If you have access before moving day, clean the new home before furniture and boxes arrive. Empty cupboards, clear floors and unobstructed windows are easier to reach, and you can put belongings straight into the spaces you have prepared.
Focus first on the areas you will use immediately: the kitchen, bathrooms, bedroom storage and floors. You do not need to clean an already well-presented property from top to bottom simply because you are moving in. Start with its actual condition and your priorities.
Check the condition before changing it
Walk through the property when you receive access. Note existing marks, damaged fittings, leftover belongings and anything that needs the owner, agent or a tradesperson’s attention. Take clear photos before cleaning changes the appearance of a problem.
For a rental, check the entry condition report. Tasmania’s CBOS condition-report guidance says to add damage or cleanliness issues that are missing from the report and return a signed copy within two days of receiving it. Keep your own copy and photos, and raise any concern with the agent or owner promptly.
Booking a cleaner does not decide who is responsible for an existing issue or its cost. Have that conversation before arranging work you expect someone else to pay for.
Begin with empty kitchen storage
Cupboards and drawers are easiest to clean before plates, food and appliances are unpacked. Check shelves, handles, cupboard fronts and the corners where crumbs or residue can remain.
Look at the oven, rangehood, cooktop and fridge separately. A clean benchtop does not tell you the condition of an appliance interior. Decide which items need attention and include them in the cleaning request rather than using “whole kitchen” to mean different things to different people.
If the fridge belongs to the property, arrange for it to be empty and ready for cleaning. Let the cleaner know about any damaged seals, loose shelves or special surface-care instructions.
Make the bathroom ready to use
Check the toilet, basin, shower or bath, taps, mirrors and accessible storage. Prioritise visible buildup, hair and residue before putting toiletries and towels away.
Staining, worn sealant and damaged surfaces may still be visible after ordinary cleaning. Flag a leak or suspected mould problem with the relevant property contact so the cause can be assessed. Do not assume a general move-in clean includes repair or mould remediation.
Clean storage and edges before placing furniture
Empty wardrobes, reachable shelves, skirtings and floor edges are worth checking before beds and cabinets cover them. Where practical, finish repairs or decorating first, then clean the affected rooms before moving belongings in.
Ask about internal windows, tracks and safely accessible external glass if they need attention. You can include these in the same cleaning discussion. Our window scope guide explains how to describe the panes and surrounding details you want cleaned.
Floors are usually best left until the other agreed room tasks are finished. If removalists arrive afterwards, protect the finished areas as practical and allow for footprints from moving activity.
When you cannot get an empty-house window
Sometimes keys and removalists arrive on the same day. In that case, choose an order that keeps at least one room or area available at a time.
Ask for boxes to be placed in a designated area rather than across every floor. Prioritise a usable bathroom, kitchen storage and the bedrooms needed that night. Remaining rooms or detailed work can be planned once access is clearer.
This is also a good moment to distinguish cleaning from unpacking. Tell us if you need help with a particular task so we can confirm what can be included before the visit.
Arrange the practical details before booking
Confirm the date you can actually enter, the furniture delivery time, water and electricity, parking and any apartment lift arrangements. Share current photos if available, especially of the kitchen and bathrooms.
For a one-off clean before moving into a home in Hobart or Launceston, we can help plan the rooms and details around the condition and access. Our deep and occasional cleaning service is a useful starting point; the quote will describe the work for your property.
Read regular cleaning or deep cleaning if you are unsure how much work is needed, or request a free cleaning quote and tell us you are preparing to move in.