There comes a time in your life that compels you to leave your rented apartment. This situation can be voluntary or driven by external factors. You might want to make a switch and move to a new apartment. Maybe you are now ready for your own house. Sometimes, the condition of your current house doesn’t satisfy you. Maybe your house owner wants to move into the house himself. The situations are endless but the way you can deal with them are quite similar.
Moving out of your rented property piles up a lot of things that you need to do. We’ll skip finding a new house, arranging moving supplies, packing, etc. for another day though. What we are here to talk about is the end of lease cleaning. Well, what is it? And more importantly how can you get it done?
What is end lease cleaning (bond cleaning/move out cleaning)?
End of lease cleaning in simple terms is the house cleaning after a renter vacates a property. It is also called bond cleaning or move out cleaning.
Why is it called bond cleaning?
When you move into a new property, you deposit some money as a security. This security or bond money stays with the property owner for as long as you reside on this property. The rent agreement or contract that you sign contains clauses related to the condition of the house. When you have to vacate, you need to return the house in a clean condition. If you fail to do so, the property owner may deduct some amount from the bond that you deposited in the very beginning. Depending on the contract, the bond amount may vary. It also depends on the kind and amount of damage done to the property while you were living there.
This is why bond cleaning or end of lease cleaning is so important. It is your security deposit that is on line. Also, it makes ethical sense to return something that you ‘borrowed’ in the same condition, right?
When should the end of lease cleaning be done?
As the name suggests – when the lease ends! It is also called move out cleaning for the same reason.
Ideally, you should start your end of lease cleaning after the house is empty and you have moved out all your belongings. It makes house cleaning more efficient and significantly easier.
Who should do the end of lease cleaning?
You have a choice here. You can do it yourself or hire a professional company to do it for you. Of course the latter is preferred because there is a lot of work and plenty of risks involved. Also, end of lease cleaning involved a thorough and deep clean of the house – something only a professional could properly do.
Getting your hands on a good house cleaning company is the challenge for you. We are here to highlight all the steps that you need to follow in order to find a professional end of lease cleaning company.
Steps for choosing an effective and reliable end of lease cleaning company
The goal is simple yet complicated – understanding it is quite straightforward but the execution is tricky. You need your security back and you need it as soon as possible. A good end of lease company will ensure that they do a good job. They will smoothen the bond back process for you.
Step 1: Educating Yourself
The more you know about end of lease cleaning, the easier it will be for you to find an effective solution. Your research should be multi-pronged and should cover all the important facets of this cleaning. Even though you are not doing the cleaning directly, it will be you who will benefit the most if they do a good job.
Researching online
The pursuit of a successful move out cleaning in Melbourne should begin from your computer screen. Go online and look for what end of lease cleaning exactly is and what kind of services and tasks make up this process. Your online research should not be confined with just the pricing and the services though. There are a number of other factors that make up for a good bond cleaning. Let’s go!
- Read about the industry’s standard pricing in your area. End of lease cleaning services are more expensive in cities such as Sydney and Perth.
- Find out what sub-services are included in a general end of lease cleaning service. Understand what each sub-service does and if there is any possibility of cutting costs with any particular service.
- Read online reviews of the end of lease cleaning companies in your vicinity. Look for good options and talk to other people on online forums. Ask relevant questions.
- Research about things such as the time taken to complete the bond cleaning, the supplies and equipment used, the notice period before the professionals will be available, etc.
Read your rent contract carefully
Since the end of lease cleaning has more to do with your security deposit, it is crucial that you are aware of all the terms in your rent contract. Find out all the clauses and conditions which will make you liable to monetary compensation. To understand your contract better, you can talk to your lawyer. You can also consult a friend or a relative who has expertise over legal documents. Finally, there is also the option of speaking with the house owner directly. What is important here is that you understand what you are getting into when you sign such an agreement.
Attached with this agreement is another document – a report on the condition of the house when you first moved in. This condition report is an important document. It contains pictures of different rooms, doors, windows, etc. You can use this to your advantage if the owner claims something that is not true.
After you move out, the property owner will inspect the property. Make sure that you are present at this time.
Talk to professional end of lease cleaners directly
Another beneficial step can be talking directly to different house cleaning companies. Ask them the questions that pique your curiosity. Information regarding the pricing, kind of services, etc. can be gathered directly from this source. It is also more reliable than the internet in some cases. However, there is the angle of getting biassed opinions when you approach a house cleaner directly.
