Unless it’s written into the purchase agreement, there’s no legal obligation that a house you’ve bought has to be clean before you move in. The previous owner is generally required to sweep the house, but that doesn’t guarantee everything will be spotless upon your arrival. If possible, discuss the cleaning requirements with the real estate company before moving in.

Costs depend on floor type, area size, and additional services like waxing or sealing.

The cost of a professional house cleaning service typically ranges from $30 to $50 per hour. The final price depends on factors like the size of your house, the type of cleaning requested, and the overall level of cleaning required.

On average, you can expect to pay around $170 for a professional cleaning. Costs can also be calculated per square foot, ranging from $0.05 to $0.15 for a standard cleaning and up to $0.20 for a deep clean.

Here's a breakdown of potential costs by service type:

• Standard Cleaning: Includes tasks like sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down kitchen and bathroom surfaces. This typically costs between $75 and $175 per visit.

• Deep Cleaning: A more thorough service that may include window washing, cleaning under furniture, and polishing hard-to-clean surfaces. This can cost from $200 to $600 for a whole-home deep clean.

• Specific Add-ons: Services like window cleaning can cost $4 to $10 per window, and carpet cleaning can range from $75 to $200.

Many maid services offer discounts for regularly scheduled appointments.

Cleaning behind your fridge once every three months is a good goal to stick to. This helps keep messes to a minimum and ensures it runs efficiently. Seasonal cleaning will also remove dropped food and food residue that can act as pest attractants, so keeping this area clean can help keep your household healthier, too.