End of lease cleaning is a crucial part of getting your bond back and the exit process from a rental property. You need to make sure to do this properly, not just to get your full bond money back, but also to ensure you remain reputable. Because you should leave a tenant and no marks on your record for future rental applications.
Moving to a new house itself can be a stressful and busy time. Adding in one of the biggest clean ups you’ll ever do can be a lot to tackle. Although we obviously recommend the ease and peace of mind from engaging a professional end of lease cleaner like us to take care of this for you, the DIY cleaning route is an option many people choose for various reasons. Whether it’s to save money or a last-minute change of plans, this can be a huge undertaking and involves a lot of time and work to be done properly.
We are here for you. And we are committed to making your move as easy and stress free as possible. That is to say, even if you are doing the cleaning yourself. If you are new to the rental process, we firstly recommend reading our ‘back to basics’ . This blog will give you an overview of how bonds, entry condition reports and end of lease cleaning works. Next, we’ve put together these top tips to help you prepare and execute your end of lease clean like a professional.
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TIMING
Timing is everything! A lot of tenants leave the end of lease clean until the very end of the moving process. So this can make it an extremely stressful process. You need to give yourself enough time to make sure everything is cleaned properly. And it has to be to the high standards of your real estate agent to ensure you get your bond back. Depending on the size of the house and condition it is in, the timings differ. We recommend having a minimum of a day, but ideally two days up your sleeve to get the cleaning done.
Don’t underestimate what is involved in an end of lease clean. You can avoid unnecessary pressure on yourself to get it done too quickly. Give yourself the time to get the cleaning done properly.
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GET IN EARLY for End of Lease
Don’t wait until the day you intend to clean to start work. An end of lease clean is a huge process that you can make much easier by getting in early. Every property and tenant will be different, but there will often be things you can do in advance to make the final cleaning process easier. We definitely recommend waiting until everything is moved out to do most of the indoors cleaning. Because moving itself can cause a lot of mess and cleaning around things can be highly inefficient and a waste of time. You can clean areas like the outside gardens, gutters, and windows in advance to take the pressure off the final days of cleaning.
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HAVE A LIST
Even the most organized and cleanly person will benefit from having a list of what needs to be cleaned. You can use it as a check list and save you from having to return to the property or losing some of your bond if something is missed. Often the real estate agent will have a list they can send you of what needs to be cleaned. This is very useful as it will show you exactly what they are specifically looking for. If not, we have a basic end of lease cleaning list you can follow here.
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HAVE YOUR ENTRY CONDITION REPORT HANDY
The entry condition report is a useful tool to have on hand while doing your end of lease clean. This is the report you and your real estate agent completed at the start of your tenancy. It outlines the marks, scratches and imperfections that already exist. It sets the benchmark of how the real estate agent can expect the property to be left when you leave. Having the report to refer to as you clean will show you the pre-existing details in each room. These are things that you don’t have to address, saving you extra scrubbing or concern trying to clean things you don’t need to.
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HAVE YOUR PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT READY TO GO
Don’t pack away your vacuum cleaner and cleaning products for your move! Make sure you prepare in advance to have all the products and tools you need. Get ready to make the cleaning day an easy one. A basic list of things to have ready include:
- All-purpose-cleaning products (eg. white vinegar, baking soda, warm water)
- Magic erasers
- Bathroom and toilet cleaners
- Cloths, sponges, and brushes
- Bucket and mop
- Vacuum cleaner
- Broom
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CLEAN FROM THE TOP DOWN
This is a general cleaning rule that will help make this major undertaking easier. For example, dust and clean the overhead cupboards in the kitchen before moving to the ones below. Because gravity will ensure that whatever comes from above will mess up any cleaning you’ve already done below. This means you have to do windowsills before skirting boards and skirting boards before floors. In following with this rule, save cleaning high traffic areas for last. Instead, try to move from the inside out so you don’t have to double back on your cleaning efforts.
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DON’T MISS THE DETAILS
It’s no secret that real estate agents have high standards for end of lease cleans. Make sure you clean in all the nooks and crannies to get your full bond back. Some key areas to keep an eye out for that people often miss include light fittings, skirting boards, sliding window tracks and the extractor inside the oven that collects grease.
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KEEP THE POWER AND WATER CONNECTED
Sometimes when pre-planning a move, tenants plan for their water and power to transfer to the new property on moving day. No matter whether you are doing your clean yourself, or are having a professional do the clean, make sure you to connect the power and water so you can actually execute the cleaning process.
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KNOW WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP
At the end of the day, the value of your bond is a lot more than the cost of an end of lease clean. If you are coming down to the wire and don’t think you are going to be able to clean properly, get a professional to help you. Cleaners like us do end of lease cleans week in and week out and have all the skills, tools, and equipment to make it happen quickly and efficiently with very little stress. Involving a professional will give you the peace of mind that you’ll get your bond back and make the moving process a lot easier for you.
Contact us for more information about our end of lease cleaning services today.
March 30, 2021
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