Consult friends and family
Finally, you can talk to people in your contacts who have moved recently. Their reviews and their advice can help you make the right choice easily.
Step 2: Make A Budget
Before you start doing anything substantial, make a budget first. Moving out is an expensive time. The best thing to do here is to write down a list of all the expenses that are coming your way. Then, compare this list to what you can afford. Ensure that you consider the moving and packing expenses as well. There are plenty of other expenses during this time too – realtor fees, security for your new house, etc. It is important to factor all these parameters before you decide how much you can spend on end of lease cleaning services.
Step 3: Compile What Makes A Good Cleaning Company
Here are some signs that an end of lease company will suffice all your requirements.
- A good end of lease cleaning company is experienced and has years of service in its portfolio.
- A good cleaning outfit offers reasonable pricing and works at moderate price points.
- Their customer support is helpful. They go into great details when clearing your doubts.
- They have liability plans in case of damage or loss to the property when they are cleaning.
- They use good quality cleaning supplies.
- They have a staff of qualified and trained cleaners and managers.
- A good move out cleaning company also offers site visits before they start the process. Therefore, their estimates are more accurate.
The important thing to note here is that the best cleaning companies are a mix of all these factors. It is upto to decide which factor is more important to you. This brings us to the next step.
Step 4: Understand What Your Requirements Are
To get the best and the most professional cleaning companies to help you out, you need to be aware of your exact requirements. Although you can consult others to advise you on the services you need, it is always better to be self-reliant. This makes you confident and helps you avoid scammers and cheaters.
In general, an end of lease cleaning includes the following:
- Deep sanitising: This is an important service and is generally needed in all cases. It involves the cleaners using sprays to disperse germicides and anti-bacterial solutions on the property. It helps rid the house of bad odours and makes it disease-free.
- Steam carpet cleaning: If your rented property came with a carpeted floor or had carpets installed on doorways, etc., you might need this service. Carpet cleaning done through this steam treatment is extremely effective. Stains, odours, pet fur, etc. are all dealt with in this case.
- Glass cleaning: As the name suggests, it involves using glass cleaning solutions to clean windows, mirrors, etc.
- Kitchen and bathroom cleaning: One of the spaces in any house that is most prone to dirt and grease, this service is absolutely necessary for all houses.
- Grease and stain treatment: If the house is especially ridden with stains, grease, and mould, this service might be requested separately. In any case, the end of lease cleaning company will do their best to take care of stains and bad odours on their own.
- Outdoor services: This might be optional if your rented apartment did not have a driveway or a lawn. However, if this is not the case, you might need professionals to clear away the dirt and mud on your driveway and other outdoor areas. Techniques like pressure washing are really effective here.
- Tile and grout cleaning: Another specialised service that may be chosen separately. You might need this if the house has particularly dirty walls, tiles, flooring, etc.
Step 5: Start Approaching End Of Lease Cleaning Companies
Here’s what you should do in order to make the most out of this particular step.
The right time to hire an end of lease cleaning company
Prices are dynamic in the case of house cleaning services. If you are flexible with your moving date, you should cut costs here. Movers and packers as well as move out cleaning companies are cheaper to hire during the off-season. The best companies are also easily available then. Winters are usually cheaper in Australia. Also, the end of the month and the weekends should be avoided since cleaners are relatively busier at these times.
Interviewing the cleaning company
Once you know when you need the service, it is time to pick up the phone and dial a few digits. Talk to different companies and make a note of all your options.
Ask them about their:
- Availability
- Pricing
- Experience
- Range of services
- Terms and conditions
- After-sales support
Once you narrow down your list of options, time to head on!
Compare estimates
Finally, you can request an estimate from the companies that you are most interested in. Compare these estimates and then make your choice depending on the budget you made earlier.
Step 6: Make A Choice And Further Steps
After you are satisfied with the terms, the pricing – the cleaners, in general – you can book them and pay the advance amount if they demand it. Book a cleaning date that is convenient for you as well as for the people living with you.
After you are done with all the steps mentioned above, here what you can do make the move and the house cleaning even better:
- Make a todo list for yourself. Write down small, doable tasks that can be easily done over the duration of time you have before the movers and the cleaner come.
- Get necessary supplies that you might need before and just after the move.
- If you have pets or kids, make sure that you have a plan for them when this transition is taking place.
- Do not take stress and speak with close ones if you are having trouble coping with the stress of it all.