If you are about to move out of your Brisbane rental, you are well aware how extensive the moving-out checklist will be. Packing, cleaning, fixing those nail holes, handing back the keys, and persuading the property manager that the place looks as good as it did the first day you have moved in. But two of the services in the moving-out checklist – pest control and bond cleaning – are so interrelated that property managers in Queensland usually request for both services. This leads to one big question for many tenants: is it cheaper for you to arrange for the pest control and bond cleaning package or do these services separately?
Reasons Why Landlords In Brisbane Ask For Both
The humid and warm climate of Brisbane means that there are lots of cockroaches, ants, spiders and termites in the city. It is for this reason that most leases in Queensland come with an additional clause, which calls for the need for pest control at the end of the tenancy especially when pets have been kept in the property. Together with the need for professional bond clean at the end of tenancy, one can easily see why these two services are often sought after simultaneously.
It is the very reason why most of the cleaning companies in Brisbane, such as Real Bond Cleaning, have created the pest control and bond clean package. The reasoning is simple; if the two services are required anyway, why should you pay for two different visits and two booking charges?
Cost Difference Between Pest Control + Bond Clean Bundle vs. Booking Separately
Here is a closer look at what a usual Brisbane cost breakdown looks like. The price of an end of lease clean on its own, without other services for a two bedroom apartment will range from $250 to $400, depending on the size, state of your place and additional services like carpet steam cleaning. A separate service of a pest control treatment will range from $100 to $180. As a result, it will cost you $350-$580 and you have to organize twice as many appointments to be ready on moving day.
Here’s one thing is sure that if you book these services together then there’s high chances that service providers will usually reduce the combined price by 10-20%. This is because it is easier for them to complete one appointment and make some profit, instead of arranging two different appointments. It will save you money on average Brisbane property by $40-$90 and sometimes even more if you live in a larger home.
It is not only about prices; booking services individually means paying two different call-out fees because pest control professionals and cleaners are usually two different companies unless you are working with those who provide both.
What Needs To Be Considered Beyond The Cost?
Leaving is not only about money but logistics as well. When booking both pest control and bond cleaning individually, you have to organize two separate contractors, two different time slots and two different access to your property for your landlord or real estate agent. In case of any problems, such as delays or changes in schedule by the contractor, this will affect your moving day and possibly postpone your final inspection.
By getting a package deal, you eliminate all these difficulties. You have a single team doing everything on its own schedule and taking care of the proper sequence of the procedures because the pest control procedure should be conducted at least simultaneously with the final cleaning of your property. It is easy to miss such an aspect when organizing two separate services.
Bond Protection Delivers The Biggest Savings
The most dangerous aspect regarding finances at the end of your lease is not the price of the clean, but rather the risk of having to forfeit some or even all of your bond. The data collected by the Residential Tenancies Authority of Queensland consistently identifies cleanliness and pests as the major causes of bond disputes. In case if your property manager points out that the pest treatment or clean was not done properly, you may have to go through another cleaning process, pay for additional services of the pest control company, or have the money deducted from your bond, which will definitely exceed any money you’ve saved shopping for the services separately.
Brisbane cleaning and pest management companies who offer bundling guarantees have their services insured with the bond-back guarantee. They provide their clients with free re-clean in case if the agent remains unsatisfied with the result within a certain period of time, usually 72 hours.
Best Time To Book Separately
However, bundling does not suit every person in every instance. For instance, if your contract does not call for pest extermination services at all or if your house has already received treatment because of the recent body corporate or landlord-arranged termite inspections, paying for a package might be a mistake because there will be no need for such a service. Additionally, if you suspect that your particular house needs a special kind of pest treatment like termite inspection, it would be better to hire a professional inspector of pests.
It is always best to review your rental contract or talk to your property manager before making any purchases just to ensure that you will not pay for something unnecessary.
Which One Saves You More?
In almost all circumstances pertaining to those Brisbane renters who have an obligation in their lease agreements for a professional cleaning service and pest control, bundling proves to be more advantageous in most respects. There is a direct saving of money from the reduced price in packages, time saving since there will only be one supplier to deal with, elimination of scheduling problems prior to the final inspection, and additional security of your deposit in a guaranteed package.
There might be situations where booking separately proves to be less expensive, either because you would qualify for a reduced or even no charge at all for pest control due to your landlord, or because you do not require both services.
Receive Accurate Quotes Quickly and Easily
The pest control and bond clean package from Real Bond Cleaning is tailor-made for the needs of properties in Brisbane, using staff who know what local property managers are looking for in their inspections. If you would like to have a comparative quote on packages versus individual quotes for your property, then feel free to contact us at realbondcleaning.com.au.
Final Thoughts
After a decade of performing final inspections, the sequence rarely fails. Scheduling pest control and bond cleaning together, upfront, always wins over scheduling separately.
- More cost-effective – single appointment, single discount price
- Proper sequence – pest control finishes first and bond cleaning follows after
- Less bond disputes – single contractor, single warranty, less pointing fingers
Unless your lease clearly does not need pest control, get it done. Schedule both together and schedule them early.
FAQs
Is it true that pest control is always required in a Brisbane lease upon move-out?
Not necessarily; it depends on the specific clauses included in your contract. However, if you’ve got pets, or there was any mention of such service in the lease, chances are you will have to go through it.
When should I schedule my pest control – before or after the bond cleaning?
Preferably prior to it, but with a small interval between the two; it is best to avoid applying sprays right after the surfaces are cleaned, because that could lead to re-cleaning requests.
How much can I save on pest control and bond cleaning by using one company?
Typically you can save somewhere in the ballpark of $50-$90 on a standard two bedroom Brisbane unit.
What if the property manager is not satisfied with the outcome?
Choose a company which offers a bond-back guarantee on both services. This will save you from arguing separately with two different providers about whose fault it is.
Could a cheap pest service prove to be counterproductive?
Absolutely, in most cases it can. A hasty service which does not find cobwebs and possible entry ways could cause you to fail the inspection and pay an additional fee which outweighs the savings.
When should I schedule the appointment in relation to my move-out date?
No less than 2-3 weeks before your move-out, not 2-3 days. This allows time for correct scheduling and a possibility of re-cleaning if required by the real estate agent.
