7 min read · Updated June 2026
Move-out and move-in cleaning for commercial and managed spaces
A move-out or move-in clean, often called a make-ready, is a one-time, top-to-bottom detail cleaning that resets a commercial space between tenants. Unlike recurring service, which maintains an occupied space, a make-ready assumes the space is empty and needs to be returned to a clean, lease-ready condition: inside every cabinet, behind where furniture stood, walls wiped of marks, floors fully treated, and restrooms detailed. This guide explains exactly what is included, why property managers build it into turnover, and how it differs from the routine cleaning you might already have.
What a move-out or move-in clean includes
The defining feature of a make-ready is that nothing is skipped because it is hidden. In an occupied space, a recurring crew cleans around furniture and inside the parts of the office people use daily. In an empty space being turned over, the crew cleans everything, including the surfaces that are normally covered, ignored, or out of reach.
- Inside and outside of all cabinets, drawers, and built-in fixtures
- Full floor treatment: vacuuming, mopping, and often a deeper clean of hard floors or carpet appropriate to the surface
- Walls wiped down, with attention to scuffs, marks, and adhesive residue from signage or fixtures
- Baseboards, door frames, window sills, and ledges that collect dust
- Light fixtures, vents, and switch plates
- Windows and interior glass, inside and where reachable
- Restrooms detailed top to bottom: fixtures, partitions, dispensers, mirrors, and floors
- Kitchenettes and break areas, including inside appliances if they remain
- Removal of leftover debris and trash from the prior tenant
Why property managers schedule it between tenants
Turnover is one of the few moments a property manager has full access to an empty space, and a make-ready clean does several jobs at once. It returns the unit to a presentable, lease-ready condition so it shows well to the next prospect. It documents the condition of the space at handover, which matters for security deposits and lease disputes. And it gives the incoming tenant a clean starting point, which sets the tone for the whole tenancy.
The timing is tight, which is why it pays to line up the clean in advance. A make-ready usually has to fit into a narrow window between the old tenant vacating and the new one moving in, sometimes alongside paint, repairs, or carpet work. A vendor who can schedule around those trades and turn the space quickly is worth more than one who is merely cheap, because a delayed clean can delay a lease.
How it differs from recurring service
The simplest way to think about it: recurring cleaning maintains a space that is in use, while a make-ready resets a space that is changing hands. Recurring service is priced as a flat monthly fee for an agreed scope on a set schedule. A make-ready is a one-time job priced on the size and condition of the specific space, because a lightly used suite and a neglected one require very different amounts of work.
This also means a make-ready is not something to expect for free as part of a recurring contract. It is a distinct, more intensive scope. If you have a recurring relationship with a cleaner, they are often the natural choice for the turnover clean too, since they may already know the building, but it should be quoted separately as the one-time job it is.
Where it overlaps with post-construction cleanup
If the turnover involves renovation, new buildout, or significant repairs, the job may shade into post-construction cleaning, which deals with fine construction dust and debris and is its own specialized scope. A make-ready handles an empty, dirty space; a post-construction clean handles a space that has just been worked on. Knowing which one you actually need keeps the quote accurate and the result right.
Scheduling make-readies on the Gulf Coast
On the Gulf Coast, make-ready cleaning comes up constantly because of the volume of office suites, retail bays, and managed units that turn over, especially with seasonal businesses and a steady churn of small commercial tenants. For property managers, having a vendor who can absorb these one-off turnover jobs on short notice, in addition to or instead of recurring work, removes a recurring headache.
Because a make-ready is priced one-time and depends heavily on condition, the honest move is a quick walkthrough before quoting. A vendor who offers a free on-site walkthrough and a written quote can give you a real number rather than a guess, which matters when you are coordinating a turnover against a lease start date. As with all commercial cleaning in Florida, the invoice will include state sales tax plus any county surtax.
Frequently asked questions
Is a move-out clean included in my recurring cleaning contract?
Usually not. Recurring cleaning maintains an occupied space on a set schedule for a flat monthly fee, while a move-out or move-in clean is a one-time, top-to-bottom detail of an empty space and is quoted separately. If you already have a recurring vendor, they are often a good choice for the turnover clean because they know the building, but expect it to be a distinct line item priced on the size and condition of the space.
How is a make-ready clean priced?
As a one-time job based on the square footage and, importantly, the condition of the space. A lightly used suite that was kept clean takes far less work than one a tenant neglected, so vendors typically want a quick walkthrough before committing to a number. That walkthrough is the difference between a real written quote and a guess. In Florida, the final invoice includes state sales tax plus any applicable county surtax.
When should I schedule the cleaning during a turnover?
Coordinate it with the rest of your turnover work. The make-ready usually happens after the old tenant has fully vacated and after any paint, repairs, or carpet work, but before the new tenant moves in. Because that window can be tight, line up the vendor in advance so a delayed clean does not delay the lease. If renovation is involved, ask whether you actually need a post-construction clean instead, which handles fine construction dust.
What if the space was just renovated?
Then you may need a post-construction clean rather than, or in addition to, a standard make-ready. Post-construction cleaning specifically targets the fine drywall dust and debris that settle on every surface after construction work, which ordinary cleaning is not built to handle in one pass. Describe the condition to the vendor during the walkthrough so they scope the right job and the quote reflects the actual work.