Your security deposit is real money. In Jacksonville and St. Johns County, a 2-bedroom apartment deposit is often $1,500 or more. A 4-bedroom rental deposit can hit $4,000. Property managers will absolutely keep that money if the move-out clean is not done right.
Here is exactly what they look for, what they typically charge you for, and the checklist we follow on every move-out cleaning.
What landlords actually inspect
Property managers in St. Johns County and Jacksonville almost always follow the same inspection pattern. They walk the home with a clipboard or a phone, and they check the same rooms in the same order every time.
Kitchen (the #1 deposit-loss zone)
- Inside the oven
- Inside the microwave
- Inside the refrigerator (and behind it)
- Inside cabinets and drawers
- Range hood and stovetop
- Sink and faucet
- Backsplash and grout
Bathrooms (the #2 deposit-loss zone)
- Inside the toilet bowl, around the base, and behind the tank
- Shower glass and tile grout
- Tub and tub jets
- Behind the toilet
- Inside cabinets and drawers
- Light fixtures and exhaust fan
Floors
- Baseboards (yes, all of them)
- Corners and edges
- Behind doors
- Closet floors
Walls and doors
- Visible scuffs and marks
- Inside of doors
- Door frames
Outside
- Patio or balcony floor swept
- Front door wiped down
What they charge if you skip it
Property managers do not do the cleaning themselves. They hire a cleaning company at a markup, then deduct it from your deposit. Typical charges in Northeast Florida:
| Service Skipped | Typical Deduction |
|---|---|
| Inside-oven cleaning | $75 to $150 |
| Inside-refrigerator cleaning | $50 to $100 |
| Whole-home deep clean | $400 to $900 |
| Carpet cleaning (separate vendor) | $150 to $400 |
| Wall touch-up paint | $50 to $200 per room |
It adds up fast. A skipped move-out clean can easily cost $800 to $1,500 in deposit deductions, which is more than the cost of hiring a professional in the first place.
The full move-out cleaning checklist
This is the checklist we follow on every move-out cleaning in Saint Johns, Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Saint Augustine, and Jacksonville.
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of oven, including racks
- Inside and outside of microwave
- Inside and outside of refrigerator and freezer
- Behind and under refrigerator
- Range hood and filter
- Stovetop and knobs degreased
- Inside all cabinets and drawers
- Cabinet fronts wiped
- Sink scrubbed, polished, disposal flushed
- Countertops and backsplash
- Floor swept and mopped, including under appliances
Bathrooms (every one)
- Toilet inside, outside, and base
- Tub or shower including grout and glass
- Sink and faucet
- Counters and mirrors
- Inside cabinets and drawers
- Light fixtures and exhaust fan
- Floor edges and behind toilet
Bedrooms and living areas
- Closet shelves wiped
- Closet floor swept
- Baseboards wiped
- Window sills and tracks
- Ceiling fan blades dusted
- Floor swept and mopped or vacuumed
- Corners and behind doors
Whole-home
- Light switches and outlet covers
- Door handles and door frames
- Blinds dusted
- HVAC vents wiped
- Inside of front and patio doors
When to schedule
Schedule your move-out clean for the day after movers are out, ideally before your final walkthrough. The home should be completely empty of furniture. Empty floors and empty cabinets are the only way to get a real deep clean done.
If your lease specifies "professional cleaning required," ask for a receipt. We provide one on every move-out job.
What we do not cover
We are cleaners, not handymen. We do not:
- Patch nail holes
- Repaint walls
- Repair drywall or fixtures
- Replace burned-out bulbs
- Clean carpets with steam (we recommend a carpet vendor)
If your lease requires any of the above, handle them before or after our visit.
Related guides
Before you book the move-out, check out our related Pillar 3 posts:
- How to clean an oven move-out — the single most-checked appliance
- Move-in deep clean for your new place — what to do on the other side
- Preparing a home for sale — if you are selling, not just moving
- Post-construction cleaning for new builds in Nocatee — if your new home is brand new
Ready to book?
We do move-out cleaning across Saint Johns, Ponte Vedra, Saint Augustine, Nocatee, and Jacksonville. Most jobs can be scheduled with 3 to 5 days notice, but we accommodate last-minute requests when we can.
Get your move-out cleaning quote.
Read more about our move-out cleaning service.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a move-out clean cost? $350 to $800 for most homes in St. Johns County and Jacksonville, depending on home size and condition. The empty-home discount is real. A fully empty home is faster to clean than a half-furnished one.
Will you guarantee my deposit back? We cannot guarantee what a landlord decides. We can guarantee the cleaning meets professional move-out standards, and we provide a written checklist and receipt that documents everything we did.
Do I need to be there? No. Most clients leave us with the key or lockbox code. We send before-and-after photos when the job is done.