Published 22 August 2026
Two end of lease quotes for the same Adelaide rental can differ by hundreds of dollars and both be reasonable, because they are not quoting the same work. Carpet steam cleaning, exterior windows, the garage and pest treatment are the four items that get included by one company and excluded by the next.
Items that should be priced explicitly
- Oven interior, including racks, trays, inner glass and seals
- Range hood filters and exhaust fans, removed and washed
- Shower screens descaled, and grout scrubbed and treated
- Windows, sills, tracks and flyscreens, with the exterior limit stated
- Inside all cupboards, wardrobes and drawers
- Carpet steam cleaning by a licensed operator, with a receipt in your name
- Garage floor, letterbox and bins, if the lease covers them
- Flea or pest treatment where pets were kept
Why a flat rate is often the more expensive quote
A flat rate has to price for the worst case, or it carries exclusions that get added back on the day. A bond clean is quoted in hours here because the work is condition-dependent — a two-bedroom unit cleaned fortnightly for three years is not the same job as an identical unit that has not been touched. Our rates are on the pricing page rather than in this article, so there is one source that stays current.
The clause worth more than the price
Ask what happens if the agent lists cleaning items at the outgoing inspection. Our commitment is that you send us the report within 7 days and we return to re-clean those items at no charge, where the property was empty when we cleaned it and no new tenant has moved in. A cheaper quote without that clause can cost more than the difference.
In South Australia the standard is set by the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA): return the premises as close as practicable to the condition in the entry condition report, fair wear and tear excepted. Read that report before accepting any quote — it, not the price list, is what the inspection is judged against.