Two different cleans, two different jobs, two different people paying. People get them mixed up all the time. Here is what each one is.

Move-out clean (also called bond clean or exit clean)

This is the clean you do at the end of your tenancy. You are responsible for it and you pay for it. It needs to bring the place back to roughly the same condition as the Property Condition Report at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. The standard is high because the agent has to be satisfied for you to get your bond back.

Move-in clean

This is the clean you might do (or get done) before you move into a new place. The previous tenant should have done a bond clean before leaving, so the place should already be clean. But standards vary and sometimes you want a top-up clean before you bring your stuff in. You pay for this yourself if you choose to do it.

Whose problem is which

Property owners pay for cleans between tenancies if the previous bond clean was not done or not done well. The bond money is taken to cover the cost.

Tenants pay for their own move-out clean. And tenants pay for any move-in top-up clean they choose to do.

Real estate agencies sometimes charge a 'professional cleaning' fee at the start of a new tenancy. This is unusual and you should query it. The previous tenant's bond clean should have covered it.

What a move-in top-up clean usually involves

Wiping out cupboards before you put things in. Cleaning the bathroom even though it was 'bond cleaned'. Steam cleaning carpets if you have allergies or are particular about hygiene. Cleaning windows from the inside since most bond cleans cover outside-accessible only.

Cost difference

A move-out bond clean is $250 to $700 depending on property size, with a guarantee, full coverage to the REIWA checklist, and carpet cleaning included.

A move-in top-up clean is $150 to $400 depending on what you want done. No guarantee needed because there is no bond at stake. Often hourly rather than fixed price.

What we usually recommend

If you are moving out: book a proper bond clean from a Perth cleaner with a guarantee. If you are moving in: walk through the place first. If the previous bond clean was done well, you might just need to wipe out a few cupboards before unpacking. If not, book a 3-4 hour move-in clean to top it up.

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