Is move-in or move-out cleaning more expensive?

Move-out cleaning is usually more expensive than move-in because of the condition of the home — years of tenant wear, grease buildup, and potential stains. Move-in cleaning varies depending on how clean the previous occupant left the unit. Contact us for pricing for your specific situation, and we will give you an honest comparison. See what is included on our Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning page .

How do I know if a move-out cleaning company is legitimate and insured?

Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) and a business name with a real address. Verify the phone number during business hours. Check for online reviews that mention security deposit outcomes specifically — not just general satisfaction. A legitimate company sends a COI within one business day. Read more on our FAQ page about what to look for in a cleaning contract.

Can I stay in the apartment during the move-out cleaning?

You can, but we recommend being out of the way. Move-out cleaning is intensive — we move through every room with equipment, ladders, and cleaning solutions. The team works fastest and most thoroughly when the home is empty and there are no interruptions. Many clients leave a key with the doorman or share a smart-lock code. Check our FAQ for more on access and scheduling.

What if the cleaning misses something my landlord requires?

If you send us your landlord's move-out checklist or walk-through requirements before the cleaning, we work directly from that list. If something on that list is missed, let us know within 24 hours and we come back to fix it at no charge. That is our family guarantee. Book with confidence — we stand behind the work until your landlord signs off.

How do I get an accurate quote for my home?

Tell us your square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and any add-ons. We give you a clear, itemized quote the same business day. Start with our booking form .

Is your team insured and background-checked?

Yes — every 3 Sisters cleaner is bonded, insured, and background-checked. We share our certificate of insurance on request. Every team member is screened and trained before their first visit.

What areas do you serve?

We serve Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens in New York, and San Francisco in California. Check our service areas page to see if we cover your neighborhood.

What is your cancellation policy?

We require 24-hour notice for cancellations. Recurring clients can skip or reschedule through their booking portal .

Hiring a Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning Service: What to Look For

Move-in and move-out cleaning is different from every other type of cleaning. It is the only one where the quality of the work is directly tied to money you have already paid — your security deposit — or money you are about to spend on movers and temporary housing. Hiring the wrong person for this job costs more than the refund. We wrote this so you know exactly what to ask, what to look for, and what should make you walk away. Whether you are moving out of a Manhattan rental or into a San Francisco condo, these questions will get you the right team.

The difference between a cleaning company and a gig-economy cleaner

The single biggest mistake people make when hiring a move-in or move-out cleaner is treating it like a regular home cleaning. A regular cleaner is fine for bi-weekly visits. A move-in or move-out needs a team, a system, and someone who understands security deposit inspections, landlord standards, and the specific checklist of a move.

Cleaning company. Bonded, insured, background-checked staff. Sends a team, not a single person with a spray bottle. Carries its own equipment (mops, vacuums, ladders, specialty tools). Has a clear scope of work and an itemized quote in writing. If something goes wrong, you have a business to call — not a phone number that goes to voicemail.
Gig-app cleaner. Inexpensive up front. Usually a single person with basic supplies, working for the app's rating system, not a repeat client relationship. No insurance, no bond, no guarantee. If they break something, scratch a floor, or miss half the checklist — and they are gone at the end of the day — you have nowhere to go.

We are a family-owned company, not an app. We show up with a team, the right tools, and a checklist we stand behind. See the difference on our Move-In / Move-Out page.

Questions to ask before you book — the must-ask list

Before you send a deposit or confirm a time, ask these five questions. The answer determines whether you are hiring professionals or rolling the dice:

Are you bonded and insured? And can you send a certificate of insurance? If they hesitate, move on.
Do you provide the cleaning supplies, or do I need to buy everything? Most reputable companies bring vacuums, mops, and tools. Some ask you to provide cleaning products — that is normal. But if they expect you to buy everything, including the mop, that is a red flag.
What is included in the base price, and what costs extra? A honest quote lists every service and every add-on. If the base price sounds too good, it probably covers only a surface wipe.
Do you clean to a landlord-specific checklist? If you send your move-out checklist from the management company, they should be able to work from it. If they say “we have our own system and do not do custom lists,” your deposit is at risk.
What happens if something breaks or gets damaged? A bonded and insured company has a clear process. An uninsured gig worker has nothing to offer but an apology.

Our FAQ page has more detail on each of these if you want to dig deeper before calling.

Security deposit reality — what landlords actually check

Landlords in New York and California look at specific things before signing off on a security deposit return. Knowing these before the cleaner arrives means you can tell them exactly where to spend extra time:

Kitchen. Oven interior, stovetop burners, refrigerator interior (including freezer, ice maker, and drip tray underneath), inside every cabinet and drawer, the sink and garbage disposal. Grease buildup anywhere is an automatic deduction from many landlords.
Bathrooms. Toilet behind and beneath the base, shower grout and caulk condition, vent fan cleanliness, mirror streaks, soap scum on the tub or shower door tracks. Any mold or mildew is a deduction.
Floors. Stains, scratches, sticky spots under the refrigerator and stove. Carpet condition — stains, smells, wear patterns beyond normal use.
Walls and baseboards. Marks, smudges, nail holes that were not patched, dust on baseboards. Some landlords run a white glove along the top of baseboards.
Windows. Clean glass, no cobwebs or dust in the tracks, functioning locks and blinds.

We clean to landlord standards, not cosmetic standards. Send us the move-out checklist and we match it. Book your move-out cleaning and protect your deposit.

Timing your cleaning around movers, keys, and closing dates

The logistics of moving are a puzzle, and the cleaning piece needs to fit in the right slot. Here is the timing we have seen work best for thousands of clients:

Move-out cleaning. Schedule it the day after your movers take the furniture. The home is empty, all surfaces are accessible, and we can work fast. If the lease requires a walk-through after the cleaning, schedule the cleaning early enough that the landlord or super can inspect the same day or next morning.
Move-in cleaning. Schedule it the day before the movers arrive, or early in the morning on moving day before the truck shows up. Cleaning an empty home takes a fraction of the time it takes to clean around furniture — and costs less.
Same-day transitions. If you are moving out of one place and into another on the same day, you need two teams or a very precise schedule. We can coordinate a morning move-out and an afternoon move-in if both properties are within our service area. Call (657) 737-7171 to talk through the logistics.

We always confirm access details 24 hours before the cleaning and send a reminder so there are no surprises on the day of the move.

Red flags that should send you to a different company

Some signals are subtle. These are not:

Flat “starting at” price with no details. A real quote needs square footage, bedroom count, bathroom count, and add-ons. A price without those details is a teaser, not a quote.
Cash only or “Zelle/Venmo only.” No traceability, no paper trail, no recourse. A legitimate business takes credit or debit cards and charges after the work is done.
No written scope of work. If they cannot tell you in writing exactly what they will clean and what they will not, assume they will clean the minimum and charge for the rest.
No phone number or no one answers. A real cleaning company has business hours and a phone someone picks up. A chatbot, a text-only number, or a lead-gen form with no reply means you are talking to a broker, not the team doing the cleaning.
“We do not need to see the space first.” For a move-in or move-out, a video call or in-person walk-through is the right way to quote. A quote sight unseen is either wildly overpriced or assumes the absolute minimum work.

If you see any of these, save yourself the headache and look at a company that checks all the boxes — like ours. Reach out and see what a real quote looks like.

Moving and need a cleaning team you can actually trust? Call (657) 737-7171 Monday through Saturday, 8am to 6pm, or send your details through our booking form. We will send you an itemized quote the same day — no gimmicks, no hidden fees.