What is End of Lease Cleaning and Why It is So Important?
End of lease cleaning, also known as bond cleaning or move-out cleaning, is an essential service for tenants who are preparing to leave a rental property. The process involves thoroughly cleaning every corner of the house or apartment to ensure that it meets the standards set by the landlord or property manager. This type of cleaning is crucial for getting the security deposit or bond back, which is often a significant amount of money. In this comprehensive post, we will explore the importance of end of lease cleaning, what it entails, and why it is a critical step for both tenants and landlords.
Table of Contents
What is End of Lease Cleaning?
End of lease cleaning means when the customer or tenant’s house agreement expires and he/she has to leave the house. But before leaving the house or move to a new house he/she has to get cleaned house as per the agreement that cleaning known as the end of lease cleaning. When you are moving out of your old rented home, It is your responsibility that you hand over the property neat and clean to the owner. You have to go away from the property in good condition to get back your bond.
There are so many professional cleaning companies in the United States who provide such kinds of end of lease cleaning services according to the customer needs.
What Makes End of Lease Cleaning Different?
End of lease cleaning differs from regular cleaning in a few key ways:
- Detailed and Thorough: Regular cleaning might involve surface-level tidying, but end of lease cleaning involves deep-cleaning tasks such as scrubbing grout, cleaning behind appliances, and thoroughly washing windows and blinds.
- Comprehensive Checklist: There is a checklist that must be followed during end of lease cleaning to ensure that all areas are addressed. This checklist can be extensive and requires attention to detail.
- Time-Consuming: Because it is a more thorough cleaning, end of lease cleaning takes much longer than a regular cleaning. It can take several hours or even a full day to complete the cleaning depending on the size of the property.
- Professional Standards: Many landlords or property managers expect the property to be cleaned to professional standards. This is why many tenants choose to hire professional cleaners to ensure the property is in top condition before they leave.
How to Prepare Your Home for End of Lease Cleaning?
Moving out requires time and effort and a lot of cash if you have set major cleaning goals. End of lease cleaning is a hectic task, even more, if you are doing it on your own. While many tenants believe that hiring professionals is the only solution, many on the other hand like to save some money and do the hard work themselves. In both cases, you need good tips to get started on the right foot. Here is how you can do it.
Kitchen and Bathroom
Undoubtedly, the kitchen and bathroom are the most used parts of a house which means they need more cleaning. Corners can be the toughest to clean, so start focusing on them a few days before the shifting begins. Use strong solutions to get rid of food stains and also dust and grime in your cupboard hinges and sink.
Windows
Have you ever tried to reach up to the windows near the roof? If not, then this will be a tough nut to crack. For the easiest way out, take a long stick and tie a microfiber cloth on its one end and let the cleaning begin. Get rid of all spiderwebs, dust, and dirt in a few sweeps to clean the air above your head.
Roof and Walls
While you think you have cleaned it all, there are chances that you forgot above the webs on the wall and the roof and if anybody notices it, a bad impression will be formed about you. To prevent that, you can either use the trick given for windows or you can even use a broomstick to clean the roof and walls well. If there are construction requirements, consult with a good renovation company.
Why The End of Lease Cleaning is So Important?
End of lease cleaning is important for several reasons, both for the tenant and the landlord. Let’s explore these reasons in detail:
1. Securing the Bond Refund
For most tenants, the bond or security deposit is a significant sum of money, often several weeks’ worth of rent. When tenants vacate a rental property, the landlord or property manager will conduct an inspection of the property. The property should be cleaned to a high standard to avoid deductions from the bond.
If the property is left dirty or damaged, the landlord may withhold part or all of the bond to cover the cleaning or repair costs. An end of lease clean ensures that the tenant meets the cleanliness standards set by the landlord, making it much more likely that they will get their bond back in full.
2. Maintaining Good Relationships with Landlords and Property Managers
A good relationship with the landlord or property manager can be incredibly beneficial for tenants. Leaving the property in a pristine condition after the lease ends reflects well on the tenant and can lead to positive references. If the tenant is moving to another rental property, having a glowing reference from the previous landlord can help secure the next home.
Additionally, tenants who perform an end of lease clean are more likely to have positive experiences if they ever need to resolve any issues or negotiate future rental agreements.
3. Preparing the Property for New Tenants
For landlords, an important reason for requiring end of lease cleaning is to ensure the property is ready for the next tenant. A clean and well-maintained property is far more likely to attract new tenants quickly. It’s essential that the property is presentable for viewings, which might occur shortly after the current tenant moves out.
Dirty, poorly maintained properties can result in longer vacancy periods, which can lead to financial losses for the landlord. By ensuring that the property is cleaned to the highest standards, the landlord can quickly re-rent the property and maintain a consistent cash flow.
4. Avoiding Disputes
A major reason end of lease cleaning is important is to avoid disputes between tenants and landlords. Disagreements over the cleanliness of a property are one of the most common causes of conflict at the end of a lease. Without proper cleaning, the tenant risks facing disputes over cleaning costs, which can escalate to legal action or delays in receiving the bond back.
