If you are vacating your rental property, you will know how important it is to ensure that the property is clean enough to get your bond back. However, moving can be crazy busy and it can be super hard to find the time for cleaning whilst juggling everything else.

Before you know it, you’re extremely stressed and overwhelmed! This is why most people look to hiring a professional for the job. If you’re going to choose this option, make sure it’s one of the first things you do!

A good professional cleaner’s time gets snapped up quickly and most are booked out well in advance. 

When looking for a professional, it is critical to choose a company that is trustworthy and will offer you top-quality services to give you that peace of mind you’re craving. Here are some golden tips to follow for finding the best.

Credentials

Unfortunately not every bond cleaning company has the same standards, and in most of Australia (including Victoria) there are no recognised qualifications or licensing requirements, so it’s easy for anyone to call themselves a cleaner. Some things you can do is ask for invoices and quotations on paper, as these can be used as proof to the property manager if there is a cleaning issue. Also, check the company has an ABN (Australian Business Number) and a registered business name. 

Bond back guarantee

The guarantee on getting your full bond back is quite common among vacate cleaners. This means that if there is a problem with cleaning during your property manager’s final inspection, the company will return to fix the issue without charging extra. While some people choose to clean the apartment on their own to save money, this often causes missed spots and lowers the cleanliness standard. Hiring a professional can be extremely beneficial and actually save you a big headache. Be aware when checking for a bond back guarantee that some companies have a time limit. Check the fine print and ask the question. 

Go with referral 

Good references are everything! Check out the reviews and comments from their previous clients on the companie’s Facebook page or on Google reviews. Also speak to your property manager, they’re experienced in the field and will always have someone they can get you in touch with. Even ask your neighbours, friends, family, or anybody else you know who has previously hired a cleaning service for their recommendations too!

Floor and carpet cleaning 

Not all cleaning companies have the proper equipment or products to clean the floors and carpets. Getting the carpets steam cleaned is a requirement of vacating a property. Ask your company about the particular services that they offer and if carpet steam cleaning is included in the quoted price, so you won’t have to hire more than one company. As for floorboards, make sure they have the right equipment for cleaning these and aren’t going to cause damage that you could end up responsible for! 

Ask questions

You don’t need to settle for the first company you contact because you’re in a hurry. Speak to at least two different companies to compare their quotes or services before hiring the right one. Also don’t hesitate to ask questions! Some of the following things are important:

• Are you fully insured?
• Are your employees fully trained and background checked?
• How many years’ experience do you have with vacate/bond cleaning?
• Do you offer a bond back guarantee?
• What is included in the process and what isn’t (for example steam cleaning)?
• Will you work with the real estate agent to co-ordinate the clean?
• Do you have the proper equipment and products for cleaning floorboards?

 If you move out of a rental property, leaving the property the same way as when you moved in is crucial and hiring a professional for the job sometimes just makes perfect sense!