End of Tenancy Cleaning For Studio Apartment – Moving to a new rental can be an exciting and tiring experience all at once. While you might be keen to vacate your current property as quickly as possible, leaving the property in a clean condition ready for the next tenant isn’t as straightforward as you might think.
While each tenant’s version of a ‘deep clean’ can vary, realtors have very strict guidelines on what is considered a passable end of tenancy cleaning. Not meeting these requirements can leave you short-changed and with a tarnished rental record.
If we take a studio apartment, for example, while the floor space may be small and one bathroom seems easy enough to clean, it can take more time and effort than your usual weekly clean and there are some key things to keep in mind.
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What do realtors look out for with an end of tenancy cleaning for a studio apartment?
Most realtors will bring along a checklist to help with their end of tenancy inspection. For a studio apartment they will be looking for the cleanliness of the following:
Kitchen
- Ovens, microwaves, and general cooking area, including the exhaust hood
- Kitchen sink
- Dishwasher (where applicable)
- Cupboards
- Benchtops
Living room/bedroom
- Windows/ balcony door (including any firescreens)
- Walls
- Cupboards
- Light fittings
- Carpet/ flooring
- Skirting boards
Bathroom and laundry area
- Toilet
- Shower
- Sink
- Mirrors
- Any toilet paper holders or soap dishes
- Washing machine and dryer (if part of the property)
Tips for giving it a go yourself, before calling in the professional cleaners
- Start from the back of the studio and work your way to the front, that way you know every inch of the property has been attended to.
- Extra attention needs to be paid to kitchen appliances, particularly the oven. Ensuring no residue grease marks are left and leaving these appliances to near-new conditions is critical.
- Dust any fixed cupboards and cabinets inside and out, and do your best to remove any stains that may have appeared since you moved in.
- Ensure all mold is removed from the bathroom, both in the shower and around the sink.
- Doing your own windows or balcony doors can certainly save a lot of money, as long as you have safe access to the outside.
- Don’t forget the extractor fans, all dust and oil need to be removed from these too. This can easily be done by removing and it giving it a wash in warm soapy water in the kitchen sink.
What to look for when hiring professional cleaners
If the task of ensuring your studio is appropriately cleaned at the end of your tenancy seems too daunting while you’re busy packing and moving to your new property, getting in a professional cleaner from the get go is well worth the investment.
By attempting some of the cleaning strategies mentioned above yourself first, you could be in for a discounted rate as the cleaners won’t have as much to get through.
Often your realtor will have a handful of preferred suppliers they can recommend to you. These cleaners would often know your property well and will be able to turnaround the clean quickly and affordably.
Alternatively, you can get online and look for the end of tenancy cleaners in your area and obtain a few comparable quotes.
It is really important that you negotiate the terms with any professional cleaners hired. Unlike a regular cleaning job, an end of tenancy clean should mean that the cleaner is liable to return to clean it again if the realtor does not pass the clean as satisfactory.
The last thing you want is to be charged more due to the job not being thorough enough. This way, when you hand the keys over to the cleaners you can have peace of mind that you do not need to return to inspect and critique, that onus is then on the cleaner to take up with the realtor and you can focus on your move.
End of Tenancy Cleaning For Studio Apartment – Conclusion
Whether you choose to give your end of tenancy cleaning a go yourself or dive straight into professional help, keeping some of this tips in mind and ensuring that every nook and cranny of your studio is attended to will ensure any rental bonds are returned and your rental record stays squeaky clean.
