Move out cleaning and deep cleaning cover many of the same surfaces, but they are different jobs. A move out clean happens in an empty unit, so it reaches inside every cabinet, closet and appliance. A deep clean happens in a home someone lives in, so it works around their things. Property managers book the move out version between tenants.
Does the unit need to be empty for a move out clean?
Yes, as close to empty as possible. A move out clean is priced and scheduled on the idea that the crew can open every cabinet, clean appliance interiors, wipe accessible shelves and reach exposed baseboards. Furniture, boxes or trash left behind block that work. If the last tenant left items, a trash out should happen before the clean.
When a unit is only partly cleared, the crew cleans what it can reach and the rest waits. That usually means a second trip, which costs the turn schedule a day it may not have. A quick check of the unit before the cleaning date saves that trip.
Are ovens, refrigerators, cabinets and closets included?
In a move out clean, yes. The inside of the oven, fridge, freezer, microwave and dishwasher, every cabinet and drawer, and every closet shelf and rod are part of the job, because the next tenant will open all of them in the first week. In a deep clean of an occupied home, those insides are often optional extras.
That difference is the main reason the two jobs get confused. The words "deep clean" sound thorough, but a deep clean done around a family's dishes and clothes cannot reach the places an empty unit exposes.
What is different about a deep clean in an occupied home?
A deep clean in an occupied home goes further than a routine clean, with baseboards, vents, light fixtures, blinds and buildup in kitchens and baths. It works around furniture, dishes and personal items, so the insides of full cabinets, closets and appliances are often skipped or added for a fee. It suits a lived in home, not a vacant rental.
Southern Charm Cleaning does move out and make ready cleans for property managers and rental owners. Deep cleaning of occupied homes is not one of the services on this site.
What is included, optional or outside the scope?
Included work is everything the next tenant will see or touch in an empty unit. Optional work is extra space such as a garage or patio, added to the quote when you ask. Repair, paint and specialty trades are outside the scope and belong to maintenance or another vendor. The table puts both jobs side by side.
| Item | Move out clean | Occupied home deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| Inside oven, fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher | Included | Often optional |
| Inside cabinets and drawers | Included | Often skipped when they are full |
| Closets, shelves and rods | Included | Often skipped when they are full |
| Tubs, showers, toilets, sinks, mirrors | Included | Included |
| Floors and baseboards | Included | Included, around furniture |
| Windows, sills, tracks and blinds | Included | Often included |
| Light fixtures, switch plates, doors and frames | Included | Often included |
| Garage, patio or balcony | Optional, added to the quote | Optional |
| Carpet shampoo or extraction | Outside the scope, book a carpet vendor | Outside the scope |
| Patching, paint, repairs, pest control | Outside the scope, maintenance or a vendor | Outside the scope |
| Furniture or large items left behind | Outside the scope, trash out first | Not applicable |
Your written quote is the final word on scope. If an item matters to your inspection, make sure it is on the quote by name.
What does a property manager check before releasing the unit?
Most managers walk the unit with a checklist and photos before it goes back on the market. They open the appliances, cabinets and closets, check the bathrooms and floors, look at windows, blinds and fixtures, and confirm nothing was left behind. A clean that follows the same list the manager uses is the one that passes the first walk.
A short inspection list for the final walk:
- Oven, range hood, fridge, freezer, microwave and dishwasher, inside and out
- Every cabinet, drawer, closet shelf and rod
- Tub, shower, toilet base, sink and mirror in each bathroom
- Floors, corners and baseboards in every room
- Window sills, tracks and blinds
- Light fixtures, switch plates, outlet covers and the tops of door frames
- Nothing left in the unit, the garage or on the patio
The apartment turnover cleaning checklist splits these tasks between the cleaner and the property manager. The make ready cleaning checklist goes room by room.
Does a move out clean mean the tenant gets the deposit back?
No cleaner can promise that. The landlord decides, under the lease and state law. In Texas, Section 92.104 of the Property Code says a landlord may not keep any part of a security deposit to cover normal wear and tear, and generally must give the tenant an itemized list of deductions. A clean unit helps but does not settle damage.
The Texas State Law Library guide to security deposit refunds explains the refund deadline and forwarding address requirement. Under Section 92.103, the landlord must refund the deposit on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises. Under Section 92.107, the landlord does not have to refund it until the tenant gives a written forwarding address. Questions about deductions go to the leasing office or a lawyer, not the cleaning crew.
Where does the move out clean fit in the turn?
After maintenance, paint and repairs, and before carpet cleaning and the final walk. Painting and repairs throw dust onto every surface, so cleaning first means cleaning twice. A clean that lands a day or two before the walk leaves the leasing office time for a last look and a fix if anything was missed.
Frequently asked questions
Do the utilities need to be on for a move out clean?
Yes. The crew needs running water for kitchens, bathrooms and floors, and power for vacuums and lights. A unit with the water or power off cannot be cleaned properly. If utilities are switched between tenants, confirm they are on for the cleaning date and tell the crew how to get in.
Can a move out clean happen while the tenant is still moving out?
It works far better once the tenant is gone. Boxes and furniture block cabinets, closets, floors and baseboards, and the crew may end up cleaning twice. If the dates are tight, schedule the clean for the first day the unit is empty and send the trash out ahead of it.
How should a move out clean be documented?
Ask for photos of the finished unit, especially the inside of the oven, the fridge, the bathrooms and the floors. Pair them with your own move out inspection photos. Together they show the condition the tenant left and the condition the next tenant receives, which helps if a deduction is questioned.
When is a deep clean the right call for a rental?
When someone still lives there. A tenant renewing a lease, or an owner moving back into a former rental before unpacking, may want a deep clean around their things. Once the unit is empty and headed to a new tenant, the move out clean is the job that covers what the next person will inspect.
How do I request a move out cleaning quote?
Text the property, the unit numbers and the turn dates to (469) 383 8216, or use the quote form. Southern Charm Cleaning does move out and make ready cleans for apartments and rental homes across Plano, Dallas, Fort Worth and nearby cities, priced per unit.
See all services for the other work we take on.