Empty the property before cleaning starts
Remove furniture, boxes, food, personal items, and anything that should not be discarded. Check cabinets, closets, patios, garages, and storage areas. An empty property gives the cleaning team clear access and prevents uncertainty about what stays, what goes, and which surfaces are ready to be cleaned.
Separate repairs from cleaning
Walk through the property and note wall damage, broken hardware, stained grout, damaged blinds, burned-out bulbs, or appliance issues. Cleaning can improve a surface, but it cannot repair it. Identifying repairs early makes the final result easier to evaluate and keeps the cleaning scope focused.
List the high-effort areas
Ovens, refrigerators, cabinet interiors, baseboards, tracks, buildup, and neglected fixtures often require more time than a routine visit. Photograph and describe the condition when requesting a quote. If an appliance remains connected or a room is still occupied, say so before the service date.
Confirm access, utilities, and timing
Make sure water and electricity remain available, the team can enter, and parking or elevator arrangements are settled. Share the walkthrough date, key-return deadline, and any building restrictions. Leave enough time after cleaning to review the property and address anything outside the original scope.
Do a final room-by-room check
Move from the entrance through each room in the same order. Check floors, reachable surfaces, fixtures, cabinet interiors included in the scope, appliances, windows or tracks if included, and trash removal. Compare the result with the written agreement rather than relying on a general impression.