Moving in or out of a Burnaby condo? A carpet cleaning checklist
A condo move in Burnaby has more moving parts than a house move. There’s an elevator to book, a strata that wants notice, a loading zone that’s only yours for a few hours, and a walkthrough with a landlord, a buyer or a property manager at the end. Carpet cleaning fits in best when you plan it with the rest, not the night before. Here’s the order we suggest, based on the condo moves we do in Metrotown, Brentwood, Edmonds and around Lougheed.
Step 1: Check your building’s rules first
Most Burnaby towers have strata bylaws for moves and contractors. Before you book anything, find out:
- Do you need to book the elevator for a contractor, or only for the move itself? Some buildings want the elevator padded and booked for anyone bringing in equipment.
- Where can a work van park? Visitor parking, the loading bay, or the street.
- Are hoses allowed through the lobby? Our truck-mounted unit stays in the van and only the hose comes in. In buildings where that isn’t practical, we bring a high-powered portable unit instead.
Tell us the answers when you book and we’ll plan around them. If your concierge or strata manager needs a certificate or a contact name, ask us before the day.
Step 2: Book the clean for after the furniture is out
An empty unit cleans faster and better. Nothing hides the traffic lanes, the edges along the baseboards get done properly, and there’s no furniture to move. For a move-out, the best slot is the day the movers leave or the morning after. For a move-in, it’s before your furniture arrives.
End-of-month days fill first. If you’re moving on the 30th, 31st or the 1st, book a week or two ahead.
Step 3: Know what it costs
Pricing is per area: $90 a room, hallway or set of stairs, before the current promo. A one-bedroom condo with a bedroom, a living room and a hallway is three areas. A two-bedroom with a den is usually five. You’ll see the exact price in the booking form before you pick a time, and there’s nothing added at the door. The same price list covers carpet cleaning in Burnaby for townhouses and houses too.
If there’s a sofa staying behind, a rug, or tile in the entry and bathroom, add them to the same booking. One visit is easier to fit around an elevator booking than two.
Step 4: Leave time to dry
Carpet is usually dry in 3 to 6 hours. Condos dry fastest with a window cracked and the heat or a fan running. Plan the clean for the morning if the walkthrough is that afternoon, or the day before if you can.
Step 5: Keep the invoice
You’ll get a dated invoice listing what was cleaned. If you’re a tenant, that’s what most landlords ask for at the move-out inspection. BC’s tenancy guideline expects tenants who stayed a year or more, or had pets, to steam clean the carpets at move-out, and we explain that rule in our BC move-out guide. If you’re selling, the invoice is a nice thing to hand the buyer. If you’re a landlord, it’s your record that the next tenant got clean carpets.
Quick checklist
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks before | Check strata rules on contractors, elevators and parking. Book the clean. |
| 1 week before | Confirm the elevator booking and tell us the time window. |
| Moving day | Movers out first, then the clean. Point out any pet spots or stains. |
| After the clean | Windows open, heat or fan on. Keep off the carpet in shoes until dry. |
| Walkthrough | Bring the dated invoice. |
Common questions
Do I need to be there? No. Plenty of move-outs are done with a key left with the concierge or in a lockbox. We text you when we start and when we’re done.
Can you bill my property manager? Yes. We can invoice the management company directly.
What about pet stains? Point them out when you book. Pet areas get an enzyme pre-treatment, and we’ll tell you honestly if anything has gone into the underpad.
Ready to book? See move-out carpet cleaning in Burnaby, or call (604) 802-8500.