Hiring a move-out cleaning service in Vancouver? Plan the carpets too
When you search for a move-out cleaning service in Vancouver, most of what comes up is house cleaning: kitchens, bathrooms, baseboards, inside the fridge and the oven. That’s a real job and worth paying for. But if the place has carpet, the carpet is usually its own line, and it’s the one that gets checked at the walkthrough. Whether you’re a tenant handing back keys, an owner getting ready to list, a buyer moving in, or a landlord turning over a suite, here’s how to put the two together.
What a general move-out clean usually covers
A house cleaning crew works top to bottom: wiping cabinets and walls, scrubbing the bathroom and kitchen, cleaning appliances, windows and sills, then vacuuming and mopping the floors on the way out. Ask any service exactly what’s on their list, because it varies.
What you usually won’t get is a deep carpet clean. Vacuuming lifts the loose dirt. It doesn’t rinse out the oily film in traffic lanes, the spots by the couch, or a pet area in the bedroom. That needs hot water extraction, which is a different machine and a different trade.
What the carpets actually need
For a move-out, the carpet clean we do looks like this:
- a walkthrough to find traffic lanes, spots and pet areas,
- pre-treatment of those areas,
- truck-mounted hot water extraction on every carpeted room, hallway and set of stairs, or a portable unit in towers that don’t allow a hose from the street,
- optional deodorizing where pets slept,
- and a dated invoice that lists everything cleaned.
That invoice matters. It’s what landlords, property managers and buyers usually ask to see. For renters, BC’s Residential Tenancy Branch Policy Guideline 1 says tenants are generally expected to steam clean or shampoo carpets at the end of a tenancy of a year or more, or sooner with uncaged pets or smoking. Check your tenancy agreement too.
The right order on move day
Getting the order right saves you paying for something twice.
- Movers first. Furniture out, boxes out. Moving day drags grit across every floor.
- House cleaners next. They work top down, and dust and drips from counters, shelves and walls land on the floor.
- Carpets last. Once the room is empty and the surfaces above it are done, the carpet gets cleaned and nobody walks on it again.
- Walkthrough after it’s dry. Most carpet is dry in 3 to 6 hours. A morning carpet clean is usually dry by the evening.
If both crews have to come the same day, put the house cleaners in the morning and the carpet clean in the afternoon, and tell us the timing when you book.
Vancouver homes and what changes
Downtown, Yaletown and West End towers. Book the elevator and the loading bay for each crew. If the building doesn’t allow hoses through the lobby, we bring a portable unit. Some towers only have carpet in the bedrooms, which keeps the clean small.
Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant walk-ups. Older buildings often have carpet in more rooms, plus a carpeted hallway inside the unit. The hose runs up from the street.
Character houses and basement suites. Stairs and hallways each count as an area, and a suite downstairs adds its own rooms. If you’re moving out of the whole house, put both floors on one booking.
Big houses in Kerrisdale, Dunbar and Shaughnessy. Upstairs bedrooms, stairs, a family room and sometimes a rec room. Rugs and furniture that are staying can go on the same visit.
What the carpet part costs
Move-out carpet is priced like any carpet clean: $90 an area before the current promo, plus GST. An area is a room up to 150 sq ft, a hallway or a set of stairs. The minimum is $210, which covers up to 3 areas, and one area on its own is $150. A one-bedroom condo is usually the minimum. A two-bedroom condo is often 4 areas, $360 before the promo. Our move-out carpet cleaning cost guide for Vancouver has more examples, from studios to houses with suites.
Tile and grout in the kitchen or bathroom can go on the same visit. Mention it in the booking chat and Rob gets in touch to complete the booking, and the technician confirms the rate on arrival.
How to book it
Count the carpeted rooms, hallways and stairs, add anything that’s staying behind, and book move-out carpet cleaning in Vancouver online. You see the full price before you pick a time. End-of-month dates fill first, so book a week or two ahead for the 30th, 31st or the 1st. We work weekdays, 8:30 to 4.
Common questions
Do you do the whole house clean too? No. We clean carpets, upholstery, rugs, mattresses and tile. Book a house cleaning service for the kitchen, bathrooms and walls, and book us for the carpets.
Do I need to be there? No. Many move-outs are done with a lockbox or a key left with the building manager.
What if a stain doesn’t come out? The technician tells you on the walkthrough. If anything we cleaned isn’t right, we fix it, or you get your money back.
Ready to book? See move-out carpet cleaning in Vancouver, or call (604) 802-8500.