If you are currently renting an apartment or residing in the leased property, then you must have already thought about leaving for a permanent location at some point. Perhaps you have also entertained the idea of just transferring to another leased location that can better fit your budget, is closer to work or school or solves other concerns you have with your current home. Either way, there will come a time when your contract will end and you will have to move on. Before this eventually happens, you should learn to understand the importance of end of lease cleaning.
What is End of Lease Cleaning?
A lot of people have no idea what end of lease cleaning is, which also means a lot of people do not read lease or rent contracts thoroughly. Most, if not all, of these contracts, require that if you leave or terminate your lease agreement, you need to make sure that the property is still in good condition, or at least as good as the condition was before you started living there. Therefore, making sure that the house or apartment is thoroughly cleaned out and spruced up a little bit is important so as not to violate any pre-negotiated terms on the contract.
If a tenant fails to give the property back in its desirable condition, there is a pretty good chance that the landlord will either deduct a significant portion from the security bond or file a case for damages, depending on the circumstance. Both of these situations will not bode well on one’s finances and credibility, so it would be best to avoid it altogether. Opting to use professional end of lease cleaning services increases the chances of making the property look brand new and spotless, which should make the landlord more than happy to give back your security deposit in full as a gesture of good faith.
Do I Really Need To Hire Professional Cleaners?
The choice of whether to hire professional cleaning services or do it on your own strongly factors a number of things – your current finances, the size and state of the property to be cleaned, your actual cleaning skills and you landlord’s expected state of the property as you hand it over. While there are a lot of people who choose to clean their units themselves in order to save on money, a high percentage of these do-it-yourself attempts fail to meet the landlord’s standards of cleanliness, which sadly results in more losses due to deductibles and what you will spend on the cleaning materials as well. While in some cases it might be doable, the safest bet is to hire a professional cleaner to relieve yourself of the stress and fatigue that comes with deep cleaning a house that’s been lived on for years.
Since most lease contracts require professional cleaning anyway, it is highly recommended to hire services with trusted reviews to meet the level of quality desired by most house owners. There are landlords that ask for receipts and other proof that the end of lease cleaning was done professionally, so not doing it on your own eliminates any problems with that, too. Besides, if you are already leaving your place, it would mean that you will be moving to another location, and moving in will always have its own set of concerns you have to look after. Hiring a professional service to clean up after you go means you won’t have to think about the old place anymore and just focus on what you will need with your new home.
While most people fear the costs of professional cleaning services, remember that you will also be spending some money if you try to do it yourself. You will have to purchase cleaning tools and equipment in order to complete some tasks while also tiring yourself out in the process. If you make a mistake, it can lead to damages which will only cost you more. The peace of mind alone that bringing in professional cleaners will give you is more than enough reason to shell out a few dollars to get the job done. Always remember that convenience and comfort are important factors as well.
How Long Does It Take To Finish Cleaning?
The length of time for the end of lease cleaning to finish will depend on several factors. First, you need to consider the size of the property and its current condition. A small unit that has accumulated significant dirt through the years can take more time to clean than a larger house that has been relatively well-kept. Additionally, cleaning will be faster if you hire more cleaners, but hiring more means paying more so you will have to weigh the pros and cons of that, too.
Once you have decided to go with a professional cleaning service, it is important that you inform them accurately of what they will be cleaning so that they can also give you a reliable estimate of the costs. Usual information they need will include the total number of rooms they will be cleaning, the actual size of the property (be ready to give measurements), the urgency of the job as well as the target dates, among others. Being clear and concise with this information is a great way to start your relationship with the cleaning company, which should translate to desirable results as well.