By hiring a professional cleaning service or conducting a thorough clean themselves, tenants can ensure that all areas of the property are addressed and that there are no issues when the property is inspected. This reduces the likelihood of disputes and ensures a smoother and more straightforward bond refund process.
5. Ensuring Safety and Health
End of lease cleaning is also important from a health and safety perspective. Over time, dirt, dust, and allergens can accumulate in a property, creating an unhealthy environment. Mold and mildew can also grow in damp areas, which can pose health risks to both tenants and future occupants.
A thorough clean before moving out ensures that the property is free from these hazards, making it a safe environment for the new tenants. It also shows a level of responsibility and consideration for the well-being of others, which is highly appreciated by both landlords and future tenants.
6. Professional Cleaning Standards
Professional cleaners have the tools, expertise, and experience to handle the deep cleaning tasks required for an end of lease clean. They know how to properly clean every surface, remove stains, and ensure the property looks its best.
Professional cleaning companies will follow an extensive checklist and provide a level of service that may be hard to achieve with a DIY approach. They often guarantee their work, meaning that if the landlord is dissatisfied, the cleaning service will return and address any concerns at no extra cost. This adds peace of mind for tenants and ensures the job is done correctly.
7. Time Efficiency
For tenants with busy schedules, end of lease cleaning can be a time-consuming task. Packing up and organizing belongings while also cleaning the entire property can be overwhelming. Professional cleaning services can handle the cleaning while the tenant focuses on other important aspects of moving, such as sorting out utilities, managing paperwork, or preparing for the move to the next property.
8. Avoiding the Risk of Losing the Bond
The bond amount can be a significant financial asset for tenants. Losing part or all of the bond due to insufficient cleaning can cause financial strain, especially if the tenant is moving to a new property and requires the funds for rent or other moving expenses.
By conducting end of lease cleaning, tenants ensure that they meet the landlord’s expectations and avoid any unnecessary deductions from their bond.
Beware! Overlooking These Things Might Cost you Heavily During an End of Lease Cleaning
Be it on purpose or mistakenly, there are always some parts of the home which are left unclean before you move out. Putting in all the hard work would go to waste if the owner would pinpoint even one part of the home and make a fuss out of it. You wouldn’t want that right? Well, then since we are on the same page, here is a list of possible things you might overlook during an end of lease cleaning.
Corners
Whether it’s bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom, the corners are most often overlooked which gives out a wrong impression of you. The starting is generally very dirty which again makes it difficult to clean the corners. Use a broom or any cloth to thoroughly dust off all the dirt and clean the corners thoroughly.
Ceiling Fans
Another part of your home which you think doesn’t matter much is the ceiling fans, but in reality, it does matter a lot. Use a long stick and cover it with a cloth to reach the ceiling. Get all the cobwebs and other dirt to clean it thoroughly. Also, use a chair or ladder to reach the fans and cleans the fan too before you leave.
Upper Windows
I can guarantee that you have never even attempted to clean the upper windows and paid much attention to window cleaning within your range. Well, it’s vital that you wash the windows thoroughly including the window blinds, pane, and railing. Windows are easily noticeable so make sure that you make them noteworthy.
Kitchen and Bathroom Racks
Your landlord will surely take a look at the kitchen and bathroom racks expecting them to be full of grime, slimy materials, and dirt. Disappoint him by cleaning it thoroughly with cleaning liquids and cloth until it is spot-free.
End of lease cleaning is a hectic and chaotic task, but with these pro tips, you should be just fine. If the job seems too much to do, hire professional cleaners and supervise them for efficient cleaning.
The list goes on and on but with these few ideas, you can make your home look cleaner and easier to give back. Let us know in the comments how wondrous these tips proved to be for you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Many factors play roles in the cost of an end of tenancy cleaning like the size of the property, state of the living space, additional services, etc.
The average cost of an end of lease cleaning service is around $100-$250 in the United States for a normal 2-bedroom property. A similar type of property in a better state and located in a more budget-friendly area of the city can be around $300. If the property owner doesn’t need any additional services, the price can significantly drop.
End of lease Cleaning mainly includes Bedroom cleaning, Bathrooms Cleaning, Kitchen cleaning, Cleaning all ceiling fans, Doors/Walls, Internal windows, all light switches, power points, doors, shower screen, and tiles, Vacuum, and mop floors.
How much time an end of lease takes depends on how big and how much dirty the property is. On average you can expect an end of lease cleaning takes around three to eight hours with 2 to 3 professional cleaners doing separate cleaning tasks simultaneously.
If you left anything in the apartment after the move-out date should be considered abandoned. Always make sure that you don’t leave any of your stuff when you are moving out, do your best to remove all your things, and clean the place the best you can.
Conclusion
End of lease cleaning is an essential step for tenants who want to secure their bond refund, maintain positive relationships with landlords, and ensure that the property is in excellent condition for future tenants. Whether done professionally or through DIY efforts, it is a time-consuming but necessary process. It not only ensures a successful move-out but also contributes to the overall maintenance and hygiene of the rental property. By investing in end of lease cleaning, tenants can leave their rental property on a positive note and ensure that they meet the landlord’s expectations.4o mini
