When you move from an apartment, what cleaning do you generally do? Wash walls, shampoo carpets, etc.?
Generally, I wash the walls down, shampoo carpets, wax floors, clean the oven and refrigerator. I know my apartment is going to be completely refurbished when I move though. New carpet, paint, tile, stove, refrigerator, bathroom vanity, toilet, tub, washer and dryer are going to be put in to pretty the place up for the sale. In these circumstances, how much cleaning am I obligated to do? Can I get away without shampooing carpets and waxing the floors, do you think? When I moved in, the place was an utter disaster. Broken rods in the closets, no shower rod, stains in the carpet, etc. I have to say that it already looks far better than it did when I moved in. Actually, I’ll probably do the whole nine yards, but I have to admit not doing some of it does sound appealing. Now back to cleaning for me. ::::sigh::::
I just get my stuff out and vacuum. Most complexes are gonna ding you for a cleaning fee anyways, and, if you’ve been there a while, are likely gonna repait and recarpet. It’s usually not worth your time to give it a real thorough cleaning. An exception would be for a smaller complex that doesn’t do those things. Ask your leasing office–the ones at the complexes I’ve lived at have been pretty specific about what they want done at move-out.
For the apartment I lived in in Mississippi, they were lucky that I got my stuff out - the move happened that quickly (job transfer). No cleaning fees were imposed.
My last move, I got my stuff out, made sure things were reasonably clean (generally, if you clean regularly anyway, they will be), vacuumed the carpets and that was it.
I didn’t get hit for any kind of cleaning fee - although I was already forfeiting my deposit and paying a penalty because I was breaking my lease.
Other places I’ve lived, it’s typically the same thing - make sure it’s reasonably clean, vacuum the carpets and that’s that.
I would clean an apartment or other rental the same way I would if my mom was coming over, because you know, there’s clean and then there’s MOM CLEAN.
Vacuum, dust, wash floors, clean sinks and toilets and get ALL the trash out. I would even brush out the cupboards.
That’s for a rental unit. When we sold our first house, I did a great job of cleaning. Well, okay, I hired a great crew. Then I put out a cute little “welcome to your first home” basket of goodies for the new owners.
But I sure didn’t get that from MY sellers. The house was dirty and trashed when we took possession, and we bought from an elderly couple! Go figure. The carpets were so bad (they had a bird) that we tore them up rather than try and clean them.
The day before I moved I piled everything in the living room, vacuumed the clear floor areas (around the boxes and furniture and bed), wiped down the kitchen counters and fixed the spot on the bedroom wall where my computer chair had rubbed the texture off the plaster. When I got all my stuff out there was still stuff on the carpet but I didn’t have the vacuum out anymore so I left it. There were no fees of any kind deducted from my security deposit.
I’m moving out of my apartment in two weeks. I’m figuring I will clean it, but not SCRUB it. Why? I’m moving out of state. Most complexes will figure you’re not going to fight the $200 or so of damages that they will find. My deposit was $400, rent is $385, and I got a free month when I moved in. I knew going that the month wouldn’t be “free.” So, I won’t leave the place trashed and get a bad reference should a future landlord decide to call the manager. But, I’m not going to go to great lengths either.
In my complex, they do whatever they can to stick it to students (me). Even if everything is going to be repainted, carpet replaced, etc (end of life through normal wear), they will keep my entire security deposit ($400 on a 800sq ft. 2 bdrm apt) if the place is not immaculate (im talking “clean room” immaculate). Of course, it wasnt even close to that when i moved in, but hey, us dumb students must not know the difference, right?
It’s usually specified in the lease, but the real estate transactions I’ve been involved in have said “broom clean.” IMHO if it’s going to be completely refurbished anyway, anything you do will be superfluous.
My dad has been the manager of 2 apartment complexes for over 30 years. I, of course, got stuck with helping him out when his rental agent / secretary could not be there. So, this is coming right from a 10 year veteran of renting apartments (of course, every place is a little different, this is just a generalization).
Sweep / vacuum
Clean the bathroom
No large holes / dings in the walls
Closet doors hanging properly
Stove / Refrigerator cleaned
Cupboards / Cabinets / Closets empty
Those are the things we generally charge a fee for if they are not done. We would never charge someone for not cleaning the windows (unless they are absolutely disgusting) or sweeping out the cabinets. Those are things that are above and beyond. Besides, no matter what you do, they have to go in and clean anyway. The crew already has their routine and they do the same thing for every apartment whether it was left nicely or trashed. The main thing is to leave it clean enough that you don’t get charged a cleaning fee.
I’'d recommend taking pictures or a video of the place after you’ve cleaned it, so that if they try to ding you for an unwarranted cleaning fee and you’re mad enough to fight them in small claims court that you’ve got some evidence on you side.
