Surely this can't be an abnormal request? Cleaning on the day of the move

[DragonMamma]

I can't believe how difficult this is proving to be to arrange/get quotes for. Am I phrasing it badly?!

I'm basically trying to get a cleaner(s) to come in on the day we move and as the packers are closing down rooms, clean behind them?

These are people that are advertising move out cleans/end of tenancy cleans

So many have asked what day the house will be empty? Well, never really.

Please tell me if I am asking for the unrealistic because I'm starting to think I've lost it.

Packers said they will come for 8am and it will take a few hours, so there's feasibly be only a couple of hours (if that) before we have to hand over the keys.

Any sage words of advice gratefully received on this.

[LoveNunxxx]

No, it would need to be done when empty! Cleaners just won't manage to get it done tripping over removal boxes and furniture

[DragonMamma]

That's the bit I'm clearly struggling to grasp, because it won't be properly empty at all? Except maybe for a couple of hours after the packers finish and the keys get handed over but I suppose there's no way to predict how long that will be?

[wowfudge]

I am going to guess that the vagaries of when the packing will be completed and when the sale will complete are making it difficult. A cleaner or cleaning company will want a definite time and and definite window in which to complete the job. Hanging around waiting for the call with an unspecified amount if time in which to complete the job will be what is putting people off. Could you perhaps get cleaners in the week before moving to deep clean the kitchen and bathroom(s), insides of windows, etc and then it's a quick dust and hoover job for you on moving day?

[MarieLaure]

We arranged directly with a recommended cleaner (she cleans for a friend) to do this when we moved. I'm so glad we did - the packers / movers weren't finished when they should have been, and it was all quite chaotic (i.e. They didn't do it neatly room by room). The lady we used was fab- very practical and just cleaned what she could when she could. It wouldn't have worked if we'd had a company in who were watching the clock. Can you ask around locally for recommendations?

[DragonMamma]

Wow, I may have to do that if I can't find somebody but I fear there'll be a lot of bloody dust down the back of wardrobes etc. Which will make it a bit more onerous.

I will Marie's advise and ask around for recommendations locally in the first instance as I want it to be as stress free as humanly possible, even if it means paying through the nose for it.

[BananaPie]

Definitely just clean it before the packers come, then once the house is empty it's just dusting skirting boards which were behind furniture and hoovering.

Cleaning thoroughly beforehand also means you won't be moving dust on top of wardrobes etc with you

[IrritableBitchSyndrome]

We had a great removal firm who brought two cleaners with them.

[Optimist1]

Could you get the removal company to pack you up the day before (and leave your belongings in their van overnight) so that the cleaner can access the empty house first thing the following morning?

[Falcon1]

As optimist says, get a moving company that will pack and load the day before, just leaving your essentials for the night. That way you can easily clean in the morning. We did this using a company called Marshall and Mackintosh. I just did a bit of cleaning the night before and some in the morning.

[SingingMySong]

You normally need to be out at midday or so, so it's not giving them a lot of time.

You might have more luck trying to book them for say 8-12am, pay by the hour rather than ask for a price for doing it all, and be prepared to pay a premium because it'll be deep cleaning. Or book them for a few days before, moving furniture to the middles of the rooms where you can beforehand and asking them to deep clean round the edges.

[DancingLedge]

I've done moving cleans for clients, back in the day.

Few days before, hoover tops of furniture, and dust behind pictures , and back of pictures. Backs of furniture that's normally back to the wall, moving it out and then replacing.

Now it's clean to be moved on the day.
On day,just hoovering as and where I could, as rooms start to get emptied. Doing the windows, bathrooms,and kitchen, as and when. You just have to just have to be prepared to move out of the way of movers.

Echo getting someone recommended by friends/neighbours.

[NotMeNoNo]

There's a difference between end of tenancy, when you often have to have a professional clean as a condition but at the same time there may be an overlap or some days to organise it, and moving out to sell when it's all on one day and under time pressure.

When selling you have no obligation to leave the house spotless it's just courtesy (and very nice of you). Also most people will be keen to get the keys once the house is legally theirs and not wait for someone to polish the banisters.

