Ideally 3 to 7 days before the agent’s photographer visits. This gives the property time to dry fully and any roof treatment time to start working. If you’re already listed, a mid-campaign clean is still worth it — especially if you’ve had viewings but no offers. The sooner you book, the better your listing photos and first open home presentation will be.

No. Essential Water Blasting uses a soft wash technique — low-pressure application of a biodegradable cleaning solution — specifically designed for painted and delicate surfaces. It’s safe for weatherboard, plaster, brick, concrete block, Harditex, Shadowclad, and all common Auckland cladding types. The cleaning solution does the work, not pressure — so there’s no risk of paint stripping, water ingress, or surface damage.

A standard single-level home takes 2 to 4 hours depending on the size and services booked. A full exterior package (house wash, driveway, gutters, roof treatment, and spider treatment) on a larger two-storey home takes 4 to 6 hours. Essential Water Blasting completes most pre-sale cleans in a single visit — so there’s minimal disruption to your schedule and the property is ready for photos the next day.

Rain doesn’t undo a professional house wash. The cleaning solution has already removed the biological growth (algae, mould, moss) — rain just adds clean water to an already clean surface. The only consideration is timing the clean so the property is dry for photos. If rain is forecast on photo day, coordinate with your agent to reschedule the photographer rather than delaying the clean.

Yes — overwhelmingly. Auckland real estate agents consistently recommend professional exterior cleaning as the single best pre-sale investment. Many agencies have preferred cleaning providers and some include exterior cleaning in their vendor marketing packages. If your agent hasn’t raised it, bring it up yourself — they’ll appreciate the initiative because it gives them better listing photos and an easier property to sell.

A full exterior package — house wash, gutter clean, roof treatment, and spider treatment — typically costs $500 to $1,200+gst depending on the property size and services selected. Individual services start from $80+gst for spider treatment, $99+gst for gutter cleaning, $149+gst for roof treatment, and $199+gst for house washing. All pricing is fixed-rate by the square metre — you know the cost before the job starts.

We can, but we don’t recommend it. Buyers walk around the entire property during viewings and open homes — a clean front and dirty sides or back creates a noticeable contrast that raises more questions than leaving it all dirty. The cost difference between cleaning the front only and the full house is minimal, and the impact of a fully clean exterior is significantly greater. We always recommend a complete house wash for pre-sale properties.

Essential Water Blasting covers all of Auckland — North Shore, Central Auckland, East Auckland, South Auckland, and West Auckland including the Waitakere ranges. Pre-sale exterior cleaning is our most time-sensitive service, so we prioritise bookings for vendors with upcoming photo shoots or auction dates. Call 027 722 4550 for availability.