Builder finishes, 25 years on
South Riding's homeowners association dates to 1995, and much of the community went up in the late 1990s and the 2000s. Many homes here are now old enough for their builder finishes to show wear. Light carpet on stairs and in bedrooms has traffic lanes. Flat paint in stairwells and hallways shows every scuff from backpacks and laundry baskets. Blinds and ceiling fans hold dust that a quick wipe never reaches. Caulk around the tub has started to yellow, and shower grout has darkened. You do not need to replace any of it for the house to look cared for. Start with one deep clean that takes on blinds, fans, baseboards and grout, plus gentle spot cleaning on scuffed walls. Then keep weekly or every-other-week visits for the kitchen, bathrooms and floors, so the house never slides back that far.

