Rental Move-Out - WWYD?

[mrs.jacinthe]

In theory, at least, we'll be moving into the new house by the end of February.  We told our landlord yesterday that we are tentatively planning to move out, but if anything changes, he'll be the first to know.

Financially speaking, they're going to want to rerent the place asap after we move out.  So I was thinking of buying a livingsocial deal for 4 hours of cleaning and a groupon deal for carpet cleaning and then just having everything done after we've gotten our stuff out of the house.  It would cost us about $175, but would save me from doing pretty much anything as regards move-out.  I'm thinking this is a good thing because I'm not sure I could get everything as clean in 4 hours as they could.  Basically, I'd have the cleaning folks do the windows, bathrooms, wipe down the walls, and maybe the baseboards.

This is clearly a first-world problem - to hire cleaning staff or not to hire cleaning staff.  Would you do it, or should I buck up and just clean it myself?  Could you do all that faster than 4 hours by yourself?

[thatgirl2478]

When we moved out of the rental we hired carpet cleaners (as per our rental agreement). I was SO happy not to have to do that in addition to all the other moving crap. Thankfully we also hired a truck & movers to help with the heavy stuff.

[thewop]

I'd pay the $$.

[Deleted]

Pay the money to save your sanity. It takes a lot longer than 4 hours to do the deep clean you're talking about. Also carpet cleaning is a giant PITA, so by all means if you can afford it, hire it out.

You have 345 other things going on. I'm more than willing to pay for things that make my life easier.

[sjh722]

Hire it out.

We moved last month. It took me 3-4 hours just to very thoroughly vacuum, wipe out/off kitchen cabinets inside and out, sweep the floors, clean the bathroom, scrub the tub, etc etc. I was also exhausted since I had spent the last several days cleaning, packing, and unpacking.

[kaylie]

I would hire out. We didn't and even with my MIL being insanely helpful it was stressful with everything else going on.

[munkii]

Dooo eeet! Hiring carpet cleaners and house cleaners was some of the best money well spent when I moved out of my rental last spring. Make sure the cleaning company does move-outs, though. Lots of companies here (IN) won't, and it would suck to have to use your Groupon cleaning on regular cleaning if they say no move-outs. I mean, house cleaning in general is nice, but getting the help for move-out is better.

[goaskalice]

It's worth the money! We actually hired cleaners at the new place too, but we bought a short sale and she didn't leave it very clean...

I would inquire about the carpets with your landlord though. We had them done once and then were charged anyway bc it is a standard move out charge around here.

[mollybrown]

I'd hire someone. But beware of buying a living social or groupon deal if you need the work done on a specific day. I bought a deal in November hoping to have a cleaning done sometime before Christmas, and they were booking 4 months out.

[Deleted]

We are in the same boat. I am hoping our house will be completed my 3/15 but it will likely be closer to the end of the month. This will potentially only leave one weekend to move in to the new house and clean the apartment before the end of the month. I feel like I am slacking by hiring someone else to do it but I just can't figure out how I will do all of it if I end up with only a few days until the end of the month.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Jan 28, 2013 13:04:33 GMT -5 mollybrown said:

I'd hire someone. But beware of buying a living social or groupon deal if you need the work done on a specific day. I bought a deal in November hoping to have a cleaning done sometime before Christmas, and they were booking 4 months out.

This is a valid point.  I have a card for the cleaning lady our landlords use in their house.  Maybe I'll just call her.

[tarheels]

Well, I haven't cleaned my own bathroom in 5 years, so you know which camp I'm in I don't understand why anyone would do their own move-out clean if they could afford to hire it done.

[Ramz-ee]

Jan 28, 2013 13:04:33 GMT -5 mollybrown said:

I'd hire someone. But beware of buying a living social or groupon deal if you need the work done on a specific day. I bought a deal in November hoping to have a cleaning done sometime before Christmas, and they were booking 4 months out.

I know above you said you have someone's card, but if you continue to consider groupon or living social, read the fine print. The ones around here won't do the 4 hours for move out cleaning. 

[circa1978]

I would and I have. I've never regretted a penny I spent having someone else clean my toilet.

[sierramist03]

As someone who cleaned it myself it's overrated pay someone it will totally be worth it promise. It took me all day with my mom both times to clean apartments we were moving out of