Pre-sale deep clean

The short answer

A deep clean before photographs is one of the few preparation costs that reliably pays for itself. Windows and glass make the biggest difference to how bright rooms photograph; kitchens and bathrooms carry most of a buyer's condition judgement. Do it after any repairs and decoration, then keep it maintained rather than repeating it before each viewing.

What the work involves

Windows inside and out, kitchen appliances and extraction, bathroom descaling and grout, all floor coverings, skirtings, light fittings, and internal doors and handles.

Rules and responsibilities in Scotland

None specific, though a Home Report surveyor's condition assessment is about fabric rather than cleanliness — a clean property simply makes defects easier to see and to have judged fairly.

What commonly goes wrong

Cleaning before the decorator finishes, and leaving windows until last when they should be first.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• A one-off deep clean of a two-bedroom flat is typically a day for two cleaners.
• Oven cleaning is often quoted separately and is worth including.
• Carpet cleaning is worthwhile only where the carpet has life left in it.

What to do, in order

1. 1Complete repairs and decoration first.
2. 2Clean windows and glass inside and out before anything else.
3. 3Deep clean the kitchen including appliances, extractor and inside cupboards.
4. 4Descale the bathroom fully and renew tired silicone.
5. 5Photograph immediately afterwards, then maintain rather than repeat.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Hard water across the Lothians leaves visible limescale on shower screens and taps, which reads as neglect in photographs.
• City centre and main-road flats collect road film on windows quickly, so clean close to the shoot date.
• Tenement stair cleanliness affects first impressions — raise the stair rota with neighbours before viewings start.

When you need a professional

A domestic deep-clean contractor with a written checklist; a specialist for oven cleaning and carpet cleaning.

Common questions

When should the deep clean happen?

After repairs and decoration, immediately before photographs, so the images show the property at its best.

Is professional cleaning necessary?

Not necessarily, but the standard has to be higher than a normal weekly clean, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom.

Related pages

• Decluttering before selling

  Reducing what is in the property so rooms read at their true size.

• Smells, pets and air quality

  The thing viewers notice first and mention least.

• Photography day

  The final hours before the camera and the Home Report surveyor arrive.