Quick answer
A make-ready clean prepares a home for listing photos, showings or new tenants, covering baseboards, door frames, light fixtures, inside appliances, cabinets in empty homes, and every surface a camera sees. BrighterHome Cleaning prices make-ready cleans like move-out cleaning in The Woodlands: from $239 for a one-bedroom and $379 for a typical three-bedroom, two-bath home.
- Price
- from $239 (3 bed / 2 bath: $379)
- Time
- 4–7 hours for most homes (1 cleaner)
- Best for
- Sellers, realtors, landlords and property managers
- Includes
- Baseboards, fixtures, inside appliances, cabinets when empty
- Scheduling
- Flexible around photographers and showings
- Book
- Online in 60 seconds
A make-ready clean prepares a home for its next audience: buyers, renters or a listing photographer. It is a detailed, top-to-bottom clean that goes beyond regular housekeeping, covering baseboards, door frames, light fixtures, inside appliances and cabinets, and every surface that shows up in a wide-angle photo.
We do make-ready and pre-listing cleans for Woodlands-area realtors, landlords, property managers and homeowners selling on their own. The work is close to our move-out cleaning and is priced the same, starting at $239 for a one-bedroom and $379 for a typical 3-bed/2-bath home. The difference is the goal. A move-out clean is about getting a deposit back. A make-ready clean is about presentation: making a house look cared for in photos and in person, so it rents or sells faster and with fewer objections.
What’s included
Kitchen
- Degrease stovetop, hood and backsplash
- Clean inside oven, microwave and fridge (vacant homes)
- Wipe inside and outside of cabinets and drawers (vacant homes)
- Polish stainless steel and sink fixtures
- Detail counters, edges and grout lines
Bathrooms
- Remove soap scum and hard-water spots from glass and tile
- Scrub grout, tub and shower surrounds
- Clean inside vanities and medicine cabinets
- Polish mirrors and chrome until they photograph clean
- Sanitize toilets top to base
Living areas & bedrooms
- Hand-wipe baseboards, door frames and doors
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents
- Clean interior window sills and tracks
- Wipe light switches and outlet covers
- Vacuum closets and wipe shelving
- Interior windows (up to 10)
- Blinds detail
Floors
- Vacuum carpets with edge work along walls
- Mop hard floors, corners by hand
- Spot-treat scuffs on tile and wood
- Final pass after other trades leave, where scheduled
Entry, laundry & garage
- Clean front door, threshold and sidelights
- Wipe washer and dryer tops and fronts
- Dust and wipe laundry shelving
- Remove cobwebs from entry and porch ceiling
- Garage sweep
- Patio / balcony detail
✓ included + optional add-on · See the full cleaning checklist
Pre-listing cleaning for home sellers and realtors
Listing photos are the first showing. Wide-angle lenses and bright lighting pick up dust on fan blades, water spots on shower glass and grime on baseboards that you stopped seeing years ago.
For a furnished home going on the market, we schedule the clean one or two days before the photographer and focus on what the camera sees:
- Glass, mirrors, chrome and stainless steel without streaks
- Kitchen counters clear, wiped and polished
- Ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents dust-free
- Baseboards and door frames hand-wiped
- Bathrooms detailed to model-home standard
We do not declutter, pack or stage furniture. Do that first and we clean around the final layout. Many sellers keep the home show-ready with a lighter one-time clean the week before an open house.
Make-ready cleaning for landlords and property managers
Between tenants, a rental has to be clean enough for the next lease signing and clean enough to defend in a deposit dispute. We handle the clean so your turn schedule is not waiting on it.
For vacant units we clean inside every cabinet, drawer, closet and appliance, wipe walls where they can be wiped, and degrease the kitchen. If painters, carpet cleaners or handymen are part of the turn, book us last so the home is clean when the new tenant walks in.
We can also note what we see, such as damaged blinds, carpet stains that need a pro, or broken fixtures, with photos, which helps you document condition between leases. Apartment turns follow the same process as our apartment cleaning, with the make-ready level of detail.
Make-ready cleaning cost and what changes the price
Make-ready cleans use our move-in/move-out rates. A one-bedroom starts at $239 and a 3-bed/2-bath is $379.
- Size: homes over 2,500 sq ft add $30, $60 or $100 depending on square footage. Many Woodlands two-story homes fall in the larger tiers.
- Vacant vs. furnished: empty homes include inside cabinets and appliances. In furnished homes, those are add-ons ($35 to $45).
- Condition: heavy buildup, smoke residue or a home after a renovation may need a post-construction clean instead, which we quote separately.
See the full rate table on our pricing page. Booking online takes $25 off the first clean. Landlords and agents with several properties can book each one separately, and every clean is invoiced on its own so costs stay easy to assign to the right owner or listing.
Working with agents, lockboxes and tight timelines
Real estate timelines move. A listing date shifts, a photographer is available tomorrow instead of Friday, a tenant moves out a week early. We keep make-ready scheduling simple:
- Book directly or have the listing agent book on the seller’s behalf
- Access by lockbox, smart lock or agent meet-up
- Photos of the finished home sent the same day, so you can confirm it is ready without driving over
- Invoice to the owner, agent or management company, paid after the clean
If anything on our checklist was missed, tell us within 24 hours and we will come back and fix it before the photographer or the new tenant arrives. That guarantee matters more on a listing than anywhere else, because there is rarely time for a second appointment.
Who Make-Ready & Pre-Listing Cleaning is for
- Homeowners preparing to list
- Realtors who want consistent, photo-ready listings
- Landlords turning a rental between tenants
- Property managers with multiple units
- Builders and flippers handing over a finished home
Make-Ready & Pre-Listing Cleaning prices in The Woodlands
Flat prices include supplies. Larger homes add a surcharge; add-ons like inside the fridge or oven are extra.
| Home size | Move-in / move-out | Standard clean |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bed · 1 bath | $239 | $129 |
| 2 beds · 1 bath | $279 | $149 |
| 3 beds · 2 baths | $379 | $209 |
| 4 beds · 3 baths | $479 | $259 |
| 5 beds · 4 baths | $579 | $319 |
Make-Ready & Pre-Listing Cleaning FAQ
What is the difference between make-ready and move-out cleaning?
The checklist is similar and the price is the same. Move-out cleaning is aimed at passing a landlord inspection; make-ready is aimed at presentation for photos, showings or a new tenant. Read more on our move-out cleaning page.
When should I schedule a pre-listing clean?
One or two days before listing photos, after any painting, repairs and decluttering are done. Cleaning before the trades leave usually means cleaning twice.
Can my realtor book and let you in?
Yes. Agents can book on a seller's behalf and give us lockbox or smart-lock access. We send completion photos to whoever you choose.
Do you clean homes that are still furnished?
Yes. For furnished homes we clean around furniture and decor. Inside cabinets, oven and fridge are add-ons in furnished homes and included in vacant ones.
Do you work in Spring, Conroe and Magnolia too?
Yes. Make-ready cleaning is available across our service area, including Spring, Conroe, Magnolia and Tomball. See all areas we serve.
Can you handle several rental units in one day?
Yes, with notice. Send us the addresses, unit sizes and move-in dates and we will schedule enough cleaners to turn them in time.