Did you know that when you sell your home there are laws governing the condition in which you must leave the premises for the new owner? In the real estate world we refer to this as leaving the home in "broom swept" condition.
On page four section 5 of a Residential Resale Real Estate Purchase Contract is explicitly states, "all personal property not included in the sale and all debris will be removed from the Premises".
In the height of the foreclosure crisis and economic recession thousands of homes were abandoned and littered with trash and debris left behind by the previous home owners leaving either the bank or the new owners to clean up the mess. This quick and mass exodus of homes left this part of the contract almost null and void as there wasn't a way for this to be regulated or monitored until the bank took back the home through the foreclosure process.
However, now that the worst of the housing crisis is behind us and we've transitioned back in to a healthy and stable real estate market, traditional buyers and sellers are coming across this phrase in the purchase contract more and more. The law does not state a seller must have their home professional cleaned or spotless for the new owners. It's merely a guideline or an attempt to keep home owners from burdening the new buyers with the removal of trash and debris that they simply did not want to take care of themselves.
When you've sold your home and are moving in to a new one, as a rule of thumb, think about what you want the condition of your new home to be in when you arrive. This is the same condition you should leave your old home for the new owners.
If you are in the market to purchase a new home or are thinking of selling your current residence, contact us here at Zion Realty. We'd take great pleasure in providing you with a free market analysis or home evaluation to help you determine if buying or selling is the right move for you. Simply click on the Contact tab and fill out the form.