Moving is crowded enough without a cleaning list at the end. A move-out clean works through an empty home in the order that makes sense when there is no furniture in the way: cabinets and closets first, appliances next, then bathrooms, then floors. A move-in clean does the same before your boxes arrive, so the first night in the new place starts from a clean surface.
Because the space is empty, the work reaches places that are blocked in an occupied home: the inside of every cabinet, the shelves of the pantry, the inside of the oven and the floor along every wall.
What is cleaned in an empty home
Cabinets and drawers are wiped inside and out. Closet shelves and rods are dusted and wiped. Appliances are cleaned inside and out, including the oven, refrigerator and dishwasher where they stay with the home. Bathrooms are scrubbed from the fixtures to the floor, and window sills, tracks and the tops of door frames are wiped. Floors are vacuumed and mopped last, working toward the exit door.
Scope is agreed in writing before the visit. Garage, patio and storage areas are included only if they are listed, so the price matches the work.
Georgia deposit timelines and why a clean unit helps
Renters leaving a unit in Georgia are working against a short clock. The state housing agency summarizes the rule for owners: inspect the unit and make a written list of all damage within three business days after the tenant moves out, return the deposit within 30 days, and if any part is kept, give written notice with a list of the damage. No portion of the deposit should be held for damage that is the result of ordinary wear and tear.
A clean unit does not erase damage and it does not turn damage into wear, but it does make the inspection easier to read. When the surfaces are clean, the owner’s list reflects what is actually damaged rather than what is dirty. Tenants who want a record of the unit should take dated photos of each room after cleaning.
Timing around closing and move dates
Buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants each have a different last day. A seller usually wants the clean done after the movers leave and before the final walk-through, a tenant before the key return and a landlord before the next move-in. Give us the date the space is empty and the date it needs to be ready, and the visit is booked between them.
For larger homes, the visit may need more than one crew member so the clean is finished the same day.
Move-in cleaning
A move-in clean is for the new home before furniture comes in. Previous occupants leave dust in vents, residue in cabinets and film on bathroom fixtures. Cleaning when the rooms are empty is the easiest time to reach everything, and the floors can be washed without moving rugs or couches.
Words you will hear on this job
- Move-out inspection
- Normal wear and tear
- Security deposit
- Final walk-through
- Empty-unit clean
- Appliance interior
- Track and sill
How a visit runs
Send the dates and the address
Tell us when the space is empty, when it must be ready and the size of the home.
Agree the checklist
Cabinets, appliances, bathrooms, floors and any extra areas are listed and priced before the visit.
The clean
The crew works from the top down and from the back of each room to the door, with floors last.
Walk-through
A last look at each room confirms the checklist is complete so you can return the keys or hand over the home.
Questions about move-in and move-out cleaning
Does move-out cleaning include the inside of the oven and refrigerator?
Yes, when those appliances stay with the home. Both are on the checklist for an empty-home clean.
How soon after the movers leave can the clean be done?
As soon as the space is empty. Tell us the date and the deadline and we schedule the visit between them.
Will cleaning stop a landlord from keeping part of my deposit?
Cleaning cannot fix damage. Georgia’s housing agency says no part of a deposit should be held for ordinary wear and tear, and owners generally return the deposit or itemize deductions within 30 days. A clean unit makes the inspection easier to read, and dated photos give you a record.
Do you do move-in cleaning before I unpack?
Yes. Cleaning an empty home before furniture arrives reaches the cabinets, closets and floors without moving anything.
Are garages and patios included?
Only if they are on the checklist. Tell us when you request the quote and we add them to the scope.
Do I have to be present?
No. A key, lockbox or door code works. We confirm access in the booking.
Where this service is quoted
Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning is quoted across the north side of metro Atlanta. Pick your town to see the buildings, districts and local notes that shape a cleaning schedule there.
Related services: House Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Office Cleaning, Medical Office Cleaning, Gym Cleaning, Electrostatic Disinfecting.
Sources: [1] dca.georgia.gov