What’s Included in a Professional Move‑In Cleaning?

We Got a Call About a Move‑In Clean… and a Lot of Great Questions

We recently got a call from a homeowner — let’s call her Kelly — who was getting ready to move into a 2,700 square foot home with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. Painters were finishing up in the morning, and she wanted our crew to come in that afternoon for a full move‑in cleaning.

Kelly had the same questions we hear from a lot of people:

• “What exactly is included in a professional move‑in cleaning?”
• “How long will it take — will you stay until it’s actually done?”
• “What counts as an extra add‑on, and how much does it cost?”
• “How do I schedule it so it doesn’t clash with painters and movers?”

We walked her through every part of the process, and I thought it would be helpful to share that same breakdown here. If you’re planning a move, this is what you can expect from a professional move‑in cleaning and how to time it just right.

What’s Typically Included in a Move‑In Cleaning?

A move‑in clean is deeper and more detailed than a regular maintenance visit. In Kelly’s case, we were treating it as a heavy‑duty cleaning because she wanted the house as close to “like new” as possible before her family unpacked.

Here’s what we generally include in a professional move‑in service:

Whole‑Home Deep Cleaning

• Thorough dusting of all reachable surfaces – ledges, light fixtures, switches, vents, and yes, ceiling fans (Kelly specifically asked about this).
• Baseboards and trim cleaned in all rooms, not just a quick swipe.
• Doors, door frames, and handles wiped and disinfected.
• Floors: hard surfaces vacuumed and mopped; carpets and rugs vacuumed (we, like many cleaning companies, don’t steam clean carpets as part of standard move‑in service).

Kitchen Detail Work

Because you’ll be storing and preparing food here, we go extra deep in the kitchen:

• Inside and outside of kitchen cabinets and drawers cleaned (including handles and edges).
• Counters and backsplash degreased and disinfected.
• Sink and faucet scrubbed and shined.
• Standard appliances such as the oven, stovetop, and microwave cleaned inside and out. (Kelly double‑checked this with us on the phone.)

Bathrooms Sanitized from Top to Bottom

• Showers and tubs scrubbed to remove soap scum and buildup.
• Toilets fully cleaned and disinfected (inside, outside, and base).
• Sinks, faucets, and counters detailed.
• Mirrors and fixtures polished.
• Bathroom cabinets and drawers cleaned inside and out.

Common Add‑Ons: What’s Not Automatically Included

During our call, Kelly wanted to be crystal clear on what was and wasn’t part of the base price. That’s smart — every company structures things a bit differently, but here are two big items that are often treated as add‑ons.

1. Inside of the Fridge and Freezer

In Kelly’s case, the inside of the fridge wasn’t included in the standard move‑in clean, so she chose to add it for an extra fee (in our example, $50, including the freezer).

Two helpful tips here:

• Ask if you can decide day‑of. Kelly wanted the option to skip the inside‑fridge cleaning if it turned out to be in great shape once it was emptied. We allow that kind of flexibility as long as you call us, and many companies will too.
• Confirm what “fridge cleaning” covers. Ideally it includes shelves, drawers, walls, and gasket edges — not just a quick wipe.

2. Windows: Dusting vs. Full Wipe‑Down

Another big question Kelly had was about windows and blinds. Our base service included dusting them, but not a full wet wipe‑down.

She chose to upgrade to a more detailed window cleaning, charged on a per‑window basis. For her estimate, we figured about 15 windows. With that upgrade, we committed to:

• Cleaning the inside glass only (not exterior).
• Wiping the window frames and sills.
• Lifting the windows where possible to clean out the tracks/sills.

When you schedule your own move‑in clean, ask specifically:

• Are windows just feather‑dusted, or fully wiped with cleaner?
• Do you clean sills and frames?
• Is exterior glass included at all?

How Long Does a Move‑In Cleaning Take?

Kelly’s next concern was timing: “If we start around 2 p.m. and it takes a long time, will your team stay until it’s finished?”

For a 2,700 sq ft, four‑bed, four‑and‑a‑half‑bath home with add‑ons like window detailing and fridge cleaning, we explained that:

• It can take several hours, depending on the condition of the home.
• Our team’s goal is to finish the job in one visit, not walk away half‑done.
• In rare cases (for example, if it’s nearly 10 p.m.), we may ask to return early the next morning to finish, with the client’s approval.

Kelly also had painters in the home that morning, so we suggested an arrival window between 1 and 2 p.m. and noted 1:30 p.m. as her ideal time. That gave painters time to wrap up and dust to settle before we arrived.

Scheduling It Right: Painters, Movers, and Cleaners

Coordinating everyone can be the trickiest part of a move. Here’s how we helped Kelly plan it — and how you can plan your own.

Ideal Order of Events

1. Contractors and painters finish first. You don’t want fresh dust landing on freshly cleaned surfaces.
2. Move‑in cleaning happens next. Aim for at least a few hours after the last contractor leaves.
3. Movers come last. Once everything is dry and sparkling, bring in furniture and boxes.

If schedules are tight, share your full timeline with your cleaning company. We’re used to working around painters, flooring crews, and delivery people, and we can recommend the least stressful option.

What to Ask When You Book

Kelly asked some great questions you might want to copy:

• “Do you offer an arrival window?” Most companies will give a range (for example, between 1 and 2 p.m.).
• “Will you stay until it’s done?” Get a clear answer so you’re not left with a half‑clean house.
• “Can you come back the next morning if needed?” Helpful for large homes or heavy‑duty jobs.
• “Is there a cancellation or reschedule fee?” In our case, changes more than 48 hours out don’t incur any penalty; many companies are similar.

Payment, Holds, and Tipping

For Kelly’s visit, we collected her card details to secure the booking, but there was no deposit. We placed a temporary hold about 24 hours before the cleaning to be sure the card worked, then processed the actual charge a couple of hours after the job was complete.

On tipping, she asked whether gratuity was expected. Our answer — and the norm in the industry — is that tipping is optional. If you feel the team went above and beyond, it’s always appreciated, but never required.

Final Walkthrough: Make Sure It’s Truly Move‑In Ready

Before we wrapped up the call, we encouraged Kelly to do a final walkthrough with the team before they left — something we recommend to every client.

During your walkthrough, check:

• Inside cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Fans, baseboards, and hard‑to‑reach areas.
• Windowsills, frames, and any upgraded window work.
• Inside appliances you’ve requested, like the oven or fridge.

That’s the best time to request quick touch‑ups and make sure you’re 100% comfortable moving your belongings into the space.

If you’re staring at a new set of house keys and wondering how to get your place truly move‑in ready, a professional move‑in cleaning can take a huge weight off your shoulders — especially when you know exactly what’s included, what’s extra, and how to schedule it around everything else.