It's vague. It says it will be cleaned for "move-in buyers". Is "Buyer" defined somewhere in the contract? Is the "buyer" in the second line capitalized?

Wow, I think it could be interpreted either way.

If it had been worded this way:
"Buyer to run clean up and scrap between subcontractors and house to be cleaned and ready for move-in."

It would be obvious that you (the buyer) would be responsible for the final clean.

I think you and your builder need to have a talk. Tell her that you could see how it could be interpreted both ways and you would be willing to pay for half of the professional clean-up crew. That would seem fair to me.

Two sentences? I'd say she pays for the clean up.

"Buyer to run clean up and scrap between subcontractors."

This is really clear....you (the buyer) are to run clean up and scrap between subcontractors.

"House to be cleaned and ready for move-in buyers."

This part is really vague, but to me it sounds like the house is to be cleaned and ready for you (the buyer) to move in. It does not state who will do it. If she expected YOU to clean it, then it should have stated "Buyers to clean house prior to move-in".

Okay, I agree with ccoombs1. The second sentence reads like the house will be cleaned FOR the buyers, not BY the buyers.

If there was a meeting of the minds, it's certainly not clear from that wording.

Indeed, I would be baffled that a client who was willing to clean the really messy stuff suddenly turns all stiff-necked and insists on a professional cleaning crew before she will move in. (Still, whine nicely and maybe you'll get a break.)

I can't make any sense out of this. I don't even think it's a sentence! What in the world is a "move-in buyer?" The only way this could even remotely make sense is if there was a dash, like so..."House to be cleaned and ready for move in - Buyers." It is so vague that you can probably make a very good case for a professional cleaning (and I think you should! It would be much nicer to let someone else get it sparkling...you'll be doing so much anyway just to get ready to more!), but I do agree with worthy's point above...don't be surprised if you hear it again from your GC.

I didn't have to bring it up to the builder. My dh ran into her on the lot and she said the same thing to him. Apparently I misunderstood what she meant by cleaning.

According to dh.....we are to clean it up as if we were moving in right before the hardwood floor guy comes in to sand and refinish the floors. We have to clean it really well so dust and dirt don't get in the finish. This makes sense to me and I agree with this.

It will be professionally cleaned in the end. Glad I didn't say anything!

I know it seems crazy to not want to do the final clean after all of the heavy lifting we have done. Not doing it was just something I was looking forward to. I'm so sick of cleaning that I don't think I would do as good of a job at it as the pro's. I'm sure I would rush the job and regret it.

If I ever build again I will definitely pay for all of the clean-up!!!! That might be my new advice to the newbie builders.

As I said, no meeting of the minds at all. Indeed, none of the third parties here even guessed at the meaning the builder put on the phrase.

Don't be surprised when your professional cleaning does not meet your expiations. They are going to fly through that house faster than you could even imagine.

I'm glad this worked out for you Charliedawg. I do know what you mean about the final clean....I am actually the 1-person clean-up crew (DH is the GC) and I told him that I will clean anything & everything, but I will NOT do the final clean.

When all is said and done, I want to be able to walk off the jobsite, knowing it is dirty but excited to see what it will be like transformed. When I come back, I want to be able to walk in my home, fully cleaned with everything gleaming & shining, and be able to say "Wow, now THIS was worth it."

If I did that final clean myself, I would totally miss out on being able to enjoy the transformation because I'd be too busy cleaning to notice any "wow". I hope that makes sense...DH doesn't get it, but he doesn't have a choice lol.

Glad that things worked out for you Charliedawg! Having to do the final cleanup would be like wrapping your own Birthday gift!

I know this has been resolved but I thought it would help the thread to point out that it matters who drew up the contract. As a general rule, vague terms are interpreted in favor of the party that did NOT draft the contract.