When moving out of a house or an apartment, it can be quite time consuming to clean and restore it to its initial state, in order to get your damage deposit back or impress your tenant. While you can do most of the work yourself, it can surely take a toll on you and you might need to hire a cleaner or a cleaning service. So, it’s important to assess the house, do some research, figure out what you can do yourself, and what tasks will require you to hire a service.
Assess the house
Conduct a thorough assessment of your house in order to find any trouble spots, which may require some extra elbow grease like the areas behind the fridge, inside the oven, the blinds on the windows, and the toilets. Make a complete list of all the trouble spots and understand what your proprietor or new tenants will be looking for. If you are renting, check the agreement to ensure you have covered all the conditions, if any, given in the agreement.
Do some research
Now that you know what parts of the house needs cleaning, research about how to clean them. Decide what you can do by yourself and what areas you will need the cleaning service for. Then research about the cleaning services available. Use the Internet and information from your family and friends to make a small list of five of the best cleaning services you can find, and call them to get quotes. Think carefully and pick one that suits you best.
What you need to ask the service before you hire them
Tell each company about the square footage, problem areas, and what you require them for. Find out how many staff they can allot to one client, and at the same time, how long it will take to clean and when they will arrive. Ask if you will be charged per hour, or charged a lump sum for the entire job. Ask if they charge for an extra cleaner. Find out what kind of products and equipment they use, and ensure that they are safe for use.
Figure out your moving schedule
If you are moving to a place that is not too far away from your current location, make a schedule that will leave you a few days to clean up what you can. This will let you move out before the lease ends or before someone else moves in. It will also ensure you have completely moved out by the time the cleaners arrive. An empty apartment will make sure that they will not miss any of the spots. If you are moving to a place too far away, pack up your boxes and place them in the center of a room, take everything out of the freezer and fridge. Make sure that cleaners can access all the areas that you have identified as problem areas. Once this is done, contact the cleaning company and fix a date.
Show them the areas and move out of their way
Once they arrive, show them what needs to be done and point out specific trouble areas you need them to focus on. It would be easier if you could provide them with a list of things that need to be done, so that they don’t forget them. Once you are done showing them, move out of their way and let them do their work.
Once they are finished, inspect their work and discuss any issues you have with the cleaning job. So, voila, you have a clean house to present to your proprietor or new tenant.