How to Choose a Post Renovation Cleaning Company in Singapore
Written by Andrew Hoang
Published · Updated on
Andrew Hoang
SEO & Content Lead, Affordable Cleaning SG
Andrew Hoang has worked in SEO since 2020, including projects for Cleanipedia, Unilever's home-cleaning advice site. He writes and edits the guides on Affordable Cleaning SG, so homeowners know what to expect before they book.
Read more →Hiring a crew for a post renovation clean is a one-off decision, and the quotes you collect can look alike. The useful differences sit in the details: what is covered, what is quoted separately, how the booking works and what happens if something is missed. This checklist gives you eight questions to ask any company, and what a clear answer sounds like.
Before you start asking
Write down your flat type or unit size, your contractor's finish date and the rough state of the home. Any company will need these to quote properly. If a company gives you a firm price without asking about the size or condition of the home, ask how it arrived at the number.
It also helps to know what the job is. If you are still deciding whether to hire at all, our guide to doing it yourself or hiring a crew covers that first. This article assumes you have decided to hire and want to compare companies.
1. What exactly is included in the price?
Get the scope in writing, room by room. It should name the areas (floors, built-in cabinets, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, tracks and grilles) and say how each is cleaned.
Pay attention to the limits. For example, our standard clean vacuums and mops the floors but does not scrub or polish them. In the kitchen we wipe the cabinets, countertops, sink and the outside of the appliances, but not the inside of the fridge, oven or microwave. Limits stated up front save an argument on the day.
You can see how we describe ours on the services page.
2. What counts as an add-on, and how is it priced?
Some jobs are not part of a standard clean. Find out which ones the company treats as extras, and whether they are quoted separately before the day.
With us, ceiling fans and lights, formaldehyde removal, upholstery cleaning, paint or sticker glue on windows and cement residue are add-ons with their own quotes. Mention them when you book so they are included in the quote. You should see the add-on list before you agree, not on the day.
3. How is the price worked out?
Check whether the price depends on flat type, unit size or the condition of the home, and what could change it.
Our prices are set by flat type for HDB and by unit size for condos, for example $250 for a 2-room HDB flat and $290 for a condo under 500 sqft. Landed homes are quoted individually. The full list is on our pricing page. Whatever company you choose, the number should come with a reason you can follow.
4. How many people come, and how long will it take?
You want a crew size and a time range, with a note that it depends on the home. We normally send 1 to 3 cleaners, and a typical clean takes 3 to 6 hours. Larger homes can take up to 9 hours, depending on the condition.
Then there is the time window. Our two daily slots are 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm. If you need the home ready by a certain day, check that the company can fit it.
5. How does booking and payment work?
Find out how far ahead to book, whether there is a deposit, when the balance is due and which payment methods are accepted. Check whether there is any travel charge.
For us, booking about a week and a half ahead is the safe choice, and if a slot is free, it can sometimes be secured the day before. A $100 deposit normally secures the date, and the balance is paid by PayNow or bank transfer after the clean, before the crew leaves. There is no extra charge for any part of Singapore.
6. What happens if something is not right?
It is easy to leave this question until after you have paid. Ask what happens at the end of the job, and look for a handover rather than just a goodbye.
Our crew does a walkthrough with you after the clean. If an area that is part of our scope does not look right, the crew can touch it up on the spot. Our room-by-room checklist shows what to look at while you walk around.
7. Will they clean the spaces you actually have?
Homes differ, so check the bomb shelter, service yard, utility room and balcony, and whether any conditions apply.
Ours are cleaned as part of the home, as long as the space is empty and the crew can get in. If you have an HDB flat, see how it works on our HDB post renovation cleaning page. For a condo, see the condo page.
8. How quickly will they reply?
How a company answers your first message tells you something about how it will treat the job. Ask when the team is available and how soon you can expect a quote.
Our admin team answers messages every day from 9am to 10pm, and replies usually come within 1 to 20 minutes. That is the time for messages, not for cleaning slots.
What to be careful of
- A price with no scope attached. If you cannot tell what you are buying, you cannot compare it.
- Claims that sound grand but come with no detail on how the work is done.
- No clear answer on what is extra.
- No plan for what happens if you are not happy at the handover.
Common questions
Should I get more than one quote?
Yes, two or three is reasonable. Give each company the same details, then compare scope, add-ons and terms, not only the total.
Is formaldehyde removal part of a standard clean?
Not with us. Formaldehyde removal is a separate add-on that we quote on its own, so mention it when you book if you want it.
Are your cleaning products safe around children and pets?
Yes. The cleaning solution we use is safe around children, pets and food surfaces.
Ready to compare?
If you would like a quote from us, WhatsApp your flat type or unit size to +65 8058 2345, or contact us with your finish date.