What does “clean and vacant” actually mean when you're selling a house in Nova Scotia?

Issues with “Clean and Vacant” is something that has come up a few times this summer, so I thought I would write a short post about it.

The house (and property) should be clean and tidy. Honestly, the cleaner the better, but certainly “broom clean” is a must.

If you are buying, it may not hurt to include a professional cleaning condition in your agreement so you can be confident that the home will be clean.

One thing that keeps popping up is garbage and debris being left behind when the seller moves out. When you leave a house, you are required to take all of your “stuff” with you, or dispose of it unless otherwise specified in your agreement. This includes not leaving garbage on the curb in front of the house on closing day as well.

If you do not properly clean your house and property it will likely cause issues on closing day. That can hold things up, and often involves quite a bit of discussion about holding back funds or adjusting the purchase price to allow for the cost of a junk removal company to remedy the issue. The simplest solution is to have it all done prior to closing day.

Don’t leave things behind as a “favour” to your home’s new owners unless you have discussed it. Donate or dispose of old/extra appliances, building materials, furniture etc. When buying or selling a home, one man’s trash is another’s treasure rarely applies.

Check out a few of my quick videos for other helpful hints to make your real estate transaction as painless as possible.

Closing Day - Canadian Real Estate Law

Closing Costs - Canadian Real Estate Law

Right of Ways - Canadian Real Estate Law

Moving Forward:

There are a lot of things to consider when you decide to buy a home, sometimes it can be overwhelming.  If you have any questions about making this decision we offer a flat fee consultation service. You can come to chat and ask questions. We'll give you some advice about your options and what your next steps might be. There is no commitment after the consult. If you have decided to go ahead with a purchase, and wish to retain us we would love to work with you.

If you have any questions about this subject, you can call us at (902) 826-3070 or email us at info@highlanderlaw.ca to set up a meeting with one of our lawyers at our Tantallon law firm. You can also schedule a no commitment Issue Review Consult for $250+HST where you have the opportunity to explain your situation to a lawyer and get basic advice before deciding whether or not you'd like to retain us. 

By: Briana C. O’Grady J.D – Associate Lawyer

 The information and materials on this blog are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Nothing contained on this blog is legal advice or constitutes a legal opinion. While it is our goal to provide information which is current, legislative changes and court decisions, among other matters, may result in some information no longer being current or accurate. You should consult a lawyer before relying on any information. The views expressed herein by individual contributing lawyers posting entries to the blog are solely those of the authors and should not necessarily be attributed to or considered representative of the firm of Highlander Law Group Lawyers