Comparing two quotes is hard when each company means something different by "move-out clean." The fix is to ask the same questions to every company and compare the answers.
Direct answer: ask what is included, what is an add-on, what is excluded, how long the crew will be there, whether they are insured, what happens if you are not satisfied, and whether they will give you photos. And ask for the answers in writing.
One source we reviewed advises customers to ask for the landlord's inspection checklist and a written task list before comparing quotes. That is good advice, and it is the idea behind everything on this page.
The questions
About the scope
1. Is every item on my checklist included in the quoted price? Send your landlord's checklist, or our deep cleaning checklist, and ask them to answer item by item.
2. Which items are add-ons, and what do they cost? A low quote may leave out items you assumed were included.
3. Will you clean inside the oven, refrigerator and freezer, cabinets, drawers, closets, and window tracks? These are the items most commonly in dispute.
4. Do you move the stove and refrigerator to clean behind them? Are there conditions? Some will not, to avoid damage. Others ask for permission first.
5. Do you clean interior glass, blinds, baseboards, vents, fans, and light fixtures? Ask which, and whether there are height limits.
6. Are the garage, patio, exterior windows, carpet shampooing, grout restoration, or wall washing included? These are the items that are most often separate. See what a move-out clean does not include.
About the visit
7. How long will the crew be on site, and how many cleaners come? You are comparing time and people, not just a total.
8. Do you bring your own supplies and equipment? Or do you need to provide anything?
About risk and accountability
9. Are you insured, and what does that cover? Ask for a certificate of insurance and what it shows. A certificate describes a policy; it does not add coverage the policy does not provide.
10. What is your re-clean or satisfaction policy? How do you report a problem, and how long do you have?
11. Will you provide before and after photos or a completion report? A record helps if there is a dispute with a landlord.
12. What do you explicitly exclude? A company with no exclusions is not more thorough. It is less clear.
About your situation
13. For a move-out, can you align the scope to my landlord's written checklist? If your landlord gave you a list, hand it over.
14. What happens if something is damaged or inaccessible? For example, a locked closet or a broken fixture. Who tells whom, and when?
What a good answer sounds like
- It is specific ("oven interior, yes; behind the fridge, only with your OK").
- It is in writing.
- It tells you what is not possible.
- It does not promise a result that depends on your landlord.
A red flag is "we do everything" without a list, a flat price that changes when the crew arrives, or an unwillingness to put the scope in writing. We covered the same idea for long agreements in our guide to trapped cleaning contracts.
How we would answer
We write the scope for your home before the visit and mark each item as included, an add-on, or not offered. We use property-specific checklists, document the finished work with photos, have a second person check the visit, and tell you in writing if something needs attention. We do not promise a deposit refund or a passed inspection, because those depend on your lease and your landlord.
Ask us these 14 questions. Request a quote and send your checklist. We will answer each one in writing.