The day you get the keys is the only time your new home is empty. Clean it before the boxes arrive, and record its condition before you unpack: those photos protect your deposit when you move out.
Room by room
Kitchen
- Inside every cabinet and drawer, wiped and dried before you unpack
- Inside the fridge and freezer, shelves out
- Inside the oven and microwave
- Counters, sink, faucet and backsplash
- Dishwasher door, seals and filter
Bathrooms
- Toilet, tub and shower sanitized
- Tiles, grout and glass
- Inside the vanity and medicine cabinet
- Exhaust fan cover
- Run every tap and flush, and look for leaks
Bedrooms and living areas
- Closet shelves and rails
- Baseboards, doors and switches
- Ceiling fans, light fixtures and AC vents
- Window sills, tracks and blinds
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
Before you unpack
- Take dated photos and video of every room, including any damage
- Fill in the move in inspection form and send a copy to your landlord
- Test smoke alarms, locks, AC and appliances, and report problems in writing
- Ask when the AC filter was last changed
- Ask whether the locks were changed after the last tenant
Good to know in South Florida
- The AC closet and vents collect dust and mildew in humid months. Wipe them and check the drain line is clear
- Sliding door and window tracks hold sand and grit, and are easy to miss
- If the unit has been empty a while, ask whether it was treated for pests and when
Record the condition
Florida's deposit rules let your landlord claim for damage beyond normal wear and tear when you leave. Dated photos and a signed move in form are the simplest proof of what was already there. Our guide to wear and tear and damage explains what counts.
Short on time? Book a move in clean for the day you get the keys and a local cleaner will call you to quote.