How Much Does a Move in Cleaning Cost [Price Guide]


As a homeowner who’s just secured new tenants for your property, the courteous thing to do is prep the house for their arrival as best you can. That means cleaning the entire space within the house. And not just regular, light cleaning, but deep, detailed cleaning that leaves the house looking as brand new as the first time you laid eyes on it. 

The task itself though is easier said than done, especially for someone who’s not a professional in the cleaning industry. In fact, hiring a professional house cleaning service that can whip the house back into shape can really limit your stress. That being said, you still don’t want to get ripped off in your search for an efficient cleaning crew. 

So before you start typing in deep house cleaning services near me in that old, familiar Google search bar, it’s best to have a basic understanding of what these services entail as well as what you will need to budget. Luckily for you, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to lay out everything you need to know.

All you have to do is sit back and read through the entirety of this article. Maybe we’ll entice you into hiring a professional-level cleaning service, like Happy Home Helpers, as your go-to move in cleaning service. 

Why You Should Opt for A Professional Move in Cleaning Service

Saves Money

Ever heard the phrase “You have to spend money to make money”? Some people may argue that hiring a house cleaning service is a waste of money, since one could clean the house on their own. 

Well, firstly there is a huge difference in hiring professionals and doing something yourself. Professional cleaners are specially trained and have tons of experience behind them. Thus, for any job you do, a professional cleaner can probably do it better and most efficiently.. 

Additionally, if you do choose to clean the house yourself, you’ll have to go out and buy specialized tools and supplies which may actually cost more than hiring cleaning house services

Secondly, you must take into account how cleanliness can increase the total value of a property as well, especially when it comes to renting it out. 

Saves Time

People often live busy lives these days leaving them very little time to do house chores. Thoroughly deep cleaning an entire house in a limited amount of time can be tough for most so luckily you don’t have to. 

Whatever time you spend cleaning and prepping your home for new tenants, a professional cleaning service can accomplish the task in half that. Allowing you to be productive somewhere else. 

The Convenience Factor

When hiring professionals to do a job, you have to take into consideration the convenience factor. While you may be initially motivated to do the job yourself, cleaning a house can be a really long and arduous task. 

More than that it can be really taxing on your body, especially when you’re going at it alone as opposed to hiring an entire team of specialists. So, save yourself the time and effort and just hire a reputable move in cleaning service to do the job for you.

Cleaning Costs by Property Size

Size does matter.  The most important factor affecting the total cost of move in cleaning is your house’s size. The majority of cleaning companies actually develop their pricing packages based on the size of the house, except those who charge on a per hour basis. 

Your house’s size actually includes its total square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in it. Here are some average cleaning costs for different-sized homes. 

1–2 bedroom, 1-bath apartment cleaning (500–1,200 square feet)

It's logical to assume that a smaller house is easier to clean than a larger home. To add to that, cleaning companies don’t need to spend too much on labor for smaller homes either. Keeping all of that in mind, the average rate for smaller 1-2 bedroom homes (500-1200 square feet) is $200-$360.

2–3 bedroom, 2-bath apartment cleaning (1,250–2,000 square feet)

Mid size properties are slightly harder to clean and residents usually end up requesting one extra service that’s outside the base package. For that reason, the total cost of cleaning a mid-size property can range from $365 to $500. 

3–4 bedroom, 2–3 bath house cleaning (2,250–3,000 square feet) 

Carrying over the same logic, larger homes not only require more detailed cleaning, but also more labor to do the job effectively and efficiently. More labor means higher cost for the cleaning company which in turn means that their price for doing the job becomes higher as well. Hence the average cost for cleaning larger homes ranges from $530 to $600. 

Other Factors to Consider 

No two homes are exactly alike, thus the cleaning cost for two homes will never be the same. While most house cleaning services have different average rates for different house sizes, there are some other factors that contribute to the final quote you receive. Let’s take a look at some of these factors in detail down below. 

Labor Costs

While nearly every cleaning company will ask for the size of your home, they won’t necessarily charge you on a per square foot basis or according to the number of bedrooms in your home. 

Instead, they’ll use the size of your home to come up with multiple pricing packages where the cost varies based on the size of the team needed to clean your home as well as how extensive you need the clean to be. Plus, the number of hours needed to clean it. 

For example, a four person team will take less time to clean a home than a two person team. However, any customers that opt for the four-man team will also be accommodating two extra people at the cost of completing the job quicker. 

The Overall Condition of Your Home

It's common sense to assume that a home that is reasonably tidy and well-maintained to begin with will receive a lower cost estimate than a home that is plagued with dust, grime and dirt when the cleaners arrive. 

Mainly because a tidier home should be easier to clean resulting in cleaners spending less time and effort restoring the house to its former glory. That in turn will result in lower labor costs for the owner, both in terms of manpower and time. 

Location of Your Property

Market rates for cleaning differ according to the geographic location of your house. Houses that are located in areas where the cost of living is higher will be subject to higher cleaning rates. 

Having said that, the competition among cleaning companies in these parts of town may be greater as well. Thus, it is possible to find cleaners that are charging lower than the average market rate in upscale areas where the competition is higher but you want to be careful and make sure they are licensed and insured. 

Services

While the exact square footage of your home and labor costs do play a significant role, the exact quote you’ll receive from a cleaning company will ultimately depend on the services you require. 

A number of move in cleaning services offer separate packages with slightly different services. The basics like dusting, cleaning, disinfecting surfaces, vacuuming and mopping are included in nearly every package. 

However, some may also include additional services like cleaning the baseboards and spot cleaning the walls. Thus, it falls on you to carefully take stock of everything that needs cleaned in the home before selecting a package. 

Tips for Saving Money on Move in Cleaning

While hiring professional cleaners to service your home will come at a cost, there is a way for you to reduce the cost of hiring them,especially if you’re paying them on a per hour basis. For that you’re going to have to follow the tips outlined below. 

  • Prep your Place:  Reduce as much clutter as you can so that the cleaners don’t waste time getting into their respective jobs. Move any furniture out of the way before their arrival as well.  An empty house can be cleaned most efficiently.

  • Do the Lighter Cleaning Yourself: Again, if you’re hiring cleaners on a per hour basis, you’d do well to do some light cleaning before they arrive. Tend to the bedrooms and living rooms as they are easier to clean than the bathroom and kitchen. Then, by the time they arrive the only tasks left will be the main, painstaking ones that you can’t do yourself.

  • Set a Time Limit: An advantage of hiring professional cleaners on a per hour basis is that you decide how long they work. You could set a maximum allotment for labor hours  to limit the amount of money you pay them. Direct them to take care of the most important areas first and handle toughest parts of the move in deep cleaning. 

Hiring a Move-In Cleaning Service Sound Good to You?

Move in cleaning is designed to restore living conditions to their original glory after the previous tenants move out. Whether you’re a homeowner prepping your home for new tenants, or an occupant who’s just moved into a new home, move in cleaning acts as a fresh start for both you and your home. It signifies the beginning of a new journey for a house that you’re looking to transform into a home. 


We at Happy Home Helpers want to ensure your new chapter has the most comfortable beginning. Our team of experienced professionals is committed to cleaning your property from top to bottom using specialized equipment, decades of knowledge, and industry expertise.



Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.