Landlords check corners. They always do. That line of grout by the back of the toilet? Someone is shining a torch in there to have a look.
In Melbourne, bond cleaning doesn’t need to leave you broke on moving day. Lots of tenants think cleaning the house from top-to-bottom at the end of the lease will cost an arm and a leg, then get in a state and book whatever first happens to appear when you Google “Cheap Bond back cleaning Melbourne“. Big mistake.
Here’s one thing no one will ever tell you: agents don’t give two shits about your total spend. They want to know if the property will still meet the check-in condition report. A $180 clean that ticks all the boxes is better than a $400 clean that neglects the exhaust fan.
First, grab the checklist your agency is working from. Most Melbourne agencies-from the inner north to the bayside suburbs-will supply a standardised REIV “reinigings spiel”. Take any cleaner’s quote, and go through it one item at a time. If a company can’t tell you what’s “done”, without banding about the term “full service”, move on.
The most time-consuming tasks are oven cleaning, carpet steam cleaning, and window tracks. These same three items are responsible for the greatest number of bond disputes. A cheap quote that doesn’t include carpet steaming isn’t cheap once you need to come back for a second visit or call in a carpet cleaning company.
Inquire about re-clean promises. Good Melbourne operators will promise to come back free of charge if the property manager finds a problem up to 3 days later. That guarantee is much more important than the price tag. No one wants to argue over a $40 difference while their bond is unresolved.
Weekday appointments cost less than weekend appointments – 15 to 20 percent less. If your lease allows, move your clean to Tuesday or Wednesday. Cleaning companies fill up on Saturdays because that’s when most leases end, and they charge Uber surge prices just like taxis do when there’s high demand.