will be like on any given day, so it would be pot luck, however the removal people should have suitable covers to protect the floors when marching in and out with your belongings.

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specialsubject · 08/03/2014 14:30

very kind of you, but when moving in a chain there are limits to what can be done. I left our place two days before completion - I cleaned thoroughly as I packed (cupboards etc) and then was following the removal men round with a hoover. But it was raining on the day of the move and there is only so much that can be done, even with floor covers.

As I was leaving the area I couldn't come back again, nor would I want to. I left it as I would wish to find it, and the new owners would have found it instantly habitable, but I can't say i steam cleaned carpets!

if it was raining on their move-in day they would also have had the same issue.

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HauntedNoddyCar · 08/03/2014 15:02

Essentially with what you seem to want:
Pack and load lorries day before completion
Clean old house
Complete
Clean new house
Day after completion unload lorry.

So you'd be looking for 2 nights storage which you will of course have to pay for.

You'd have to be careful on the cleaning for the new house as if completion were delayed for any reason, you wouldn't be able to get them in.

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BranchingOut · 08/03/2014 16:06

I think you just have to accept that things will be less than perfect for a bit.

We moved in the summer and had our cleaner comfy around to our old house after we left. Plus an oven-cleaning co. But the movers managed to make a mark on the carpets from bringing the stuff out of the loft! I had looked after those carpets for five years and they got marked on our last day...they can put down blankets, but if it is the slightest bit damp marks can still get through.

I would just arrange for a local cleaner to come by your new house later on in the day so they can do the bathrooms and kitchen while you are unpacking other things.

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BranchingOut · 08/03/2014 16:11

Come not comfy!

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TheFantasticFixit · 08/03/2014 16:45

Sorry yo be harsh, but unless you are prepared to pay uber £££ you are delusional.

You might hope or be able to negotiate that the vendor will clean as they leave, but if you want a day or two post completion to take your time cleaning the new house you will need to pay for storage of your belongings. So that means paying for removals to attend and clear your house, transport to storage unit, then pay for storage unit for the one/two days and finally pay for removals from storage unit to new house.

A vendor will not move prior to completion date as the property is not 'yours' - you won't have paid for it!
If it is currently tenanted, you might be able to negotiate the tenant moving out prior to your completion date, and usually tenants will clean upon end of tenancy. But there is no obligation for them to accommodate you in this request.
You generally pay removals per hour, plus VAT. I highly doubt that they will allow you to 'store' in their trucks, and if they did they will charge you highly for the privilege.
Where do you suppose to be able to park said lorry for the couple of cleaning days?

As people have already said, you usually clean as you go or organise removals for after completion - but obviously if you are selling a property and completing on that on the same day this won't be possible. Other than that, keep things in boxes and organise cleaners for the day after you move in and unpack after that.

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LIZS · 08/03/2014 16:54

You only get the keys when money changes hands at completion unless you have a formal agreement for access and vendor has moved out sooner. Most of the time the actual physical moves happen simultaneously so there is no time between vendor moving out and you in. You could ask the removals to store your stuff overnight and deliver next day but it will cost you more as that van/team cannot move someone else.

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Glasshammer · 08/03/2014 17:25

Can you move some stuff into the garage so you can aqua vac?

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 19:09

thanks for all the useful advice.

I only need one day for cleaning, TheFantastic, not a couple of days, so as many advise would want removals to keep stuff in lorry overnight - I know it would cost extra, but how much, does anyone know? I think parking is possible in the evenings/overnight for free in many areas (?). if it's, say 200 extra - then feasable, but if they charge the equivalent to two days full work, then no good, as it could be huge amount extra. Obviously they would work half day each, but do they mainly charge for actual physical work hours or just the time the lorry is used?

Interesting thought re asking the vendors to clean (obviously I will pay them to pay the prof cleaners), if they are moving a day sooner into rented. I know there is a slight risk that there is a glitch on completion day but I assume it wouldnt be delayed more than another day! In any case the vendors would have signed rental contracts and paid deposit there well before that day, so even if there was a glitch they would have to go into their rented. Serious glitch is unlikely as only three parties in the chain.

Glass, no, too much stuff and furniture, small garage.

Special and Branching - you are so nice! Even cleaning the oven and all cupboards!! so far i've never moved into a place where the vendors cleaned it thoroughly (or anywhere near, though it wasn't terrible either), just very unfresh/dusty and carpets usually not in great condition. An odd mark on carpets from removals is fine - it's cleaning around boxes and furnoture which is dreadful. I really don't want perfection just something that's pleasant enough.

HMG that's dreadful, so much for a supposedly happy day when you get the new house! Mind you that's quite extreme, you were unlucky.

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LIZS · 08/03/2014 19:31

It would be more than the equivalent of 2 half days. You would have to be out by lunchtime on first day and presumably not unload until at least lunchtime the next.

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everlong · 08/03/2014 19:43

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Racers · 08/03/2014 20:04

Lorries would need to be parked on a secure site and fully insured so you do pay for that. My inlaws moved out on a Friday, their stuff was held over the weekend at the company site, then transported to new house on the Monday. The length of the journey meant it would have been an overnight stay for the removals crew anyway, had it been delivered on the same day, but its till cost a few thousand in total.

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beaglesaresweet · 08/03/2014 20:27

do you know how much extra they paid, Racers? In my case it's also a long journey and lots of stuff to pack so it will be overnight I assume anyway, but then it will be another night if I want to clean for a day (and can't get keys early on completion day).
Yes, I'd think they would normally go to park on company site, if there is such nearby.
everlong - it's really very nice and honourable of you! I think it helps if vendors move round the corner as you would be in contact with new owners and don't want bad opinions from neighbours Grin, but I m sure you'd clean anyway as you are house proud, even if maybe a touch less thoroughly Grin.

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morethanmama · 08/03/2014 20:30

I bought a probate sale house and the executors let us in a couple of says before completion to bleach the place!

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