Alright folks, today I got my hands dirty figuring out this whole cleaning service mess for real estate work. Took longer than I thought, let me walk you through it.

It all started after I helped flip a property last month. Place was empty, needed a deep clean before listing photos. Thought, "Easy, just grab some random cleaning crew, right?" Wrong. First crew I hired? Showed up late, did a half-baked job, missed tons of dust bunnies hiding under sinks. Looked worse after they "cleaned". Had to pay another crew to fix it. Total waste of cash and time. Got me thinking: how do the big real estate outfits do this without going nuts?

So, I decided to hunt down the good ones specifically for real estate gigs. First thing I did? Hit up a few agent buddies. Asked them straight up: "Who do you actually call when a place looks like a dump after tenants move out?" Got maybe five names tossed back at me. Okay, cool. Starting point.

Then, I got online. Honestly, it was kinda frustrating. Lots of cleaning companies shouting "We clean!" but you gotta dig to see if they know the real estate game. I learned real fast there's a difference:

• Regular Cleaning: Vacuuming, wiping surfaces. Fine for your apartment maybe.
• Turnover Cleaning / Make-Ready Cleaning: This is the heavy stuff. Cleaning empty homes, deep cleaning carpets, scrubbing ovens inside and out, cleaning windows properly, getting every last speck of grime outta bathrooms. Making a place look brand new for photos and showings. That’s what agents need.

I started calling those five companies my buddies mentioned. This was key. Didn't just look at websites. I actually talked to them. Asked questions:

• "You guys handle vacant properties?"
• "Can you do rush jobs on short notice? Agents always need stuff yesterday."
• "Walk me through what you actually do in a kitchen or bathroom for a make-ready." (Listen close – you'll know if they know their stuff.)
• "Got insurance? What happens if you scratch a floor or break something?"

Also asked for pricing clearly. None of that "call for a quote" nonsense if I could avoid it. I wanted a rough idea per sq ft or per room. One place sounded great but quoted double everyone else – nope! Comparing prices mattered big time.

Found out two of the five weren't actually geared up for real estate jobs. Too slow, or just didn't do the deep stuff. So, narrowed it down to three serious contenders. Digged into them more:

Company A: Got raved about by my friend who flips lots of houses. Did an amazing job. Called them – super flexible schedules, great reviews online focusing on turnarounds. Price was mid-range. Seemed reliable.

Company B: Their website actually mentioned "Real Estate Make-Ready" – good sign! Talking to them, they sounded really organized. Could give me a checklist. Price was okay, a bit cheaper than A. Asked who specifically would clean? They assured me it was a dedicated team, not random temps.

Company C: Cheapest option. Was tempted. But digging deeper? Found old complaints about them skimping on time, places not being actually ready for showings. That’s a nightmare for an agent. Risk wasn't worth the savings.

In the end, I went with Company B for a test run on another vacant unit. Told them exactly what I needed – deep clean, ready for photographer on Thursday. They showed up Tuesday, got it done that day. Walked through after them – place sparkled. Windows were streak-free, the fridge smelled like nothing (which is perfect!), carpets looked new. Even cleaned the darn oven racks! Agent was thrilled. Price felt fair.

Biggest takeaway? Don't just hire any cleaner! You need one who specifically knows the real estate game – fast, detailed, reliable, and knows what "ready for listing" actually means. The ones who just clean houses? They often don't cut it for the pressure an agent faces. Glad I put in the legwork to compare properly.