This article is specifically about getting your carpets cleaned when vacating a rental property at the end of a lease.
As you might imagine, there are different standards for carpet cleaning. It needs to be mentioned up front that low cost or budget cleaning for rental property carpet has its risks. The main risk is that the job is not satisfactory to the Property Manager and the tenant is charged for having it cleaned properly. We get these fix up jobs often, so keep this point in mind.
Timing: End of Lease Carpet Cleaning
It is recommended you have your carpet cleaned after you have vacated, not before since the agent will require carpet cleaning only after you have moved out, but before you hand over the keys. Sounds obvious, but some people like to think ahead rather than plan ahead, and consider they might as well get it done sooner rather than later. Its just easier and and less hassle to clean carpets after the furniture is gone and rooms are cleared. Rest assured our quality process will remove most common spots and stains from the carpet (sometimes depending on fibre type) so you don’t gain anything by having it done earlier.
Bond Cleaning & Pest Control
Bond cleaning does not necessarily include carpet cleaning, but is a term that encompasses Domestic Cleaning as the primary process. Ideally a property should be cleaned to a standard suitable for the next tenant to walk straight in and begin occupying the property. Since everyone has different standards, as with opinions, it is difficult to find a high standard because tenants vacating will usually only clean to the minimum standard to satisfy their managing agent or lease requirements. Whereas the tenants incoming, will look very carefully over the property and usually have higher expectations of cleanliness than when they move out. We over-ride any issues with carpet cleaning by providing a high standard of clean on every job, regardless of whether its a tenancy or customer’s own home. We would suggest paying a domestic cleaner to carry out the bond clean as a way to save time, reduce stress of moving, and achieve a good standard of clean. Then if there’s a problem, they must come back to fix it of course.
Ideally the domestic bond cleaning is done at least 1-2 days prior to the date you vacate so you are not under pressure or incur additional rent from overstaying your tenancy period. For example, if you were due to vacate on the Saturday, you would arrange for the bond clean on the Wednesday or Thursday, the carpet cleaning the following day – Friday and the Pest Spray (if required) can be done after the Carpet Cleaning on the same day.
Pest spray is the last item you may need to have done depending on your lease conditions. This is done after all cleaning has taken place. Remember you have moved all furniture out, the domestic cleaning has been done and the carpets cleaned, now its just the flea and bug treatments that’s needed. There’s no point getting pest spray done before these other tasks since it would be washed off and have no effect.
Keeping records of Vacating a Property
You need to collate all the receipts from each of these services to provide evidence of the work done. Ensure each of the services have a service guarantee so that if there are any issues or problems from the agent you have the capacity and time frame in which to deal with them.
Don’t forget to complete your Exit Condition Report also. You should have an entry condition report from when you moved in, and possibly even photos of everything found faulty upon your original inspection. Use the entry report to compare with items on the Exit report. If there is any damage outside the definition of “Fair wear and tear“, you may be required to fix it or pay for repairs. Remember, any issues that the tenant is responsible for, payment can be deducted from the tenant’s bond monies.
We are experienced with the Residential Tenancies Act, appropriate cleaning standards and Agent’s requirements when it comes to vacating a property without default. This means we can provide the best outcome for people using our carpet, tile & grout, and upholstery cleaning services in a leasing arrangement.
Should you Call Us?
We are not a budget cleaning business, meaning; our service is delivered in accordance with the AS/NZ 3733 which is the standard for carpet cleaning in Australia. The most likely people who will choose our service are those that require their carpets cleaned properly, and in the case of vacating a property, where the tenant seeks to eliminate any risk the Agent will fault their cleaning standards with the carpet, tiled floors or lounges & upholstery. We will always provide a quote upfront before commencement and will only proceed with the customer’s approval.
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