Professional bond clean or DIY job?

With the countdown commencing to the end of your rental agreement, many rental occupiers find themselves asking the same old question…will I handle the exit clean myself, or should I call in professional cleaners?

Really, it depends on your personal circumstances and the time you have available. But to help you make the decision, here are some tips to assist…

The exit clean

The final clean of a rental property is all about returning the home to the condition that it was in when you arrived.

As such, it’s a clean that tends to go above and beyond your average spring clean or weekly dust, scrub and vacuum.

Instead, it’s about a culmination of little things, including:

• Cleaning all rooms, including light fittings, fans, and inside cupboards
• Cleaning all windows, on the inside and the exterior
• Cleaning the kitchen, including the stovetop, rangehood, inside the oven, and the dishwasher
• Cleaning the bathrooms to remove all soap scum on shower screens, all mould on grouting, all sinks and all toilets
• Washing all curtains or having them professionally dry-cleaned
• Cleaning all air conditioners, including the filter
• Tidying the outside area and ensuring the garden is neat and clean, and the lawns are mowed
• Replacing any required lightbulbs
• Having carpets cleaned (if this is a condition of your rental agreement)
• Having the property treated for pests (if this is a condition of your rental agreement) 

Depending on the size of the property, the time you’ve lived there and its condition, this exit clean might be a job you can knock over in a weekend, or it could take a bit longer.

Go with the pro’s?

Commonly known as a professional bond clean, this service sees you pay for cleaners to complete most of the list items mentioned above.

Sometimes, these companies might also offer carpet cleaning and even pest control, so essentially you can complete a whole host of tasks quickly.

The benefit of a professional bond clean is that these companies do this sort of thing all the time. They know exactly the standard that’s expected, have the cleaning products and tools to get the job done, and often have a team that allows the cleaning to be completed quickly.

On the flipside, it is an added expense during the moving process. But more often than not, it results in a positive exit inspection where your bond is handed back quickly.

Go it alone?

If you are considering completing the bond clean yourself, our best tip is be organised in advance. In other words, ensure you allow yourself sufficient time to tackle all the tasks mentioned above.

That might mean you start clearing each room progressively and begin pre-emptive tasks like cleaning light fixtures, and wiping down walls and cupboards a couple of weeks prior to move-out date.

The big jobs like the kitchen, bathrooms, floors and windows, are often left until last and completed after all your furniture and personal items have been removed.

Also, it pays to remember, your biggest asset at this stage is your Entry Condition Report, which outlines exactly the condition of the property when you moved in.

This is the document your property manager will be referring to as they conduct the final inspection.

How we can help

Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.

We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.

Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.