Proper Prep
Proper preparation is dependent upon proper planning, and of course, good old common sense
Rule #1 RESIST THE URGE TO CLEAN
The LAST thing you should do is bring in a cleaning crew. Your fabulous team of shoveling, dusting, cleaning, washing, shining and polishing professionals should come AFTER you’ve cleared out the furnishings, personal effects, and definitely after you’ve had any painting done.
Rule #2 BECAUSE THAT’S RULE #1
Never, ever deviate from rule #1, unless you fully intend to bring back the cleaning crew and pay them twice.
Rule #3 ESTATE SALE
Do hire a reputable Estate Sale Company to liquidate personal belongings that family and friends do not want, but don’t expect them to get the job done to your satisfaction without a wee bit of intervention. Often an Estate Sale Company will mandate that the family cannot be present to supervise the sale, but they will allow the attorney or real estate agent to be present. Their logic may be that family members might place sentimental value on items and urge that a premium be charged, thereby disrupting a sale. What I have found happens more often is that the estate sale company sets prices too high. You'll want someone with tact to step in and advise them to reduce prices so items get sold. After going to all the trouble to arrange that Estate Sale, you don't want to come back to a property still full of stuff. Estate Sale companies usually charge a percentage of the sale proceeds, anywhere from 25% to 50%. You can often cut a deal with the Estate Sale Company that it be their responsibility to arrange and oversee donating leftovers to charity and/or to dispose of whatever is left once the sale is finished, and to leave the property broom clean.
Rule #4 CHARITY
Do choose a favorite charity to donate leftover items to. You will want a charity that can provide a Donation Receipt from which to deduct the value of donations from the net gain to the estate.
Rule #5 PHILIPS HEAD, FLAT HEAD, HAMMER, PLIERS…
You can hire a handyman, or grab a tool yourself and make little repairs that make a big difference such as screwing screws back in that have come loose from switch plates, hinges and doorknobs, replacing light bulbs, or pulling errant nails from the wall.
Rule #6 DROPCLOTHS AWAY
It’s surprising how much better a home looks with a fresh coat of paint. Over the years, dirt, grime, fingerprints, cooking splats and forgotten incidents forge themselves into the surface of the walls and can't be erased even with a good scrubbing. Throw a nice coat of white paint over it and suddenly the home is bright and light again. And, even though you won’t be enjoying the job they do for years to come, you still want to hire professional painters: painters who know how to tape off corners, lay drop-cloths and protect doors from overspray. Painters who won’t leave white rings from paint cans they haphazardly place on the brick patio. Your cleaners will thank you when they don’t need to go through packages of scrubbing pads and razor blades to remove the overspray on wood floors, doors, windows and mirrors. And, as with anyone you hire, don’t hand over the check until the work is completed to your satisfaction, no matter how charming the guy is.
Rule #7 HOME DEPOT
It’s the little things – like the broken electric outlet cover that draws the eye when you walk in a room. Silly little distractions like that can disappear after a trip to the hardware store to purchase a replacement outlet cover ($1), doorstop (50¢), doorknob ($18), sink strainer ($1.75), bathtub stopper ($1.25), etc.
Rule #8 IT’S TIME…CLEANING CREW!
Once the home is empty of all items, bring in your favorite cleaning crew and make sure they do a thorough job. Yes, they need to wipe out all the kitchen cabinets. Yes, they need to vacuum. Yes, they need to clean the windows. Especially the windows! Every bit of dirt, dust, grime, cobweb, etc., on, and in, every surface, including over the door and window sills, on the fan blades, inside the refrigerator, between the washer and the wall. Every part of the house that can be reached by human hand or feather duster should be touched and cleaned in some fashion.
Rule #9 FILTER CHANGE
Replace a dirty AC filter. Nothing says “this house has suffered from neglect” more than a black, furry filter facing out from the wall or ceiling.
Optional Rule #10 CONDOMINIUMS
One final note about dealing with properties that are condominiums. As soon as is possible, get in touch with the Home Owners Association to pave the way to easy access to the condo and other necessary areas for yourself and your vendors. Find out when the next HOA meeting will be held, and attend. You will often find HOA information posted by the front entrance or near the mailboxes. At the meeting, get to know some of the people in the building. Having their contact information and getting them on your side can become very important if you find problems with association services that impede your ability to get things accomplished. Like, for example, a plumbing valve that the association deemed it necessary to turn off to the unit.
