Is your lease up soon and you have to look for another rental? Or, have you found your forever home and are leaving the whole renting thing behind? In any case, you probably want your deposit back, which is why you have to leave the place in top-notch shape. In addition to making sure nothing is broken or damaged, you should also clean up after yourself so that your landlord sees the property was properly taken care of. With that in mind, let’s go over how long end of lease cleaning can take to know how far in advance to plan.
What is end of lease cleaning?
First of all, you should understand what end of lease cleaning is. It is a policy that’s typically included in your rental agreement and specifies that you have to clean the property before you move out in order to get your deposit back. In case it’s not mentioned in the contract, then it’s an optional move that you’re not obligated to do.
You can do this by yourself or hire a professional cleaning company. As you might not have the time or know exactly which areas need to be cleaned, turning to experts is always a good move that will have the best result.
What does it include?
Now, no matter if you decide to tackle this on your own or not, you should be aware of what an end of lease clean includes.
Normally, when cleaning a rental, you want to cover all your bases. So, start with the walls and make sure they are clean. There is no need to repaint them, but remove all dirt and spider webs. You should also patch up any holes that you might have made in order to hang things on the walls.
The floors also need to be vacuumed and mopped. If there are any carpets or rugs, take care of them as well. Wipe down all surfaces and make sure to remove any stains that you might have made. Clean the windows, inside and out. This is a rather easy task that you can do a day or two before moving out. Don’t forget about window tracks.
You also don’t want to overlook any other parts of the house or apartment. With that in mind, clean all appliances like the stove, fridge, and microwave. Wipe the insides and outsides of cabinets, cupboards, and wardrobes. Curtains and window blinds need to be cleaned as well.
Before you move out, make sure everything from the bedrooms to the kitchen and bathrooms is handled. If this seems like too much work, you always have the option of turning to professional end of lease cleaning companies that will ensure everything is done properly and on time so that you can have your deposit back. Professionals know exactly what to focus on, meaning that they will tackle everything imaginable. Moreover, you can also opt for some extra services like carpet steam cleaning, garage and balcony cleaning, and flea treatments.
How long will it take?
Finally, you need to know how long it will all take. Well, it depends on the option you go with. If you do it yourself, it can take a few days in case you’re busy with work and other obligations. On the other hand, professionals will typically do this in one day.
Of course, this will depend on how big the property is and how many cleaners are assigned to the task. It’s only normal that professionals will need more time to clean a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house than a studio apartment. Before the cleaners arrive, you want to vacate the premises and remove all your personal belongings. If there are any bulky furniture pieces, let the agency know beforehand so that they know how much work it will require.
Moreover, if you opt for some extra services, the process can take longer. Simply vacuuming, cleaning the surfaces, and tidying up the rooms will need less time than if you were to opt for pest treatments as well.
As you can see, an end of lease clean can be done in just a few hours. There are many things to cover so don’t disregard how useful the help of a professional can be. If you’re in a hurry, this is your best option.
