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Moving to Clermont or Davenport? A Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Central Florida’s Fastest-Growing Suburbs

Moving boxes stacked in a Clermont FL home

Clermont City Clean

Davenport’s population nearly doubled between the 2020 census and mid-2025, growing from 9,043 residents to an estimated 18,110, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Clermont grew almost as fast over the same stretch, adding roughly 10,000 residents to reach an estimated 52,812. Between the two cities alone, that’s tens of thousands of move-ins, and on the other side of every one of those moves, a move-out.

If you’re part of that wave, moving into or out of a home in Clermont, Davenport, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Celebration, Groveland, Windermere, or Orlando, here’s what actually needs to happen on the cleaning side, for both ends of the move.

Why So Many People Are Moving Into (and Out of) This Part of Florida

Clermont and the surrounding Four Corners cities sit close enough to Orlando’s job market and theme parks to draw new residents steadily, while staying just far enough out to offer newer construction and more space per dollar. That growth cuts both ways for cleaning needs: a household moving in from out of state needs a home move-in ready before the furniture arrives, and a household relocating within the area, or leaving a rental, needs the old place cleaned to the standard a landlord or new buyer expects.

The Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

Whether you’re leaving a rental or handing off a home you sold, the goal is the same: leave nothing for the next person to discover.

  • Kitchen first. Empty and wipe down the refrigerator, including shelves and drawers. Clean the oven interior and stovetop. Run an empty dishwasher cycle. Empty every cabinet and drawer and wipe the interiors, this is one of the most commonly missed spots.
  • Bathrooms. Address soap scum, grout discoloration, and any mildew around the tub, shower, and toilet base. In Florida’s climate, mildew shows up here faster than almost anywhere else in the home.
  • Floors and baseboards. Vacuum and mop every room, including closets, and wipe down baseboards where dust and grime accumulate along the floor line.
  • Walls, switches, and fixtures. Wipe down light switches and door handles, dust ceiling fans and light fixtures, and patch any nail holes if your lease or sale agreement requires it.
  • Windows and screens. Clean interior glass and wipe down window sills and tracks, where humidity and dust tend to build up.
  • Document the result. Photograph every room once it’s clean and empty. That documentation matters if a landlord disputes a deposit deduction later.

If you’re renting, Florida law gives you a real timeline to hold your landlord to. Under Florida Statute 83.49, if your landlord doesn’t intend to make a claim against your security deposit, they must return it within 15 days of the lease ending. If they do intend to make a claim, they have 30 days to notify you in writing, and you then have 15 days to object. A clean, documented move-out is what puts you in the strongest position either way.

The Move-In Cleaning Checklist

A home that looks empty and ready isn’t the same as a home that’s actually clean. Even new construction collects construction dust, and previous owners rarely clean to the standard you’d want to unpack into.

  • Clean before anything is unpacked, not after. Cabinets, closets, and drawers are far easier to wipe out empty than once they’re full of your belongings.
  • Sanitize the kitchen and bathrooms first. These are the two spaces you’ll use immediately, and the two most likely to carry the previous occupant’s residue, regardless of how the home looked at closing.
  • Check AC vents and return grilles. In a humid climate, vents that haven’t been cleaned before a new resident moves in can already be circulating dust and allergens.
  • Wipe down all hard surfaces. Counters, shelving, and interior windowsills often carry a layer of dust from move-out, even in homes that looked clean during a showing.
  • Vacuum and mop everywhere, including closets. Closet floors are one of the most commonly skipped spots in a standard move-in clean.

Move-Out vs. Move-In: What Changes

FactorMove-OutMove-In
Primary goalGet your deposit back or meet a sale agreementStart in a genuinely clean, allergen-free space
TimingAfter the home is fully emptyBefore furniture and boxes arrive
Documentation neededPhotos for deposit or closing recordsNot usually required
Biggest risk if skippedDeposit deductions or delayed closingUnpacking into dust, allergens, or leftover residue

DIY vs. Professional Move Cleaning: When It’s Worth Hiring

Move-out and move-in cleaning both take longer than a routine clean, mainly because nothing is in the way, which means nothing gets skipped either. Between packing, coordinating movers, and everything else a relocation involves, most people in a fast-growing area like Clermont or Davenport are working against a closing date or a lease deadline at the same time.

Clermont City Clean offers move-in and move-out cleaning across Clermont, Davenport, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Celebration, Groveland, Windermere, and Orlando, with insured, vetted cleaners and a booking process that takes about 60 seconds online, 24/7. If anything’s missed, report it within 24 hours and the team returns to re-clean it at no charge.

Get a free quote or book online anytime at clermontcityclean.com/book.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to get my security deposit back in Florida?

If your landlord doesn’t plan to make a claim against it, they must return your deposit within 15 days of the lease ending, under Florida Statute 83.49. If they do intend to claim part of it, they have 30 days to send written notice, and you then have 15 days to object.

Do landlords have to give notice before keeping part of a deposit?

Yes. Florida Statute 83.49 requires written notice, sent by certified mail or the email method specified in the statute, stating the amount and reason for the claim. If they miss that window, they generally forfeit the right to keep any of it.

What’s the difference between move-out and move-in cleaning?

Move-out cleaning is done after a home is emptied, focused on meeting a landlord’s or buyer’s standard and documenting the result. Move-in cleaning happens before you unpack, focused on starting in a space that’s actually clean rather than just visually empty.

Should I clean before or after the moving truck arrives?

Before, whenever possible. Cabinets, closets, and floors are far easier to clean without furniture and boxes in the way, and you avoid having to move everything a second time to reach spots you missed.

Does a new-construction home need move-in cleaning?

Yes. New builds collect drywall dust, sawdust, and adhesive residue during construction that isn’t always fully cleared before a final walkthrough.

How far in advance should I book move cleaning in a fast-growing area like Davenport or Clermont?

As soon as your move date is confirmed. Demand for movers and cleaners both rise with an area’s growth rate, and Davenport’s population has grown by nearly 95 percent since 2020, so booking early holds your preferred date rather than leaving it to whatever’s available last minute.

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