New house prep in Exeter
Professional new house prep services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£260
Typical Duration
2-5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Complete new house preparation service before you move in. I'll deep clean, make minor repairs, fit essential security, and sort all those niggling issues - so you walk into a home that's actually ready to live in.
The Problem With 'Vacant Possession'
The house is legally yours. Keys collected. Congratulations!
You walk in and... it's grimy. Previous owner's picture holes everywhere. That shelf's wonky. Cupboard door hanging off. Sticky residue on the worktop. Windows filthy. No smoke alarms. Is that mould in the bathroom?
"Vacant possession" means empty, not ready to live in.
💡 Pro tip: It's infinitely easier to clean, repair, and prepare a house BEFORE you fill it with furniture and boxes. Once your stuff's in, these jobs become 10x harder. Smart buyers book this the day before moving.
What Gets Done
The service is flexible, but here's what most people need:
🧹 Deep Clean Package
| Area | What Gets Cleaned |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | Inside all cupboards, appliances, work surfaces, sink |
| Bathrooms | Toilet, bath, shower, tiles, grouting, sealant |
| Throughout | Skirting boards, window sills, door frames |
| Windows | Inside and outside (ground floor) |
| Floors | Vacuumed and mopped before anything goes in |
🔧 Essential Repairs
Common jobs I do during prep:
- Fill picture/drill holes from previous owner
- Fix wonky shelves and rails
- Replace missing cupboard handles
- Adjust sticky doors
- Tighten loose fixtures
- Touch up paint where needed
- Make good minor damage
🔒 Security & Safety
Move-in essentials:
- Fit smoke alarms (if missing/faulty)
- Install window locks
- Check door locks work properly
- Test electrical sockets and switches
- Locate and test stopcock
- Basic safety check
🎨 Finishing Touches
Making it yours:
- Remove old adhesive hooks
- Clean off sticky residue
- Wipe down light switches (you'd be amazed)
- Clean inside wardrobes
- Fresh smell - not "previous owner smell"
Build Your Prep Package
Essential (2-3 hours) - £110-£160
- Deep clean kitchen and bathroom
- Fill picture holes
- Basic security check
- Smoke alarm testing
Standard (3-4 hours) - £160-£210
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Window lock fitting
- Minor repairs and adjustments
- Full property clean
- Fresh paint touch-ups
Comprehensive (4-5 hours) - £210-£260
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Extensive repairs
- External window cleaning
- Garden clearance (basic)
- Whatever else needs sorting
Pricing Guide
| Package Level | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Essential clean + basics | 2 hrs | £110 |
| Standard prep + repairs | 3 hrs | £160 |
| Full comprehensive prep | 4 hrs | £210 |
| Extended (larger property) | 5 hrs | £260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. I'll quote accurately once I know what you need.
Why Do This Before Moving?
| ✅ Empty House = Easy | ❌ Full House = Nightmare |
|---|---|
| Clean properly without furniture in the way | Trying to clean around boxes |
| Paint and repair easily accessible | Moving stuff constantly |
| Fitted carpet gets properly cleaned | Ground-in dirt from day one |
| Can assess and fix everything | Live with problems for months |
| One focused day | Weeks of gradual sorting |
Why Choose Us for New house prep in Exeter?
House properly cleaned before your stuff goes in
Minor repairs and improvements completed
Security and safety basics sorted
Walk into a ready-to-live-in home
What to Expect
Step 1: Initial Walkthrough & Plan
We meet at the property, walk through room by room, and agree what needs doing. You set priorities and budget - I'll work to that.
Step 2: Systematic Prep Work
I work through the agreed list methodically. Clean first (gets messy), then repairs, then finishing touches. You can pop in anytime to check progress or you can leave me to it.
Step 3: Final Check & Handover
Walk through together at the end. Everything's done, house is ready, you move in tomorrow without the stress of sorting basics while unpacking.
