Why Hiring Cleaners Before Move-In Can Help You Settle in Stress-Free

Moving is stressful enough without stressing over the state of your floors

A family moves into a house
Photo: Portra / E+ / Getty Images
A family moves into a house
Photo: Portra / E+ / Getty Images
Highlights
  • The benefits of hiring professional cleaners before moving into a new home include long-lasting results, removal of allergens, and time savings.

  • Professional cleaners will remove any lingering signs or stains from the previous residents or contractors.

  • Unless it’s written into the purchase agreement, there’s no legal obligation that a new house has to be cleaned before you move in, so it’s best to hire professional cleaners in advance.

  • You can expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a move-in cleaning service.

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If you’re preparing to move into a new home, you likely have a mile-long to-do list. Take cleaning off your checklist by hiring professional cleaners before move-in, ensuring your new home will be fresh and ready for your arrival. Let’s dive into the benefits of hiring a team of cleaning pros to refresh your home ahead of your move-in date.

4 times when it’s best to hire a house cleaner, including help with hard-to-clean items like dishwashers
Photo: FG Trade / E+ / Getty Images

The Benefits of a Move-In Clean

A man cleans a window with a squeegee
Photo: New Africa / Adobe Stock

You’re probably focused on getting the kitchen and living room set up in your new place, but there are good reasons to consider hiring a cleaning service on the other end of your move too.

Helps Your New Home Stay Cleaner for Longer

Professional house cleaners employ specialized equipment and techniques that will get your home cleaner and keep it that way for longer than what you can accomplish on your own. You can get off to the right start in your new place and put off the day when you’ll have to clean it again yourself. 

Removes Dust, Allergens, and Other Irritants 

If you’re sensitive to allergens, moving into a new home can run your senses through the gauntlet. Any pet dander and dust may leave you with a runny nose and itchy eyes if you don’t make sure to scrub the place before moving in.

Even if it’s a new build, there may be debris left by contractors that can trigger your allergies. Professional cleaners are equipped to eliminate these pollutants from all their hiding places, using HEPA-rated equipment, allowing you a smoother transition to your new home without the irritation of pollen, dust mites, or mold. 

Lets You Focus on the Fun Stuff

Once you finally get all your belongings into your new home, you’re itching to start decorating, arranging furniture, and exploring your new environment. Hiring a service to take care of the cleaning gives you the time to enjoy the reasons you moved in the first place while making sure your new home is spic-and-span.

What Do You Get With a Deep Cleaning?

When you hire a local cleaning service before a move, the company won’t just be tidying or doing regular housekeeping chores but performing a deep cleaning. As you decide whether or not to take this step during your upcoming move, it’s worth understanding the differences between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning.

A deep cleaning targets all the dirt and grime that accumulates on the surfaces in your home, and within every little nook and cranny. You should aim to deep clean two to three times a year—and it’s also something that you must do before bidding farewell to an old home and before you settle into a new one. 

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Professional Cleaners?

The full cost of hiring a cleaning service for your move depends on the size of the home, your location, and the scope of the job. For a moving service deep cleaning, most customers pay between $200 and $400. Expect deep cleaning work to cost as much as $0.20 per square foot on average. Doing the work yourself will require supplies costing between $40 and $50 if you start from scratch.

DIY Cleaning for a Move vs. Hiring a Pro

The only real downside to hiring professional cleaners for a move is the cost. You can, of course, always clean your old and new homes yourself. It’s ultimately a question of the cost you can spare and how you value your time. If you decide to hire a cleaning pro, make sure to book well in advance to make sure there’s availability between the time you sign your closing documents or new lease and when the moving truck arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re hiring someone to clean an empty and tidy house before you move in, there’s little prep work to do. Make sure to discuss your goals with the cleaning service, arrange entry to the house, and communicate any problem areas or special requests. If you’ve already moved into the house, or if it’s messy, it’s best to complete the following tasks before the cleaners arrive:

  • Declutter things like clothes, toys, or cardboard boxes

  • Do the dishes

  • Put fragile items in a safe spot where they can’t be accidentally broken

  • Keep pets away from cleaning areas

Whether you’re a renter or a buyer, you should clean a house when moving out. For renters, it’s usually written in the lease that a house must be cleaned before it’s vacated. If you’re unsure how thoroughly to clean the place, check with the landlord beforehand; otherwise, you may not receive your deposit back. When selling a house, a contractual agreement is often made with the realtor that the house is swept and that all personal belongings are removed before the previous owners move out.

Unless it’s written into the purchase agreement, there’s no legal obligation that a house you’ve bought has to be clean before you move in. The previous owner is generally required to sweep the house, but that doesn’t guarantee everything will be spotless upon your arrival. If possible, discuss the cleaning requirements with the real estate company before moving in.

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