When we moved recently my mum kindly came with her rubber gloves and followed the removal team round wiping and vacuuming the worst of it. It certainly wasn't a full deep clean but she still hardly sat down for several hours. You need someone who will come for a few hours and be flexible as to what they can do.

[GoodEggGertie]

'Move out' cleans are often marketed at tenants rather than home owners I think. This generally means having keys back by a certain time / date but moving out a day or so before. The clean is aimed at getting your deposit back so can take a long while. Most home owners don't need such intense cleans & can do themselves with an informal local cleaner booked to help on the empty rooms as they pack. Good luck with the move

[TigerBreadAddict]

I paid my local cleaner for the day (local move). She came as the packers neared the end, helped me clean the house we left (we had an hour between packers finishing and having to be out).
She then hung around a bit and then helped me clean in The New House as we moved in. God send and worth the day rate to have her all day.

[JoJoSM2]

If you haven't got a cleaner, then I'd ask around for recommendations. Just arrange for someone to come in for 4h and do what they can around the packers. Probably wouldn't bother with companies.

[JT05]

Apart from the suggestions above, you could get a specialist oven cleaning firm a day before, then avoid using the oven. We lived with only the microwave for 24 hrs.
At least one thing was spotless!

[WhatwouldOliviaPopedo]

God, don't get the packers to come the actual day of the move, it could end up being really stressful if you complete midday! Get them in early on the day before, then you'll have the rest of the day and morning of the move to clean.

[ScrubbyGarden]

Yes yes to packers doing the bulk the day before! Madness otherwise.
I also got a local lady in who brought her sister along and they attacked both houses working round movers and builders. They were amazing!!! I ended up tipping them practically their whole day rate again as they were just incredible and kept me sane that day.

[DragonMamma]

So much good advise - thank you experienced movers. We were FTB last time so this is new territory for me.

We have hardly any stuff as our appliances are integral and so are staying. Wardrobes aren't coming either so it's just beds upstairs and a couple of chest of drawers.

We are moving because we don't have much space and have had to live quite sparsely!

I will speak to our packer again but he said him and 3 others can do it easily in a few hours... I told him I wanted to walk out of the door with my handbag (and underwear drawer!) and not have to think about it. I'll see whether he can come in the day before based on what a lot of you have said.

[user1499786242]

I'm using my mums cleaner, I have had her clean for me in the past for various one off cleans! She's fab
I've booked her for 3/4 hours on the day, she will go around behind the removal men and do the best she can! Bathroom and kitchen mainly!
I would just find a decent local cleaner and book them for a few hours!

[ChicRock]

Our cleaner is coming on the week of the move to deep clean the bathrooms, window frames, oven, etc.

Then she's coming back on moving day but only to wipe skirting boards, wipe out kitchen cupboards and Hoover and then mop herself out of the door. She'll do that as and when each room is cleared and empty. I've told her I'll pay her for 4 hours that day from 11am - I expect it'll only take 1-2 hours at most.

[Winteriscomingneedmorewood]

I am a cleaner and have helped my customers get sorted when they have moved!!
Not an issue working round boxes etc.

[Lucisky]

I think it's very noble and thoughtful of you to worry about leaving a clean house. I have moved quite a few times and have just had a general clean as rooms became empty. I would certainly not bother with paying someone to do it. Judging by the state of cleanliness of some of the houses I have bought, no one else seemed to bother much either. Clean bathroom/s and kItchen and a quick dust and hoover would be the most I would do, which is not a big job.

[PollyFlint]

We had packers the day before the move who boxed everything (they were great; we just went out for the day and then came back and it was done) then we basically just wiped out the inside of the kitchen cupboards and cleaned each room as they were loading the boxes and furniture into the removal van. It wasn't that arduous to be honest; it's mostly just whipping around with the Hoover and a damp cloth. Give the kitchen and bathroom a quick going over the day before.

It's obviously polite to leave the house clean for your buyer, but equally it's not like an end-of-tenancy deep-clean.

[poddige]

We did this but got everything moved a room at a time and they cleared up once room was empty - carpet clean/woodwork/windows etc.

Haven't rtft so apologies if someone already said this!