Pre-Sale Window Cleaning in Melbourne
When a heritage home goes to market, the windows, particularly the leadlight, are either a selling feature or a liability. Pre-sale window cleaning for period homes across Melbourne's inner-east is time-sensitive, scope-specific work: timed to the photographer's schedule, confirmed in writing, and completed with the same care as any other job on a home of this significance.
Pre-sale scope
- Full interior and exterior window clean across all accessible levels
- Leadlight panels cleaned with ammonia-free solutions. Condition assessed and noted before we begin
- Sash frames, sills and tracks cleaned and dried. No drip marks on the day of photography
- Fly screens cleaned or removed and set aside where the agent has requested screens out for photography
- Written booking confirmation. Date, time, scope and any specific requirements noted
- Day-before confirmation to check access is in place and nothing has changed
Why pre-sale window cleaning matters more on a period home
A leadlight fanlight, original bay windows, Federation dining room panels catching afternoon light. These are features selling agents in Toorak, Hawthorn and Kew reference in campaign material. They're also features that show grime differently from plain glass. Lead came and coloured sections hold dirt in ways that flat glass doesn't.
Campaign photography is usually the best photography a home will ever have. Streaked or poorly cleaned windows follow the property through every listing, every print ad, every agency window. A clean done with the wrong products on leadlight can leave residue that's more visible under a photographer's lighting than in ordinary daylight.
Pre-sale bookings coincide with the highest-stress point of the campaign. The checklist is long and the date is fixed. We treat the booking accordingly: confirmed in writing, no ambiguity about when we arrive or what we do.
What to expect
Call or fill in the form as early as possible
Pre-sale bookings work best with at least a week's notice. More during spring auction season. Tell us the photography date and we'll work back from there.
We confirm availability upfront
If we can take the booking, we'll say so clearly. If we can't make the date work, we'll tell you immediately so you can make other arrangements.
Booking confirmed in writing
Date, arrival window, scope, any specific requests from the agent, all confirmed in writing.
Day-before confirmation
We call the day before to confirm access is in place: gate codes, whether the home will be occupied, any changes to the photography schedule.
The job, completed to scope
Sills dried at every pane, frames wiped, screens returned or set aside as requested. If we find a section of leadlight that needs flagging before photography, we tell you before we leave.
Sash & Polish provides pre-sale window cleaning across the suburbs above. These suburbs account for a significant share of Melbourne's highest-value heritage property transactions. If you're outside this area, it's worth a call, but we won't take work we can't do properly.
Common questions about double-storey cleaning
Do you need to come inside to clean the upper-level windows?
For interior cleaning of upper-level windows, yes. We'll confirm this when we discuss the job. Some clients prefer exterior-only at upper levels, others want the full interior and exterior clean. Either is workable; we just need to know before we arrive so we can plan the access sequence.
What is a water-fed pole system and why does it matter for heritage homes?
A water-fed pole uses deionised (purified) water fed through a brush head on an extendable pole to clean exterior glass without a squeegee. Because the water has had all minerals removed, it dries without leaving spots. For upper-level heritage glass, it's preferable to squeegee work because it applies less pressure and doesn't require physical contact with the frame.
Do you clean the tracks and sills at upper level?
Yes. Sash tracks at upper level accumulate the same grit and debris as ground-floor tracks, and they're often neglected because they're harder to reach. A jammed upper-level sash lock affects ventilation in rooms that may not have other opening windows. We clean the tracks at every level as part of the standard service.
How long does a double-storey clean take?
It depends on the size of the property, the number of windows at each level, and whether you want interior cleaning included. A typical double-storey Edwardian with twelve to sixteen windows across both levels takes two to three hours for a full interior and exterior clean. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when we quote.
Are you insured for working at height?
Yes. We carry public liability insurance and hold current Working Safely at Heights certification. Certificates of Currency are available on request before any booking.
Tell us your photography date.
Pre-sale bookings move quickly, particularly in spring. Fill in the form with your photography date and suburb and we'll confirm availability promptly.