Clearing & Cleaning Standards

At check-out, tenants are required to have thoroughly cleaned their home. The following areas will be inspected by the property manager upon check-out. This list is not meant to be an an all-inclusive list but instead highlights common areas that require attention.

Please find list of verified cleaning companies at the bottom of this page.

Ceilings, Walls, Doors, & Woodwork

All nail holes must be filled with spackle and the excess wiped off with a damp rag or sponge. Spot paint nail holes if matching paint is available (test an inconspicuous area to be certain as walls fade and paint deteriorates after sitting in a can for several years). If matching paint is not available or does not match, Sherwin Williams and Home Depot can match paint colors from as small as a dime-sized object. A sliver of paint can be removed from an inconspicuous area such as near a window trim or close to a corner. Also note the sheen of the paint so as spot paint with a different sheen i.e. using a semi-gloss to spot paint a wall using flat paint.

The following must be cleaned:

All stains (grease, fingerprints, food, crayon marks, etc.) from walls, ceilings, baseboards, stairwells, window sills, and other woodwork.
All bathrooms and kitchen ceilings, walls, and woodwork of all soap and grease deposits.
All stairwell walls (including those leading to the basement).
Both sides of interior and exterior doors by removing dirt and stains.
Light switches and electrical outlet covers.

Special care should be used when cleaning the walls so as not to remove paint.

Closets, Drawers, shelves, cabinets, & COUNTER TOPS

All closets, drawers, shelves, and cabinets must be emptied of food particles, trash, and personal items.
All interior kitchen cabinet shelves must be thoroughly cleaned and free of sticky substances.
Cabinetry, drawers, and shelves must be thoroughly washed and cleaned of all marks, sticky substances, and dirt.
Exterior of cabinets must be thoroughly washed with soap and water.

Floors

All vinyl, tile, and carpet floors must be swept and mopped.
All floors should be free of marks, scuffs, stains, and debris.
All carpet must be cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning company. A receipt of this service is required at check-out. Any damage done by the carpet cleaner is a tenant responsibility.
Carpets should be cleaned and dry on the day of check-out.

Heating/cooling units

All fireplaces must be thoroughly cleaned and free of ash.
All heating and A/C vents must be vacuumed and washed with soap and water to remove dust, dirt, and other debris.
The HVAC filter must be replaced prior to check-out.

Ceiling fans, light fixtures, & electrical

All light fixtures to include exterior globes on porches and garages must be thoroughly cleaned to include ceiling fan blades.
Brass fixtures should be cleaned with a dry dust cloth only. Do not use brass polishing products.
Any broken globe on interior or exterior light fixtures must be replaced.
All light bulbs must function properly.
All damaged switch plate and receptacle covers must be replaced.

Kitchen, bathroom, laundry rooms, toilets, & sinks

All interior and exterior surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned.
All porcelain fixtures must be free of stains, lime and mineral deposits, and excessive soap residue.
Bathtubs, sinks, toilet bowls, showers, mirrors, shelves, towel rails, and related hardware must be thoroughly cleaned.
The bathroom exhaust fan cover must be cleaned.
Missing sink strainers must be replaced.
Cracked, chipped, stained, and broken toilet seats must be replaced.
All elbows, pipes, and connections for venting dryers must remain in place.

Appliances

Refrigerators

All food and food particles must be removed.
All removable parts (ice trays, crispers, shelves, etc.) must be cleaned and put back into place (replace or report damaged drawers and racks)
All broken or burned out light bulbs must be replaced.
Ice maker must be free of ice.
All areas underneath and beside refrigerator must be cleaned of dust, lint, and debris.
Refrigerator water filter must be replaced prior to check-out.

Ranges, Range Hoods, & microwave ovens

All burners, grates, oven pants, broiler units, burner grills, and removable oven bottoms and compartment panels must be thoroughly cleaned.
All broiler pans and oven racks must be in place in the oven.
All surfaces of oven, oven door, range, etc. must be thoroughly cleaned and completely free of grease and burned on carbon.
Storage drawer under the oven must be thoroughly cleaned.
Range hoods must be thoroughly cleaned or grease build-up, food, and dirt.
All broken or burned out light bulbs must be replaced.
Microwave oven should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out.

Dishwasher

The dishwasher must be thoroughly cleaned, inside and out.

Basement

Basement areas constructed as living areas must be cleaned to the same standard as the rest of the home.

All personal property and debris must be removed.
Floors must be swept and mopped.
Furnaces and hot water heaters must be dusted and all outside dirt accumulation must be removed.
Wash tubs must be cleaned.
Basement windows and window wells must be cleaned.
All cobwebs must be removed.

Windows & blinds

All interior glass surfaces must be washed.
All frames and tracks must be thoroughly cleaned.
Outside surfaces of all door and window glass must be cleaned.
All drapes and/or curtains belonging to the homeowner must be cleaned and hung.
All blinds must be cleaned and free of dust and grease.

Garages

All personal property and debris must be removed.
All dirt, spilled paint, and grease stains must be removed from the shelves and floor.
All floors must be swept.
All cobwebs must be removed.

Exterior

All excessive dirt, mud, chalk, crayon, oil, grease, and other substances must be removed from siding, sidewalk, patio slabs, and driveway.
Exterior walls must be free of mud spots, chalk, pencil, crayon, etc.
Outside vents must be cleaned.
Flower and vegetable gardens must be clean and free of debris. Flower beds must be free of weeds and dead flowers.
All trash and debris must be removed from the yard.
All yard damage done by pets, children, or belongings must be repaired. At the time of check-out, grass should be growing in damaged areas.

miscellaneous

During the check-out appointment, the tenant is expected to turn over all house and garage door keys, garage door openers, garbage disposal wrenches, and fireplace keys to the property manager. Ensure the movers do not pack these items.
All personal property must be removed from the property.
Any damage caused by the movers will be the responsibility of the occupant. Damage should be reported immediately the the property manager.