New-build handover cleaning checklist
A new home is only new once the building work has been cleaned away. This is the checklist we use between the last trade leaving and the buyer getting the keys.
Why a builder's clean isn't enough
Most sites finish with a builder's clean: rubbish out, floors swept, the worst dust gone. It makes a unit safe to walk through. It doesn't make it ready to hand over. Fine plaster dust keeps settling for days, protective film is still on the window frames, and paint and sealant spots are on the glass. Buyers notice all of it, usually on the first day, often in writing.
A handover clean is a second, much more detailed pass, done after snagging and just before the keys are handed over.
1. Dust, top to bottom
- Start high and work down: tops of doors, door frames, light fittings, extractor grilles and vents
- Wipe walls where dust has settled on ledges, sills and skirting boards
- Vacuum inside every socket box surround, radiator fin and heating grille
- Use a HEPA-filter vacuum; ordinary vacuums blow fine dust back into the air
2. Film, labels and residue
- Remove protective film from window frames, doors, appliances and sanitaryware
- Lift labels and sticker residue from glass, tiles and appliances
- Remove paint, plaster and sealant spots from glass and frames with a fresh scraper blade, keeping the glass wet
3. Kitchen
- Clean every cupboard and drawer inside: dust collects on shelves and in hinges
- Wipe appliances inside and out, including the oven, hob, extractor and fridge seals
- Polish the sink, tap and worktops with a product that's safe for the surface: stone worktops need a stone-safe cleaner
- Finish the plinths and floor edges by hand
4. Bathrooms
- Remove grout haze and silicone smears from tiles
- Descale and polish taps, shower heads and screens
- Clean the toilet inside, outside and behind, and the extractor fan cover
5. Glass and floors
- Clean interior glass, balcony doors and mirrors streak-free, including frames and tracks
- Vacuum, then clean floors with the right method for each material: timber, stone, tile or carpet
6. The final inspection
This is the step most cleans skip. Walk every room with a checklist, in good light, and look where a buyer will look: inside cupboards, at the glass against the light, along the skirting. Photograph every room. The photos protect you if a buyer later says something was missed.
At Marinel, every handover clean ends with a supervisor inspection against our 42-point Marinel Standard, and a photo report sent to you the same day. See the full checklist.
Handing over more than one unit?
We clean developments in phases as units complete, with one report per unit. Read how we work with developers or request a fixed-price quote.