The kitchen is where the previous tenant ran out of time. Plan to spend the most time here.

• Inside every cabinet and drawer (empty, wipe shelves, vacuum crumbs from the corners)
• Inside the oven, including the door glass and the racks
• Inside the microwave, including the turntable and the roof
• Inside, behind, on top of, and underneath the refrigerator
• Range hood and the metal filter (soak the filter in dish soap and hot water)
• Stovetop, under the burners and inside the drip pans
• Sink, faucet, and aerator — Austin's hard water leaves mineral buildup on the aerator that affects flow; soak it in white vinegar for an hour
• Backsplash and countertops, especially where they meet the wall
• Floor, including under the appliances if reachable

Austin's hard water is the bathroom story. Soap scum and mineral spots set in faster here than in cities with softer water, and a bathroom that "looks fine" almost always has buildup behind the surface.

• Tub, shower walls, and grout — use a dedicated grout brush, not a sponge, and a hard-water-targeted cleaner (CLR or a vinegar-based product)
• Shower door tracks and glass, especially the frosted-from-mineral-spots glass that's actually just hard-water film
• Inside, outside, behind, and at the base of the toilet, including the bolt covers
• Mirror, including the edges where dust collects
• Inside the medicine cabinet and vanity drawers
• Exhaust fan cover (most have visible dust on the slats — pop the cover, vacuum the fan)
• Floor, especially behind the toilet and along the baseboards

This is where you take advantage of an empty home. Once furniture is in, half of these spots will be unreachable for years.

• Inside every closet (shelves, rods, floor)
• Baseboards throughout — use a damp microfiber cloth, not a sponge
• Door frames and door tops (run a finger across — this is where the previous tenant always failed)
• Light switches and outlet covers
• Window sills, tracks, and the inside of the window glass
• Blinds, slat by slat
• Ceiling fan blades — top side as well as bottom
• HVAC vents and air return covers — Austin's pollen makes this a bigger deal than it would be elsewhere
• Carpet vacuumed; hardwood/laminate dust-mopped then damp-mopped
• Replace the HVAC filter on day one and write the date on it in marker

If you're moving into a new build (Mueller, Easton Park, Goodnight Ranch, Whisper Valley, anywhere east of 35), the builder's "final clean" is meant to make the home photographable for closing day — not livable. Sawdust gets into HVAC vents, drywall dust films every horizontal surface, painters' overspray ends up on hardware, and adhesive residue lingers on appliances.

The non-negotiable extras for new construction:

• Wipe down every horizontal surface twice — the first wipe will visibly pick up drywall dust
• Vacuum HVAC vents and replace filters on day one
• Check the inside of the dryer vent for debris (it's a fire-safety item, not a cleanliness one)
• Pull the protective film off appliance handles, fridge edges, and dishwasher fronts (it's often left on)
• Run the dishwasher empty with a cup of vinegar to flush construction debris from the lines
• Run the washing machine empty on hot to flush the drum

For a thorough move-in clean of an empty Austin home, expect roughly:

• Studio or 1-bedroom apartment — 4–6 hours, $200–$350
• 2-bedroom apartment or small house — 6–8 hours, $300–$500
• 3-bedroom house — 8–10 hours, $450–$700
• 4+ bedroom or new construction — 10+ hours, $600–$900+

Pricing in Austin is on the higher end of national averages because the labor market is tight and most reputable services pay W-2 wages with insurance. If a quote is dramatically below those ranges, ask about insurance and worker classification before booking.

We've been cleaning move-ins across Austin for years — apartments downtown, new builds in Mueller and East Austin, family homes in Round Rock and Cedar Park. We bring our own supplies, the full checklist above, and a written invoice for tax records. Get a quote in under five minutes — visit our contact page or call us directly. Same-week availability is usually possible outside of end-of-month.

Should I get a move-in clean before or after the movers? Before, while the home is empty. The second-best option is a "post-move clean" a week later, but you won't get the inside-cabinet and inside-closet coverage you'd get on an empty home.

Do I need to be home during the clean? No. Most clients give us the lockbox code or meet us at the start to hand off a key.

What about carpet shampooing? Separate service. We can bundle it if you book in advance.

What if the previous occupant had pets? Add 1–2 hours for thorough vacuuming and HVAC vent cleaning, and consider a one-time deep deodorizing if there are visible signs.

Is move-in cleaning the same as a deep clean? Close, but a true move-in clean is more thorough on cabinet interiors, closet shelves, and inside appliances — spots a regular deep clean of an occupied home wouldn't reach.