🔧 DIY Tips
If you want to tackle this yourself, here's a systematic approach:
📋 Essential kit
- Good quality cleaning products
- Bucket, cloths, sponges, mop
- Filling knife and filler
- Paint for touch-ups
- Basic tool kit
- Bin bags (lots of them)
🏠 Room-by-room approach
Start with kitchen:
- Empty and clean inside ALL cupboards
- Degrease behind cooker/hob
- Clean inside oven thoroughly
- Scrub sink and taps
- Wipe down all surfaces
- Clean floors last
Bathrooms next:
- Descale toilets, sinks, baths
- Clean shower screen/curtain
- Re-grout or re-seal if manky
- Clean mirrors and chrome
- Check for leaks under sinks
- Ventilation working?
Living areas:
- Fill ALL previous owner's picture holes
- Wipe down skirting and door frames
- Clean windows inside
- Test all sockets and switches
- Check smoke alarms present and working
- Vacuum and mop floors
⚠️ Don't forget
- Inside kitchen appliances (even if they look clean)
- Top of kitchen units (dust collector)
- Behind radiators
- Window tracks and sills
- Light switches (bacteria central)
- Door handles
💡 Pro trick: Do the clean in TWO passes. First pass is the proper scrub - gets messy. Second pass next day is the finishing touches and makes it properly fresh. Most people only do one pass and wonder why it still feels grubby.
🔧 Basic repairs list
Easy wins you can do yourself:
- Fill picture holes with ready-mixed filler
- Tighten loose door handles and hinges
- Replace missing cupboard knobs (take one to match)
- WD-40 sticky locks and hinges
- Touch up scuff marks with paint
- Replace cracked plug socket covers
- Clean light switches with sugar soap
⏱️ Time management
Realistic timings for DIY:
- Small flat: 1 full day
- 3-bed house: 2 full days
- 4-bed+: 3 days minimum
Professional cleaner saves time but won't fix stuff. I do both, and know what actually matters for move-in day.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏚️ Old Exeter properties? These often need more prep than modern houses. Decades of accumulated grime, bodged repairs, and "character features" (translation: problems). Budget extra time and be realistic about condition.
Timing is everything - book this for the day before your move, or morning of if furniture arrives afternoon. Empty house + whole day = maximum impact.
Rental properties - landlords have to provide "reasonable cleanliness" but their definition and yours probably differ. A prep clean means you're starting fresh, not living with someone else's dirt.
New builds - even these benefit from a prep clean. Builders are messy, and there's often dust and debris behind "finished" work. Plus I can spot and document any snags before you complete.
Combining services? Makes total sense to bundle this with window locks, smoke alarms, minor carpentry, basic decorating. I'm there anyway - efficient use of time.
What about gardens? Basic garden clearance (cut overgrown grass, tidy borders, clear rubbish) can be included if time allows. Full garden renovation is a separate quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'new house prep' actually include?
Whatever you need to make the place liveable before moving in. Common jobs: deep clean, window lock fitting, smoke alarm installation, minor repairs, filling holes from previous owner's pictures, fresh paint touch-ups, securing loose fixtures. Basically the stuff that's easier to do when the house is empty.
How is this different from just hiring a cleaner?
Cleaners clean. I clean AND fix stuff. Wonky shelf? Sorted. Missing cupboard handle? Fitted. Dodgy smoke alarm? Replaced. Hole in the wall? Filled. It's a one-stop service to get your house actually ready, not just clean.
Can you coordinate with removal company?
Absolutely. I often work the day before or morning of the move - get everything ready, then your furniture arrives to a clean, secure, sorted house. Much better than trying to clean around boxes.
What if I find more issues once we start?
Flexible approach - we agree what's urgent and what can wait. Work to your budget and timeline. If we find something significant, I'll flag it and quote separately rather than just cracking on.
Is this worthwhile for rental properties too?
Definitely. Landlords often leave properties in 'acceptable' condition - which means you're cleaning someone else's mess. For a couple of hours' cost, you move into a properly clean, safe place. Worth every penny.
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