Common Vacate Cleaning Myths That Cost Tenants Their Bond

Nothing is more stressful than passing your final rental inspection without any dispute or disagreement. Bond cleaning is undeniably one of the most common reasons behind bond deductions in Western Australia. Landlords/property managers have a hawk eye when inspecting the property. Therefore, it is essential for tenants to understand their cleaning responsibilities and hand over the property in a reasonably clean state as it was at the start of a lease, minus fair wear and tear.

Despite well documented tenant duties, tenants are often misled by vacate cleaning myths widely shared online. These misconceptions can cost bond deductions, penalties, and even lead to awful disputes. Therefore, it is essential for renters to shed light on the facts and impress their fussy landlords.

Fret not! We have busted some of the most common myths about vacate cleaning in Perth. As a responsible tenant, you must know what to expect and how to do it best for most effective outcomes.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Myth 1: Vacate Cleaning is Similar to Regular Cleaning

This is one of the most common misconceptions related to bond cleaning. Many people think that move out cleaning is the same as weekly vacuuming, dusting or scrubbing surfaces.

A regular house cleaning is performed to tackle and remove dust and grime to maintain a tidy abode, whereas vacate cleaning is a specialised session, carried out according to the pre approved checklist to meet the landlord’s cleanliness standards and lease obligations.

Bond cleaning is one time, detailed and legally driven that covers every nook and cranny, including hidden spots, high touch areas and outdoor surfaces. Unfortunately, substandard cleaning can lead to bond deductions.

2. Myth 2: End of Lease Cleaning is About Surface Level Cleaning

Some tenants believe that move out cleaning means tackling visible stains, dirt and grime. This myth can cost their bond, leading to unwanted disputes.

The fact is that landlords expect deep cleaning, including air vents, rangehood filters, door tracks, blinds, skirting boards and other hard to reach spots. Professionally trained vacate cleaning Perth experts follow a top to bottom approach and consider the initial condition report to achieve spotless results. The best part is that no area will be left untouched, and that’s why hiring professionals can do wonders for tenants.

3. Myth 3: Vacate Cleaning isn’t Important for Small Properties

Some tenants think that smaller properties like studio apartments and one bedroom units, don’t require professional cleaning services. It can be tempting to clean a small property to save extra dollars, but substandard cleaning could lead to bond deductions.

Whether you are vacating a studio apartment or a five bedroom house, landlords have similar cleaning expectations. In fact, smaller properties often have shared spaces, such as hallways, that require deep cleaning. Even studio apartments have a kitchen and bathroom that tend to collect dirt, grime and germs. So, never skip hiring professionals when moving out of a smaller property.

4. Myth 4: Hiring Cheap Cleaners is As Good As Professional Ones

This is one of the biggest misconceptions, leading to bond deductions, penalties and other serious challenges. Some renters opt for cheap companies to save money, assuming all offer the same level of service.

Fact: Cheap companies often lack service quality, professionalism and guarantees. How? They may offer cheap services because of incompetent cleaners. They can overlook important spots like oven interiors, ceiling walls and grouts. Plus, such companies do not offer bond back guarantee, leaving you stressed throughout the process.

The worst is that extremely low initial quotes may exclude essential tasks, leading to hidden charges in the middle of the process. On the contrary, reliable companies offer quality service with a bond back guarantee (Ts and Cs apply), transparent pricing policy and robust customer support for your peace of mind.

Tip: Read on the guide to understand factors increasing vacate cleaning costs.

5. Myth 5: Landlords Don’t Check Exterior Areas For Inspection

There is a blunt misconception that property managers or landlords only inspect the interior part of a rental home. Leaving your patio area, exterior windows, walls, yard and garage dirty can also cost you your bond money.

Make sure you remove dirt, gunk, stubborn stains and grease from your balcony, garage walls. Remove stains from driveways, dead leaves from the yard and wash exterior windows if accessible. This can help you leave a great impression on the landlord, saving your hard earned bond money.

Tip: Use pressure washing to clean concrete surfaces, such as driveways.

6. Myth 6: A Standard Bond Clean Checklist Includes Everything

If you hire professionals, thinking everything will be included in the package, you could lose your hard earned bond money. A standard room by room checklist provided by many companies comes with inclusions and exclusions. This means certain areas or tasks are excluded from the list. Make sure you contact the company and ask for an inclusion and exclusion checklist. Commonly, wall washing, mould removal, deep carpet cleaning, etc., are not included in the list.

You can customise your package by including the following additional services:

• A professional carpet steam cleaning
• Upholstery cleaning
• Pest control
• Mould and mildew removal
• Washing walls, etc

Myth 7: Cleaning Can be Left to the Last Minute

It is easy to overlook the cleaning task when vacating a rental property. Of course, addressing property damage is essential. Paperwork takes time, but leaving vacate cleaning to the last minute only costs your bond. This can cause chaos and stress, making it easy to skip important spots.

Since landlords check every nook and cranny, make sure you schedule a professional vacate cleaning Perth at least a few days before your final move. It can take 5 to 8 hours, depending on the size and condition of your rental property. So, give them enough time to spruce up the entire space before the rental inspection.

Infographic For Debunking Vacate Cleaning Misconceptions to Secure Bond

Wrapping Up

Hopefully! This guide has helped separate the facts from common myths about vacate cleaning. Debunking misconceptions not only helps you achieve spotless results but also secures your hard earned bond money at the end of your tenancy.