Dont Skip This Moving Day Step. What to Clean Before Handing Over the Keys

Moving out of your home kicks off a laundry list of to-do items. One of the tasks that might cross your mind is finding out who is responsible for cleaning your home when you move out. Is it expected or required? Who should pay? We reached out to experts on the best practices for cleaning when moving out of a home or rental property.

Check Your Contract

In some cases, cleaning is specified in your sales contract, in which case you’re obligated to comply. Most contracts for home sales include boilerplate language regarding the buyer’s obligation to clean and remove all belongings from the home before the sale. Renters often have requirements in their leases relating to cleaning before they move out.

“Although it may not be contractual, it is more of a courtesy to the buyer,” says Kam Zinsser, a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Senter Realtors.

“When purchasing a home, most contracts stipulate that the premises be broom-swept,” says broker Svetlana Choi of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “So, it isn’t necessary for a seller to do a thorough cleaning. However, it can make a real difference, particularly if it’s a higher-priced property.”

“I had a client who was buying a studio in the Gramercy area of NYC and specifically requested that the mildew, which was severe, be cleaned from the bathroom,” says broker Gerard Splendore of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “At the walk-through, the day prior to closing, the mildew was untouched. The seller insisted that it had been cleaned that night, but no evidence or pictures were presented. I left the closing, and the bathroom was untouched, so the buyer was awarded a $1500 cleaning allowance off the price of the sale.”

Benefits of Cleaning a Home Before Moving

Choi adds that the choice to have a properly cleaned home can be the tipping point in a sale. “I had a walk-through where the buyer was having doubts about whether the apartment was the right choice for her family,” she says. “Because the seller didn’t want to jeopardize the transaction, she immediately hired a cleaning service, and I reported this to my buyer. In the end, she was happy and then focused on renovating her home.”

As Zinsser stated, cleaning your home is typically a courtesy to the new buyer unless otherwise stipulated in your contract. “General cleaning of the floors and surfaces as well as removing all personal belongings is very important,” Zinsser says. “Deep cleaning the kitchen appliances, inside the cabinets, bathrooms, and carpet is always nice.”

In some cases, the buyer will require the seller to pay for a deep clean before move-in. In other cases, the buyer will take the cleaning into their own hands, either to organize and pay for it or to do the dirty work themselves to save money.

“Leaving a home clean on departure is nearly always a good idea,” says agent Michael Weiner of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “For instance, if it’s a sale, the new owners are more likely to return items that may have been left accidentally by the sellers at the time of the close; and in general, renters want to be able to keep a good recommendation from a prior landlord as a reference for a future one.”

What You Should Clean When Selling a Home

Zinsser suggests cleaning commonly overlooked areas in your home, including the inside of your fridge, oven, and microwave. Wiping down baseboards, trims, ceiling fans, and vent and air return covers is also a good idea. Window ledges and blinds also get dusty. Finally, check behind the toilet for forgotten grime.

“Prioritizing these areas, whether you are a renter or a homeowner, goes a long way and makes a difference,” Zinsser says. “As the homeowner, cleaning the home and paying attention to details is largely a goodwill gesture.”

Focus on the main living areas to start. “Primary areas such as living rooms and bedrooms, which are central to the home, are the top cleaning priority and are almost impossible to overlook,” Weiner says. “Less-used areas, such as a basement, attic, or closet, are sometimes overlooked because items stored there are often not everyday ones. Overlooked—or perhaps simply insufficiently cleaned—are bathrooms, which are places most people hate to clean.”

While you don’t have to clean, it is a nice gesture and one you would appreciate if the roles were reversed. “One of my sellers said to me, ‘They sought to present the home as they would wish to receive it,’” Zinsser said. “This has always stuck with me!”

What You Should Clean When Leaving an Apartment

When it comes to cleaning an apartment or home rental, the rules are typically much more rigid and spelled out in the leasing documents. They often state that you must leave the space empty and broom-cleaned or swept.

“For homeowners, cleaning is rarely a legal requirement unless it is included in the sales contract or a part of the negotiations,” Zinsser says. “For renters, legal cleaning obligations are usually included in the lease agreement. It will include an outline of the cleaning expectations and the security deposit rules.”

“The expectation for renters is that the space be in move-in condition, broom clean, and empty,” says Splendore. “Many renters will ignore this aspect of their lease, sometimes contingent on their experience with their landlord, other times as a result of negative energy with roommates or partners.”

When it comes to rentals, there are monetary consequences for not cleaning your space. Landlords take security deposits up front and keep those deposits if you don’t uphold your end of the bargain. If you want to keep your deposit and stay on good terms, cleaning is the right move.

“I strongly encourage renters to review their lease and leave the property in good shape, as their landlord can write them a letter or recommendation that will be helpful in their next rental experience,” Splendore says.

Who Should Pay for Cleaning When Selling a Home

If cleaning is not included in your contract and you decide to clean your home as a kindness to the new owner, you can either do it yourself or hire a cleaning crew.

“The use of professional cleaning services in moving out and their cost is extremely varied,” Weiner says. “Some of it is driven by the nature of the home and the seller. If the home is large or the seller is infirm or deceased, it’s more likely to require professional service, which varies by market and home size. Just as with moving companies, it’s always a good idea to do some research on companies and get two or three service quotes before selecting one.”

“When hiring a cleaning service, be very clear on the level of cleanliness that will be provided,” Choi says. “A deep clean is much more thorough than simply cleaning surfaces. These days, cleaning services have different levels, so it is important to be clear about defrosting and cleaning out refrigerators and or ovens, cleaning windows, and whether cleaning supplies will need to be provided.”

Who Should Pay for Cleaning When Leaving a Rental

When it comes to leaving rented homes or apartments, the renters typically clean the space themselves before moving out. Any cleaning that needs to be done to meet the landlord’s standards is then paid for using the security deposit.

With that in mind, most tenants opt to do some cleaning themselves, knowing that they’ve paid ahead for any professional cleaning that might be needed. However, if you’re leaving your apartment in worse shape than you found it, it may be worth paying for professional cleaning yourself.