[summer80]

We are moving into our new home soon and the new owners will rent out our current home which has been sold.

It's not officially listed yet but the REA called tonight to say a prospective tenant would like to come through tomorrow.

The house is always tidy (I can't stand mess) but its not totally spotless. I want to do a full clean (bathroom scrubbed, floors mopped, cupboards wiped down etc) but my DH thinks a tidy and quick vac is sufficient.

What do you all think? Does a beautifully presented house make you more likely to apply? Or is a generally neat home ok? I think it's the right thing to do for the new owners who no doubt want tenants lined up ASAP....

It's probably a moot question b/c I won't be able to stop myself cleaning it properly but I am interested in what you think?

Thanks in advance!

[Sofia*]

If I know that you are still moving out and it's not even officially listed then I'm not too bothered by how clean it is. I know that people aren't going to give a house a thorough clean until they move out.

If lots of things were broken or my feet were sticking to the carpet I wouldn't be very impressed but it sounds like your house looks good already so I'm with your DH - keep it simple, you must have enough to do already.

Of course it also depends where you live and how easy it is to get a rental. In Perth the market is so tight that I probably wouldn't even care if my feet stuck to the carpet as long as I was assured that it would be clean when I moved in!

[Jellyblush]

Personally, I only care that it is tidy. After all, how clean it is when you live in it is irrelevant to how clean it is when I live in it!

I care more about clutter. I don't like it, I want to see the place properly.

[Genabee]

I would do a full scrub/clean - but that is because until the day my stuff is out of the house, it is my home. People are coming into my home, I want it spotless. I don't care what brings them there...

Also, when things are spotless, it is easier to tell if something mysteriously disappears....

[elizabethany]

If you are currently living in it, then clean and tidy is fine. Get rid of the most obvious, including ALL mould, but don't worry about washing the curtains unless they are obviously dirty.

It really depends on how much YOU want to do while you are packing. It is not like you are getting a benefit from the rental.

[greenthumbs]

Neat and tidy is plenty! You're doing them a favour by allowing them to come into your space as it is.

I'm sure that would be fine from the landlords point of view as well.

[Shellby]

If its tidy I would just let them through, they know you have to do a major clean before they move in so I always never paid attention to that unless it looked like a long term issue like mould on the bathroom ceiling. If the house is tidy the chances are you will leave it clean when you leave also.

Its not up to you to sell the house anymore, so just enjoy and stay tidy.

[bettymm]

Of course it also depends where you live and how easy it is to get a rental. In Perth the market is so tight that I probably wouldn't even care if my feet stuck to the carpet as long as I was assured that it would be clean when I moved in!

Yep, its pretty tight here in canberra too! I look at the basic structures and make sure it all looks in good order ie. decent carpet/curtains/ bathroom/kitchen . Normal household mess I dont care about at all, I can look through that easily. I am put off by awful smells though, because Im wary that it is coming from the carpet, in which case is hopeless ever eliminating it from a rental.

[jayskette]

You are cleaning a house which you no longer own so a tenant that is not your tenant will occupy it?!?!

[Holidayromp]

At the end of the day the tenant won't care. They need a roof over their heads. However the house will be made spotless (hopefully) before they move in so whether or not you have a clean up whilst they are inspecting is wasting your time.