Quite a few people clean their houses before receiving guests. It should be no different when expecting a valuation expert in New South Wales. Unlike your other guests, your valuer is actually there to inspect your home. Cleaning it beforehand is an important part of your preparation.
Cleaning is generally a great idea because it creates a safe and healthy environment free from dust, dirt, germs, and pollutants. It will also create a comfortable environment for those who visit your home.
We’ll discuss why cleaning can be beneficial and the effects of a messy home on the valuation process, but first, here are some tips on how to clean your house.
How to clean your house for a valuation
If you clean your house often, you won't really need to do a deep clean. Here are our top ten tips on how to clean your house before a valuation:
- Remove clutter from your home
- Clean and disinfect your bathroom and kitchen
- Wipe down counter tops, mirrors and glass surfaces
- Clean your cupboards on the inside and outside
- Treat any mould or dampness on walls and ceilings
- Clean your windows, blinds, curtains or shutters
- Dust off ceiling fans, light fixtures and chandeliers
- Vacuum carpets, sweep and mop floors
- Clean your yard by removing any junk
- Mow the lawn and maintain your garden.
Do I have to mow my lawn before a valuation?
While your lawn won’t necessarily affect the value of your house in a full valuation, it would still be a great idea to mow it. Maintaining your lawn or garden, if you have one, can be great if you are getting your valuation for a sale. It will also appeal to buyers who are interested in a property with a lawn and an aesthetically pleasing outdoor space as well.
When preparing for a valuation, homeowners often forget about the exterior of their homes. While the inside of your home is assessed in more depth, the outside will create the first impression.
Making the outside of your house look presentable is especially important for a kerbside valuation. These are usually carried out when valuers don't have access to your property or when there is enough market data available for your property. For this type of valuation, only the exterior of your home will be looked at.
Does paint affect a valuation?
Paint can affect your valuation, although not significantly. The colour of the paint and its condition will be recorded. If the paint or even the wallpaper is chipped or peeling off your walls, it’ll be a fantastic idea to repaint or redo it. Patching up holes and filling in cracks in walls can also be rewarding.
Does carpet affect a valuation?
Carpets will also be inspected during a home valuation. If your carpets are dirty, worn out, or retain certain unpleasant odours, this will be noted. Deep-cleaning your carpets or replacing them with laminated or hardwood floors before your valuation can increase your home’s value.
Can a messy house affect the valuation?
A messy house does not affect your valuation. Valuers are trained to overlook any mess, but if your mess or clutter makes certain parts of your home inaccessible, it can affect your valuation.
Any signs of neglect due to not cleaning your home will raise red flags. For example, untreated mould or peeling paint. Maintaining your home can prevent damage, and increase its value.
Does clutter affect a valuation?
Psychologists say that clutter can cause stress. Although valuers are trained to ignore dirt and clutter, they are still humans and may feel uncomfortable in an overly chaotic house.
Clutter could make getting to certain parts of your home difficult or even impossible to come by, which could affect the outcome of your valuation. It would therefore be best to declutter before your valuation. This will make it a pleasant experience for the valuer and make the inspection much simpler.
If you’re wondering if junk in your yard counts as clutter, the answer is yes. While it can be removed, having it there during the valuation can negatively affect the value of your property, even more so if potential buyers come to view your house. Getting rid of it will work in your favour.
Do home valuers move furniture?
Valuers may request that furniture be moved if it prevents them from inspecting the walls of your home. Large pieces of furniture may be covering mould or dampness on walls that even you were unaware of. If any damage due to dampness occurred or if mould was discovered, you will have the opportunity to remove it before your home is put on the market for sale. This also means that the new homeowners won’t get any unpleasant surprises down the line.
Your valuer will also look at built-in furniture like kitchen and bathroom cabinets. It is therefore advisable to clean, repair, or repaint them if need be.
In conclusion
While a clean home will not have a greater valuation outcome than a slightly messy one, cleaning and maintenance go hand-in-hand. If you keep your house clean, the effects of wear and tear will be less over time. This can also extend the overall life of your home and its appliances. The age and condition of your home will be taken into consideration during the valuation inspection.
A clean and clutter-free home will also give your valuer full and free access to every inch of your home. You’ll then be able to get the most accurate report for your home. Apart from the valuation process, a clean house will also create a comfortable and safe working environment for your valuer.
Do not forget about preparing the exterior of your house for the valuation. You can do so by painting the outside walls and fences, filling up cracked walls, mowing your lawn, clearing up your garden, and getting rid of junk in your yard.
Reach out to Vals NSW for more information on the valuation process and how to prepare for one. You can also call us to get a service from our residential property valuers.