Updated February 23, 2023
When it comes time to move out, there's often a lot of cleaning involved.
From decluttering the years' worth of items that have collected over the years, to downsizing, to just starting fresh, preparing for a move can be a difficult and dirty job.
Luckily, you have options. You can do the cleanup work yourself or hire a professional cleaning service to help.
In this guide, we'll discuss:
- Average Cost Comparison
- Benefits to DIY Move Out Cleaning
- Benefits to Hiring a Professional Cleaning Service
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Average Cost Comparison
Whole home cleanup projects cost anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 on average when hiring a professional, but can be much lower than that for smaller projects or as high as $3,000+ in extreme hoarding situations.
Projessional junk removal and cleanup services typically involve loading up all your items into a truck or trailer, giving the area a quick sweep to remove any last bits of debris, and hauling the debris to the appropriate facility; they generally do not include a thorough cleaning of the property.
If you are interested in professional deep cleaning services, we recommend speaking to your neighbors or local-area family and friends to see if they have experience with a qualified and reliable housekeeper.
On average, housekeepers charge around $150-$200 to deep clean an entire home.
If your home is empty or on the small side, you will be charged less than if your home is full of items or on the large side.
A DIY cleanup and deep cleaning project can be as low as $0, but only if you have all the cleaning supplies you need and a pick-up truck or trailer to transport your items to the nearest recycling facility or landfill.
For a DIY cleanup project to be successful, you'll need:
- Means of transporting and disposing of debris (dumpster, trailer, pick-up truck)
- Cleaning supplies (disinfectant, multi-purpose cleaner, microfiber towels, mop, vacuum, mop, etc.)
If going the DIY route, dumpster rental is an excellent option for disposing of large amounts of household junk, old furniture, large quantities of paper, etc.
Costing $300-$500 on average to rent a dumpster, it's a more cost-effective option than hiring a company to handle the cleanup process for you.
With most rental periods lasting a week, you'll have plenty of time to clean out your home and get it ready for your move.
However, you can often request a shorter rental period for a pro-rated price, though not all companies offer this.
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Find out more:
- How Much Does It Cost to Haul Away Junk?
- 3 Easy Ways to Get a Lower Price for a Single-Day Dumpster Rental
- What's Included In My Dumpster Rental Cost?
- Comparing the Cost of Junk Removal to Dumpster Rental
Benefits to DIY Move Out Cleaning
If you’re hoping to save as much money as possible, then cleaning the property yourself is the best way to go.
The first step to cleaning out before a move is to get rid of any items you don't want to take to the new home.
Not only does decluttering your home get it sold faster, but it also has health benefits for those living there.
Once you've decluttered and packed up your items into the moving truck, it's time to give your home a final deep cleaning.
We recommend giving your home a final deep cleaning after all your furniture and personal items have been taken out of the home.
This will allow you to clean the home faster, better, and with less effort.
Not to mention, moving and packing up old items and carrying boxes in and out of the house can be a dirty process.
Cleaning the floors and surfaces after in-and-out traffic has slowed or stopped and the home is nearly empty is arguably the easiest way to go.
We recommend scheduling your move at least two days before your move-out date in order to allow yourself plenty of time to clean the property before the new residents move in without having to rush.
Learn more:
- Rent a Dumpster to Make the Moving Process Easier
- How to Declutter Your Home and Downsize
- Which Dumpster Size Do I Need?
- Why Large Dumpsters Sometimes Cost Less Than Small Dumpsters
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Benefits to Hiring a Professional Cleaning Service
Though hiring a junk removal and/or house cleaning service tends to cost more money than doing the work yourself, it will save you lots of time.
For many people, the cost of professional cleanup services is worth the convenience, and if you agree, then we recommend reaching out to multiple junk removal providers and/or housekeeping services to ensure you get a fair price.
Typically, if your junk removal project is more than a few pieces of furniture or a small pile of junk, the company will need to come out to your property to provide a quote.
It's free to get a quote for your project, and if you agree with their price, the crew will often handle the work then and there.
This makes it fast and simple to get rid of small to large quantities of junk, which allows your move to be streamlined and less stressful.
The same is true for most housekeeping services—they will need to come out to your home to provide an accurate estimate.
If you aren't happy with a particular company's quoted price, you don't have to move forward with their services; you can continue reaching out to other providers or handle the work yourself to save even more money.
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