End-of-lease cleaning is crucial to peacefully ending your lease agreement. It helps you to hand over the property neatly as part of the tenant’s responsibilities. You also need to maintain cleaning standards. You may choose DIY deep cleaning or professional rental property cleaning services. But, do-it-yourself vs. professional end-of-lease cleaning, which is better?
Should you choose DIY bond cleaning? Or is it better to call for professional cleaners? Which property cleaning takes more time? Which is budget-friendly?
DIY cleaning for rental property is cost-effective. It offers a flexible schedule for property renters. Also, it gives people personal satisfaction. On the other hand, DIY cleaning can be time-consuming. It is ideal for small properties to end the lease. Professional cleaning services are best for medium to large homes and properties to end the lease agreement.
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What is End-of-Lease Cleaning?
End-of-lease cleaning means the process of cleaning the property before submitting it back to the owner. It is also known as move-out cleaning, vacate cleaning or bond cleaning. It is a thorough cleaning process of the property.
A tenant or a real estate agent conducts the cleaning process. It prepares the rental property for return to the landlord or property manager. The tenant must clean all areas, including walls, floors, ceilings, windows, appliances, and fixtures. It is key to ensure that the tenant returns the property in clean and habitable condition at the end of the lease agreement.
Why is End-of-Lease Cleaning Important?
Move-out cleaning protects tenants from security deposits. Also, people can maintain a good relationship with the owner and real estate agents through proper deep cleaning.
Protecting your security deposit
During the lease agreement, tenants deposit a security amount. In Brisbane, Queensland, general tenancies pay 4-weeks of rent as security for rents $700 or less. If the weekly rent is above $700, the landlord and tenants will fix an amount upon discussion.
They can get back the security deposit only when they hand over the property as it was. So, it is crucial to return a clean property. It increases your chances of receiving a full refund of the deposit.
Maintain a positive relationship with the landlord
Queensland, Brisbane has strict laws for urgent tenancy disputes. It includes damaged properties, repairs, ending agreements, etc. The tenants can bypass these disputes with a safe and proper handover of the property.
The best practice is to return a cleaner property. It will resolve and avoid disputes. So, you can maintain a good relationship with your landlord through deep cleaning. When there is a rental inspection during the agreement closing, you will enjoy peace of mind.
Ensure a smooth transition
Vacate cleaning ensures you can return the property smoothly. When you have a clean property, your move-out process is easy. The vacating process also becomes more efficient and stress-free. You can focus on your furniture, appliances and pets more. You won’t have to worry about dealing with the real estate agent or landlord anymore.
Do-It-Yourself End-of-Lease Cleaning
Tenants cleaning obligations are strict in Brisbane. DIY cleaning services can be suitable to meet these demands. With DIY property cleaning, you can manage the property better. It is cost-effective since professional property cleaning is expensive in Brisbane.
Advantages of DIY Move-Out Cleaning
From reducing cost to enjoying more control over the cleaning process, a DIY system is crucial. It will assist you in ending the lease peacefully.
Cost-effective: DIY cleaning is significantly cheaper than professional cleaning services. The cost of hiring a professional end-of-lease cleaning service in Brisbane is high. You pay $200 to $300 for cleaning studio apartments. It can be up to $700 for three-bedroom apartments. With DIY cleaning, you can save 75% to 80% of it. All you need is the right cleaning equipment.
Better Control: DIY property cleaning gives you better control of it. You can ensure that it is done to your satisfaction. You can make a cleaning checklist and follow it thoroughly. Even if one area is dirty, you can return and clean it with ease.
Satisfaction: DIY cleaning to end the lease agreement is satisfactory. You do everything on your own. So, there’s no place for dissatisfaction in the cleaning process. Even if you are dissatisfied, you can rectify it.
Disadvantages of DIY Move-Out Cleaning
Although DIY cleaning to end a lease is affordable, it takes work. Property cleaning can be time-consuming. You may lack proper cleaning knowledge.
- Time-consuming: DIY cleaning of the property will be time-consuming. It can take two to eight hours to clean the space before property inspection. If you rent larger properties, it will take even more time.
- Physical demanding: The cleaning process of any property is physically demanding. Most tenants are not used to heavy chores and deep cleaning. So, they may experience temporary back aches and pain after the cleaning process.
- Lack of expertise: General tenants will lack the necessary expertise or cleaning equipment. It will stop them from cleaning certain areas effectively. Also, DIY cleaning supplies might not be enough for it.
- Potential for disputes: DIY cleaning standards may not meet your landlord’s standards. You may face disputes for such inconsistency in cleaning. Also, landlords may deduct from your security deposit.
Professional End-of-Lease Cleaning
End-of-lease cleaning is a tough job. You have to ensure that each corner and room of the property is neat and clean. In fact, you even have to clean the garden, patio, and outdoor spaces too. So, it’s better to leave the cleaning job to professional services.
