DIY Vs Professional Bond Clean In Melbourne: Risks To Your Bond

Are you worried about losing your bond at the end of your tenancy in Melbourne? Landlords or property managers are strict about cleanliness and conduct a rigorous final rental inspection before releasing the security deposit. Many tenants across Australia lose their bond due to substandard cleaning. Though professional cleaning is not mandatory, landlords want a reasonably clean rental property, free from dust, dirt, stains, germs and grime to pass the inspection. Failing to meet their set standards often leads to disputes and disagreements.

Due to cut throat competition in Victoria’s rental market  and landlords' meticulous approach, tenants often face the dilemma of choosing between a DIY bond clean and hiring end of lease cleaning Melbourne experts. While doing it yourself may give you more control over the process and save you money, it often leads to issues that might put your bond at risk. On the contrary, professional cleaning might be more expensive, but guaranteed results make it a worthwhile investment.

In today’s guide, we’ll unveil the difference between DIV vs. professional bond cleaning, along with potential risks to your bond. Ensure you understand your cleaning responsibilities as a tenant when vacating your rental home.

1. What Are End of Lease Cleaning Requirements in Melbourne

End of lease cleaning or bond cleaning is a one time task, which is performed at the end of a tenancy to restore a rental home to its original condition. Tenants are required to hand over the property in a condition reasonably clean under the rental agreement. Property managers and landlords typically use a strict cleaning checklist and compare the current condition with the initial property condition report . Any leftover grime, dusty windows, stained appliances or dull carpets can lead to bond deductions and costly penalties.

The key requirement is to eliminate embedded dust, dirt, stubborn stains, grease and water stains from every nook and cranny. Ensure you thoroughly spruce up walls, floors, windows, disinfect kitchen surfaces, bathroom fixtures, fittings, carpets, hard to reach spots and exterior areas to impress your fussy landlord for a stress free experience.

Given Melbourne’s high tenancy turnover and rigorous real estate standards, a substandard cleaning or half baked DIY job may create unnecessary stress during the journey.

2. DIY Bond Clean: What Are the Potential Risks to Bond

It may seem tempting to take control of your end of lease cleaning session to save extra bucks, but you can’t overlook the potential risk factors related to your bond money. When comparing a DIY approach with a professional bond clean, you should consider the following challenges when performing a task yourself:

Failing to Meet Property Agent’s Cleaning Standards:

The majority of tenants underestimate how strict landlords in Melbourne can be during a final rental inspection. Due to their lack of expertise and prior experience, they often fail to meet predetermined cleaning standards. Missing even a single spot, such as a dust laden light fixture or greasy oven racks can lead to bond deductions and penalties. This could make DIY cleaning more expensive than hiring professionals in the first place.

Hidden/Hard to Reach Areas are Overlooked

Did you know property managers check window sills, behind large appliances, inside cupboards, grout lines and skirting boards? In a DIY cleaning, tenants often forget to clean these areas due to accessibility issues, leading to failed inspections and bond deductions.

Lack of Right Cleaning Supplies

DIY bond cleaning with basic household tools often leave the built up dirt, grime, mould and stubborn stains intact. Without the right sponges, brushes, a vacuum machine and stain removal solutions, you may struggle to achieve spotless results. Despite all your hard work, you may fail to impress your landlord and lose a part of your hard earned bond money.

Time Pressure and Fatigue Lead to Silly Mistakes

There is no denying that a quality end of lease cleaning Melbourne usually takes 8 to 15 hours depending on the size and condition of the property. Since you are already juggling moving chores and other important tasks, cleaning often takes a back seat, leading to bond deductions. Rushed cleaning at the eleventh hour can cause serious damage to delicate surfaces or discolour carpets and rugs. You may end up paying more to cover repair costs.

Risks of Re cleaning Charges or Bond Disputes

If the agent is not satisfied with your cleaning, disputes can go to VCAT. In some cases, they may hire professional cleaners and deduct the cost directly from your bond. This can take a toll on your pocket and ruin the entire move out experience.

3. Professional Bond Cleaning: Why Tenants Prefer It

There is no denying that a top quality end of lease cleaning Melbourne service can save you a lot of time and energy as compared to a DIY cleaning. It can help you secure your full bond money because of the following reasons:

• They Follow a Pre Approved Cleaning Checklist: Tenants hire experts because they strictly follow a pre approved cleaning checklist for different property types and know exactly what landlords look for when inspecting the property. Every nook and cranny will be meticulously spruced up from top to bottom, ensuring a seamless move out experience. The best part is that they refer to the property condition report before creating a checklist, giving you peace of mind.
• Deep Cleaning of All Surfaces: Professional cleaners leave no stone unturned to banish accumulated dust from ceiling fans, caked on grease from cabinets and kitchen appliances, rust from shower heads and brown stains from a toilet seat. From window sills to skirting boards, they clean everything to restore the property to its original condition.
• Bond Back Guarantee: Many renowned companies offer a quality service with a bond back guarantee for seven days (Ts and Cs apply), They also offer a free re clean within 72 hours in case landlord is not happy with the cleaning. They return to fix existing issues at no extra cost.
• Prevents Rental Disputes: They follow tried and tested methods to remove stubborn stains from almost all surfaces to help avoid rental disputes. For instance, they know that blotting techniques are used to remove carpet stains, running a rubber squeegee on window screens can prevent nasty streaks, using baking soda on natural stone surfaces can save repair expenses, etc. This plays a pivotal role in preventing rental disputes at the end of a tenancy.

4. Cost Comparison: DIY vs Professional Bond Clean

Many renters choose a DIY approach because it seems to be affordable than a professional service. However, small expenses such as cleaning products, equipment hire, or property damage can add up to your total budget.

On the contrary, professional end of lease cleaning in Melbourne usually starts at $50 per hour with a bond back guarantee for seven days (Ts and Cs apply). A studio apartment may cost around $250 for five hours while 2 bedroom unit may cost around $350 for seven hours. However, the final price depends on the property's size and condition, additional cleaning services, and other key factors. It is good to call the experts, ask relevant questions and clear all your doubts before making the final decision.

5. DIY vs Professional: Which Option to Choose From

DIY bond cleaning is ideal if you have a small property and are running low on budget. If you have prior experience of cleaning at the end of your tenancy, you can go for it. All you need is confidence to secure your full bond without any dispute.

A guaranteed end of lease cleaning Melbourne is best if the property is in an extremely dirty condition, carpets are laden with dirt, appliances need deep cleaning, etc. Hiring experts can be your best decision when it comes to securing a full bond back without any dispute. They can save you time, money as well and energy during the process.

Infographic For Securing Your Bond: DIY vs Professional Bond Cleaning in Melbourne

Wrapping up

In Melbourne, a bond cleaning or end of lease cleaning is beyond regular cleaning. It determines the fate of your hard earned bond money, which is equal to four week’s rent. So, it is always good to navigate through all possible risks that could lead to bond deductions and make a wise decision. While a DIY cleaning is cost saving and gives full control over the process, professionals take care of all aspects, follow a pre approved cleaning checklist, provide a bond back guarantee and some even offers a free re clean for tenant’s peace of mind. Before making a decision, weigh the pros and cons of both options for your security deposit.