A thorough empty-home clean for tenants, landlords and cleaning crews, room by room.
Move-out cleans go deeper than regular cleaning because the home is empty: inside cabinets, behind appliances and along every baseboard.
Landlords and tenants should agree on the expected condition; the lease and local rules decide deposit questions.
16 items. Keep it on a tablet, or print a copy for the clipboard.
A two-person crew cleans an empty two-bedroom apartment in about six hours, including the oven and fridge. The photos go to the property manager with the invoice.
State deposit laws generally let landlords deduct for cleaning beyond normal wear and tear, so the move-out clean is what decides whether money is withheld. Photos tied to each room on the checklist give the tenant or property manager evidence if the itemized deductions are disputed.
| Unit and date | Apt 3B, 220 Elm St, Austin, May 31 |
|---|---|
| Crew | Lena and Rosa, Bright Start Cleaning |
| Kitchen | Oven degreased; fridge interior wiped; hood filter soaked |
| Bathrooms | Grout scrubbed; exhaust fan cover washed |
| Walls | Hall scuffs spot cleaned; nail holes left for landlord |
| Windows and tracks | 6 windows and tracks |
| Final | 24 photos sent; 2 keys returned to office |
The crew spot cleans scuffs but leaves nail holes alone, since patching is repair work the landlord may treat as normal wear and tear anyway.
Several hours for an apartment; more for houses.
No, the lease and local rules decide.
Spot clean marks; full washing if agreed.
Usually the tenant or landlord per the lease.
Most compare the unit with the move-in condition report, looking closely at the inside of the oven and fridge, bathroom grout, walls and window tracks. Matching your photos to the same rooms and angles as the move-in report makes the comparison easy. Missed appliance interiors are a common cleaning charge.
In most states, no: faded paint, light carpet wear and small nail holes are usually wear and tear, while heavy grease, pet damage or large holes are not. Many states also set a deadline for returning the deposit with an itemized list of deductions. Check your state’s rules.
More for the same job
Use the move-out cleaning checklist for the record you need today. To see who clocked in, and when, book a demo of EZTime.