Advantages of Professional Bond Cleaning
When you hire professionals for property cleaning, they do the job neatly. It saves time and avoids disputes. Also, you will get a full refund of the property deposits.
- Time-saving: Professional cleaners can complete the cleaning much faster. They will take only 25% more time than the DIY cleaning takes. So, you can invest the time you have saved to arrange all of your belongings. It helps with safe and peaceful transfers to the next destination.
- Expertise: Professional cleaners are experienced. So, they know the details of move-out cleaning. Also, they have appropriate cleaning equipment. They can clean even the most difficult areas of your property. It saves you from unnecessary disputes.
- Peace of mind: You will enjoy peace when you hire a professional service provider. They will maintain a high standard of cleaning the property. Also, you won’t always have to stick with them. So you can enjoy the entire end-of-lease cleaning process.
- Avoid disputes: Professional cleaning services will remove disputes. They know how to clean properties for ending lease agreements. It increases your chances of receiving a full refund of the deposit.
Disadvantages of Professional Bond Cleaning:
- Cost: It is expensive to hire a professional cleaning service. The cost of do-it-yourself property cleaning is affordable.
- Lack of control: You will have less control over the cleaning process. It is much less than doing it on your own. It can cause dissatisfaction in your end-of-lease cleaning process.
Do-It-Yourself vs. Professional End-of-Lease Cleaning: Which One You Should?
Professional and DIY cleaning has many benefits. Yet, choosing between them before ending the lease agreement can be tough. At one point, you can think about saving money. On the other hand, some people prefer speedy and deeper cleaning.
Thus, the decision depends on your preference to clean the space to end the lease agreement. The decision will depend on your preference, expertise, time, budget, etc.
Time and energy
You may have limited time or energy. In such cases, you can hire professional cleaners. It will save you time. Also, professionals will save you from extra effort. All you need is to observe the job. So it becomes easier for you to manage your entire transportation function.
Cleaning Expertise
Professional cleaners bring their cleaning expertise and excellence. Their experience will help you clean the property better. You may overlook any points in the home cleaning checklist. But the professionals will cover it too with their cleaning quality.
Plus, they have better cleaning equipment. It is crucial for a thorough and efficient cleaning. They will ensure thorough cleaning at a faster speed.
Cleaning standards
Professional cleaning services maintain strict cleaning standards. They ensure the property is cleaned to a high standard. With the DIY procedure, you may not maintain the professional standard. You might fail to clean spaces like gutter, basin corners, etc. But professionals will clean these spaces, too, thanks to their cleaning efficiency.
Budget
A professional cleaner may be costlier. So, the upfront end-of-lease cleaning cost becomes expensive. But it saves your money on security deposit. You will get a full return of the deposit. It is a significant saving on your lease agreement.
When you compare the refunded security money with the cleaning expense, the difference is transparent. You will end up saving more than spending on professional cleaning. Also, without the dispute, you can move on to your next destination safely.
Additional House Cleaning Tips
You may hire a professional to clean the home and end the tenant lease. Or, you might choose to do it yourself. In both cases, the following house cleaning tips will be beneficial.
- Cleaning checklist: Always create a detailed cleaning checklist. The checklist will help you know the detailed process. So you can ensure that all areas of the property are clean. The checklist also makes the process easy.
- Cleaning supplies: For the DIY process, gather all necessary cleaning supplies. It includes detergents, disinfectants, brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners, and cleaning cloths. Professional cleaners may need a few tools, too.
- Professional cleaners: Check the license and insurance of the professional cleaners. Also, I need to get a complete budget before the task. It is helpful to choose the best cleaning professional. It also saves you additional costs.
- Cleaning standards: The cleaning standards must maintain your landlord’s preference. It ensures their satisfaction as you maintain a high cleaning standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does End-of-Lease Cleaning Take?
The time required for end-of-lease cleaning can be anywhere from a few hours to a few days. It depends on the size of your rented space and the complexity of the cleaning process. For studio apartments, the cleaning time is usually around 2 to 3 hours.
How Much Does Professional End-of-Lease Cleaning Cost?
Professional cleaning costs in Brisbane range from $200 to $1000. The cost of cleaning a studio apartment can be $200 to $300. For a one bedroom apartment, the cost is around $250 to $400. You might have to pay $800 to $1000 for three-bedroom apartments.
What Happens if the Cleaning is Not Up to Standard?
The landlord or property manager may deduct the cost of cleaning from your security deposit. You should document any issues during the property inspection. Also, regularly communicate with the landlord so that you can maintain their cleaning standard.
Final Words
Professional cleaning is better for the end-of-lease cleaning process. Eco Cleaning Brisbane ensures your tenant end agreement resolves peacefully with professional cleaning. We have more than 20+ years of experience in cleaning in Brisbane. It helps us deliver exceptional cleaning results to maintain a high standard.
