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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Broom clean is a term used to describe the condition in which a seller or a renter must leave their home or unit after moving out. Although the exact meaning is open to interpretation, broom-clean homes are at a minimum free of any excess items, like personal belongings and debris, and have been swept or vacuumed. What does broom clean mean
Leaving a home in broom-clean condition doesn’t require repairs or refreshing, like or smoothing over cracks. It doesn’t even mean having the premises professionally cleaned. Rather, it requires tidy, swept floors and vacuumed carpets — things you’d accomplish with a broom or brush (hence the name). s and other surfaces should be clear of dirt, dust and debris, too. All personal items must be removed from the premises, including rugs, wall decorations and furniture — anything the new owner or the landlord would have to discard. Even items that a seller may think the new owner would want, such as buckets of paint that match the living room walls or extra should be thrown out (unless the buyer specifically requests they remain). Because there is no legal definition for the term broom clean — also known as “swept clean” or “broom swept” — it’s important for buyers and sellers to come to an agreement w about details regarding cleanliness and home condition before the move-out or. For example, you may need to decide things like whether or not defrosting the freezer or cleaning the oven is required and the extent to which the bathtub is scrubbed and marks are removed from the walls. A is necessary to ensure that a home or apartment is in broom-clean condition. The will specify in what kind of condition the seller needs to leave the home. When in doubt, ask your what . As a general rule, anything that’s permanently attached to the residence is considered a , and needs to stay behind, like lighting fixtures and towel bars in the bathroom. Of course, all trash and garbage must be removed. Some realtors make a distinction between broom-clean condition and professionally cleaned condition. Professionally cleaned homes have been more thoroughly scrubbed and gone over and are nearly immaculate. Obviously, engaging a professional cleaning service may mean additional Broom clean example
If you’re selling your home, what you can’t take with you should be outlined in your contract. If your buyer asked for your couch and washing machine but excluded your dryer. and you agreed to it, then you must leave behind the couch and washing machine, but dispose of or take your dryer with you. When in doubt, ask your real estate agent to clarify. You don’t want to jeopardize the sale because you took the bookshelves you agreed to leave behind. You also can’t leave the home filthy for your buyers, so no trash or massive dust bunnies should be in evidence. If you’re a renter, moving out is more straightforward. Your rental unit should be left in the condition you found it in, or better. It’s always a good idea to take pictures upon moving in and moving out, so you don’t get charged for any pre-existing damage. Your landlord or property manager may not keep good records or remember that the , say, were damaged before you moved in — and could erroneously hold back your deposit as reimbursement. Bottom line on broom clean
Though some states mandate that it be part of standard , there’s no exact, legal definition of broom clean. And in a sense, it’s a formality, since most new occupants will want to clean before unpacking anyway. Still, it’s considered a courteous thing to do, to not leave behind a mess or dirty, unsanitary-looking place. Follow this rule of thumb in broom cleaning: If something could be picked up with a vacuum pass or the sweep of a brush or duster, you need to do so. If anything looks like it could go in the trash, put it in there and take it away. In short, don’t leave anything undone or left behind for the newcomer to find — except, maybe, a bottle of champagne. SHARE: Rae Hartley Beck is a writer and editor with over eight years of experience in personal finance. Her work has most recently appeared in Bankrate, MoneyWise and Investopedia. Rae specializes in credit card rewards, investing, real estate, home improvement, lending and financial advice for millennials, Gen Z, Gen Alpha and their parents. Troy Segal is Bankrate's Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value. Related Articles