Move in and Move out Cleans

Even if you are a fastidious home owner it is likely when you consider moving you will cast a more critical eye around your home and try to see it as apotential buyer would. You will think about reducing clutter and consider ways to freshen up the home to prepare it for sale. We recently helped a regular client clean especially in preparation for the photographs for the sale of their home as featured in the East Anglian sold by Savills.

If you are planning to move we would love to help you to - this not only shows your property off to its best advantage but prevents risk of cleaning damage or redecoration when a good clean is all that is needed. As well as bringing the best in Spring Cleaning these are things that we recommend you consider in addition to boooking us to clean ahead of your Estate Agent photos being taken.

Basic Home Maintenance
Start by getting around to minor home repairs that will make the place feel loved to your prospective buyer or future tenants or guests. As regular cleaners we may notice some of these issues and will report them to you. Sometimes because we go into all the nooks and crannies as cleaners we are the ones to see small problems like this which can prevent high future costs for you.

Sinks , Taps and Loos
Check behind all sinks for leaks, change washers in taps that are starting to drip and work out where any damp maybe coming from. Small leaks have a habit of becoming big ones if not attended to. Water from these hidden leaks and others under dishwashers and washing machines can cause unsightly damage to flooring surfaces if not checked out and in extreme cases can cause risk of electric shock or floorboard rot.

Spark your interest in the electrical
Change dead lightbulbs to ensure that your home is well lit in any photography even if the agent comes on a dull day. Also ensure you look into any sparking or smell of burning around an appliance or at electrical points or or exposed wiring or electrical fittings not flush to the wall - these need to be investigated for everyone’s safety. Get proper advice from a trusted local electrician who is NAPIT registered and fully qualified. Poor electrical wiring or faulty home repairs in wiring can be very dangerous and cause fires or electric shocks.

Make sure your boiler is safe and efficient
Get your boiler serviced so it is working efficiently and not costing you more to run than it should. This also ensures your safety if you get a gas safety certificate along side this process for a gas boiler. This is much cheaper than having to replace or negotiate late on with buyers should the boiler not be working when they try it.

Unblock drains and replace missing plugs
If there is a long standing whiff and unblocker products do not help you may need professional advice from a plumber. Never put oil or fat down the sink or anything other than toilet paper and ensure family members know not to either. Chewing gum, sanitary items, tissues and wipes will cause future problems for you and your neighbours.

Window Areas
Good ventilation and a vinegar based window cleaning solution prevent mould on window edges caused by condensation. To make the solution we use two squirts of washing up liquid plus half a cup of vinegar , top up with water in a spray bottle. Do clean and label it carefully if you are reusing a clean empty product bottle. It will prevent mould forming around your windows.

Remember to open the windows and clean inside all the grooves. If you haven’t had them open even a crack through the winter it can get a little gruesome with unhealthy black mould in there. Use an old toothbrush to clean out the dust, cobwebs and any mould. If you decide to repaint timber frames be sure they are dry before they are closed - painted shut windows are not just frustrating they can lead to condensation and mould and are a risk if someone needs to escape in a fire.

Moisture traps are also helpful - available from discount stores like QD, Pound stretcher and B&M. Here is a link to QD type Moisture Trap at QD just follow simple pack instructions. Keep these and all cleaning products safely away from children.

Walls

Young picassos may have left their mark - pencil and pen marks will lift with an eraser product such as Flash Magic Eraser (test first) but for general marks we agree with Dulux’s advice to preserve your paint. How to clean painted walls - follow the link below for an in depth guide - here is an excerpt of their advice

Whether you’re doing a big spring clean or cleaning specific marks and stains off of walls, start by dusting off any excess dirt using a cloth-covered broom or mop, as this will prevent dirt and grime from being smeared around. Always use soft sponges and cloths to avoid scratching the paintwork.  

Next, use warm, soapy water (using your mildest cleaning detergent) and a soft sponge to gently clean your walls. Don’t oversoak your sponge, as too much liquid could result in water stains being left on your walls. Leave the soapy solution on for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse off the detergent using clean water. Find out more at Dulux How to clean your wall

However: Do be aware that water soluble paint is likely to come off to some extent no matter how gentle you are. In kitchens and bathrooms especially a water resistance paint is recommended should you decide to repaint or retouch to sell. Our team includes a decorator who can support this kind of decorating.

Ceilings and Beams
Ensure any loose plasterwork filled and secured and paint is in good order. If its in good condition see who else us up there. Spiders love old beams and hidden corners, we use microfibre extending dusters to avoid snagging to gently dust away but we also find vacuuming with a brush attachment is brilliant for low easy to reach beams. We would NEVER advise climbing up on anything with a vacuum but from the floor if the hose attachment is long enough - eg with Shark liftaway or miele style vacuums this works well. Regular vacuuming using the edge tool under furniture and right into all the corners at floor level (including behind the door) and at a gentler setting on wooden beams is effective for discouraging spiders as they are very sensitive to vibrations. The big problem with robo vacuums currently is they do not have this capability and being circular struggle to get right to the edges so spiders love them!