Before you start unpacking your belongings, your new home or rental should be given a once-over by maid services. Pet hair, dust, and mold may be lurking beneath the surface, and you shouldn’t have to live in someone’s filth.
When moving into a new home or apartment,
hiring professional maid services for a thorough cleaning is highly recommended. While the landlord or former owner should ensure it is hygienic and move-in ready, sometimes in a rush to move in a new tenant or close the sale, some details will be overlooked. It is especially important for those with specific allergies such as animal dander, mold, or other potential threats that may lie within the home.
If renting an apartment or home, request that professional maid services are hired for an initial cleaning before signing any contracts. The previous tenants may have owned pets, had children, or were engaged in hobbies that may have left chemicals or other residues behind. Dander, dust, and other microscopic particles can quickly circulate throughout the air, causing sickness such as headaches, asthma, and sore throat. Just because it looks clean, doesn’t mean that pet hair and dirt are not trapped below the surface, between floorboards, or within carpet fibers, especially if it has not been inhabited in a while. All floors should be given professional treatments, including carpet shampooing. If the flooring, walls, or other materials seem particularly old or worn, replacement might be necessary.
While a landlord should handle the scrubbing of an apartment, when purchasing a home, initial maid services might be the responsibility of the new owner. If buying from an agent or seller, cleaning fees, if required, can be negotiated in the final sale price. However, when buying a home from a bank, the sales are often as is - meaning, the home may have unresolved issues. For a deep cleaning, specialized equipment and chemicals are required to penetrate into materials, killing bacteria and other harmful growths that may have developed. Make sure the basement, attics, and any crawlspaces are also inspected, and cobwebs or other debris removed.
If any mold develops within a few weeks of residency, bring this to the attention of the seller or landlord immediately. Mold can be scrubbed away or hidden temporarily, but once moisture builds up again it will be immediately visible and spread quickly. Failing to alert the owner may result in the loss of a security deposit or having to pay for expensive mold removal and repair. If the home was bought and mold was found after closing the deal, the seller may still be responsible for any required repairs if it can be proven the damage was preexisting.
So before moving any boxes or furniture, get the home scrubbed until it sparkles from top to bottom. Once all boxes, appliances, and furniture is brought in and put into place, getting underneath or above these areas may be impossible. Ensuring everything is clean beforehand gives peace of mind and will make regular maintenance much easier. For further safety, perform a thorough check of the outside of the home for holes, cracks, or other damages that may allow outside dust or pests to enter the home. Sealing these problems early is a valuable preventative measure.
