What makes move-out cleans different
- Everything is visible. With furniture gone, floors, baseboards and walls behind furniture all need attention.
- Inspection standard. The work is judged against a landlord’s or buyer’s checklist, not a regular customer’s preferences.
- Appliances. Inside the oven and refrigerator are commonly expected — add them as add-ons so the time is counted.
- One visit. There’s no recurring relationship to make up for a thin margin, so price each move-out clean to be profitable on its own.
Move-out pricing checklist
- Get the square footage, room count and photos of the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Set the condition honestly — “Heavy” if there’s visible build-up.
- Select the add-ons the customer needs (inside oven, inside fridge, interior windows, carpet).
- Check the expected profit and margin in the results panel.
- Generate an estimate that lists what’s included and states that the price assumes the condition described. See what to include in a cleaning estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I price a move-out cleaning?
Estimate the hours from the home's size and condition, using a higher time multiplier than a standard clean, add appliance and window add-ons the customer needs, then apply your costs and target margin. Move-out cleans are usually one-time jobs, so don't apply a recurring-customer discount.
Is move-out cleaning harder than move-in cleaning?
Often, yes. A move-out clean happens after someone has lived in the home, so there's more build-up behind appliances, inside cabinets and in bathrooms. A move-in clean of a vacant, recently cleaned home can be quicker. That's why the calculator uses separate default multipliers you can adjust.
Who pays for move-out cleaning — tenant or landlord?
Either can be your customer: tenants trying to recover a security deposit, landlords and property managers turning a unit, or homeowners selling. Ask who the inspection is for and what checklist they'll be using, and list those items on your estimate.
Should I see the home before quoting a move-out clean?
If you can, yes, or ask for photos. Condition is the biggest unknown. If you quote sight unseen, add terms to your estimate saying the price may change if the condition differs from what was described.