Move-in & move-out cleaning service scope · All job topics
Get the room and items ready
Finish moving belongings and remove agreed rubbish before the cleaning start. Leave utilities available and arrange a working key or concierge authorisation that remains valid until completion. Provide any handover checklist, parking instructions and the actual inspection deadline. Identify items intentionally left behind, because an apparently abandoned cupboard can still contain property that must not be discarded.
Use materials compatible with the now-exposed flooring, cabinet finishes and appliances. Empty rooms do not justify aggressive products on worn surfaces. Appliance interiors need model guidance and separate approval, while kitchen and bathroom tools remain separated. If the suite has recently been painted, the paint’s cure requirements should govern contact with new coatings during the final clean.
Plan access and the order of work
Coordinate the booked access window with movers, elevator reservations and the return of keys. A cleaner arriving while furniture is still being carried through the suite cannot reasonably finish floors for handover. Clarify loading restrictions and garbage arrangements. Access behind connected appliances or beyond safe reach remains separate even when the property itself is completely empty.
Document the starting condition after the move, then clean the agreed cupboards and appliance interiors before final surfaces and floors. Use the landlord’s checklist as a scope reference only where its items were accepted. Review each room while empty, collect permitted cleaning waste and take owner-authorised completion photographs before the agreed key handover or lock-up procedure.
Photographs that clarify this task
- Empty suite after movers leave
- Open appliance and cupboard interiors
- Existing wall damage and floor wear
Assess the suite after packing where possible, listing appliances, cupboards, bathrooms, floors and interior glass. Ask whether the landlord or property manager supplied a specific checklist. Photos taken before furniture removal may hide important areas, so plan a condition update. Record damage separately; a cleaner cannot determine responsibility for every mark revealed during a move.
Know the limit before arrival
The service excludes guarantees about deposit returns, landlord acceptance, repair responsibility and legal compliance of the tenancy. Wall damage, carpet wear and appliance faults remain separate matters. Rubbish hauling, pest treatment, hazardous residues and work at unsafe height require another assessment. A move-out deadline does not make these tasks automatically suitable for a household cleaning appointment.
Send the service, property postal code, preferred date and the relevant preparation details together. Share private access instructions only when arranging the actual visit.
Planning example
The tenant removes boxes and rubbish before the start, leaves utilities on and arranges key access through concierge. A landlord checklist is shared in advance so accepted items can be identified. An old chair remains intentionally in the suite and is marked accordingly. The cleaner can then work without assuming the chair is rubbish or losing the booked window while movers still occupy the rooms.
Downtown Toronto context
A home near Union Station or CityPlace may have separate lobby and loading entrances. Include the actual service route, postal code and any building permissions. See the downtown focus perimeter and GTA enquiry guide before requesting a date.