Move-in & move-out cleaning service scope · All job topics
Why the price can differ
The estimate depends on the confirmed dust type, accessible rooms, protected finishes and whether furniture is present. A light settled film after repainting differs from sanding deposits throughout a suite. Ask whether painter waste and paint spots are excluded, and how a postponed area will be handled if its coating has not cured enough for the agreed cleaning method.
Compare only proposals for the same confirmed light-dust condition and freshly painted surfaces. A specialist construction clean has different equipment and risk assessment from ordinary post-paint housekeeping. Ask for the exact residue and finish assumptions in writing. A low quote that treats unknown sanding dust as routine household dirt is not a meaningful comparison for the task described here.
Materials and included work
Products and tools should be selected only after the residue is established as ordinary household dust and the coatings permit contact. The cited paint manufacturer distinguishes dry paint from fully cured paint. Keep the plan gentle and specific to the finish; a newly painted wall does not automatically belong in a damp-wiping scope just because surrounding floors are being cleaned.
This task excludes lead or asbestos assessment, silica or demolition dust, mould, solvent spills and specialist post-construction cleaning. It also excludes paint-spatter removal and correction of a painter’s finish. If the residue source is unclear, stop and seek the appropriate assessment. No ordinary clean should be presented as clearance testing or proof that renovation-related exposure concerns have been resolved.
Ask these questions in writing
- Did preparation include sanding, demolition or disturbance of unknown old materials?
- Which paint products and curing instructions apply?
- Are painter waste, paint spots and construction residues excluded?
Ask exactly what painting and preparation occurred, when it ended, and whether sanding or demolition produced the dust. Identify the paint products and surfaces still curing. The painter should explain which areas may be touched and when. Photos alone cannot identify dust hazards, so unknown residues or older-material disturbance need appropriate assessment before a household cleaning task is agreed.
Account for access and change approval
Confirm the rooms released by the painter, safe floor access and the absence of continuing work overhead. Ladders, open tools and active sanding are incompatible with an ordinary household clean in the same zone. Agree which reachable ledges can be treated without leaning against fresh paint. High surfaces and protected work areas remain outside the task unless separately arranged.
A remote appraisal can change after hands-on review. Ask what condition changed, which options are available and how the revision affects the scope before approving extra work. If a material gap remains unexplained after matching the scope, seek an independent second opinion.
Planning example
One estimate describes light post-paint dust, while another is a specialist construction-clean proposal. The resident confirms the actual residue source and compares only services suitable for that condition. Paint-spatter removal is not included in the ordinary dust scope. The decision turns on known material, safe access and finish restrictions rather than choosing a construction label merely because painting happened recently in the apartment.
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.