Move-Out Reset For A 2-Bed Condo In Puchong Jaya

Ms. Tan messaged us on a Friday afternoon. Her tenancy ended Tuesday morning, the landlord's agent had told her the deposit return would be "subject to a strict inspection," and she'd already spent two weekends DIY-cleaning. The unit looked clean to her, but reading our Selangor move-out checklist on the blog made her realise she'd missed several recurring deduction items.

Location

Puchong Jaya, Selangor

Unit Type

2-bedroom condominium, 850 sqft

Service Booked

Move-Out Cleaning

Team

2 cleaners

Duration

5 hours, 9am – 2pm Sunday

Outcome

Full RM 2,800 deposit returned

What We Found

Ms. Tan had done a competent surface clean. Floors were mopped, kitchen counters wiped, bathrooms scrubbed. But the items most landlords inspect first were either missed or partially done:

• Range hood mesh: Surface-wiped but the underside was still tacky to touch — the same finger-test her landlord would do.
• Top of all bedroom door frames: Visible dust line — the gotcha item we flag in every move-out brief.
• Air-con grille louvres: Front face wiped, top edge still grey-black with mould-spot dust.
• Toilet bowl rim under seat hinge bolts: Both bathrooms — the seats hadn't been lifted fully.
• Fridge rubber door seal: Black mould spots in the top third of the gasket.
• Skirting board tops: Dust line in the second bedroom (the one used as storage).
• Behind the washing machine: Hose connection area, lint and water mineral deposits.

What We Did

Standard 4-stage move-out sequence — strip and prep, dry-dust top-down, wet-wipe and degrease, floors last. Specifics for this unit:

• 09:00 – 09:30: Walk-through with Ms. Tan, scope agreed. Furniture moved away from walls. Curtains down for laundry.
• 09:30 – 10:30: Top-down dry dust — ceiling fan blades, light fittings, top of door frames, top of wardrobes, ceiling cornice ridges, AC grille top edges.
• 10:30 – 12:00: Kitchen — range hood mesh removed and soaked in hot water + dish soap for 25 minutes, then scrubbed and refitted. Stove top and splashback fully degreased. Inside cabinet shelves and door fronts wiped. Fridge interior cleaned, rubber seal treated with diluted vinegar and toothbrush.
• 12:00 – 13:00: Bathrooms — descaler dwell on shower glass, grout brush across all tile lines, both toilet seats lifted fully and bolts cleaned, exhaust fan grille wiped. Mirror polished and metal fixtures dried to shine.
• 13:00 – 13:30: Behind washing machine pulled out — area cleaned, hose connections wiped. Skirting boards in second bedroom and along corridor wiped down.
• 13:30 – 14:00: Floors — vacuum every room including under furniture. Mop twice (detergent then clean water). Furniture moved back. Final supervisor walk-through with Ms. Tan, photo of every problem spot.

Result

Tuesday morning hand-over: the agent did a 40-minute inspection, took photos, and left. The deposit was credited back the following Friday — full RM 2,800, no deduction line items. Ms. Tan messaged us a week later: "My landlord even said the place looked cleaner than when I moved in three years ago."

The deciding items in the inspection (per the agent's verbal feedback to Ms. Tan):

• Range hood mesh — passed the finger-test under the metal grille.
• Air-con louvres — top edge no mould-spots, the agent specifically tilted the louvre.
• Fridge rubber seal — mould-free, was inspected with phone torch.
• Toilet bowl hinge bolts — visible after the seat was lifted.

For 2-bed units of this size, our flat fee for a move-out clean comes well under the cost of even one item being deducted. The maths almost always favours hiring out the work — see our checklist guide for the breakdown.