TLDR: A complete builders clean checklist for custom home builders covers six areas: pre-clean coordination, the standard handover scope (joinery, fittings, wet areas, electrical, floors, windows, balustrades, alfresco, garage), finish-specific care, defect walk-through, optional extras quoted separately, and client walk-through prep. The checklist below is the standard Build Clean works to on every custom residential job and can be used by any builder to brief their cleaning contractor or verify quote scope.
Why this checklist matters
Custom home builders deliver high-value, high-expectation projects. The handover moment is judged in detail and clients notice everything. A complete checklist ensures nothing is missed and scope is locked.
This article is the checklist Build Clean uses internally on every custom residential handover. Builders can use it to brief their contractor, verify a quote, or run their own pre-handover inspection.
1. Pre-clean coordination
Before the cleaner arrives:
2. The standard handover scope (single builders clean)
The cleaner should complete the following standard scope:
Joinery, fittings, and fixtures – [ ] Fixed joinery, benchtops, fittings, and fixtures cleaned – [ ] Doors, handles, and fixtures cleaned – [ ] Tiled walls, splashbacks, and feature panels cleaned – [ ] Stainless features cleaned – [ ] Skirtings cleaned
Wet areas – [ ] Toilets, bathtubs, sinks, basins, taps, fittings, and fixtures cleaned – [ ] Shower screens and mirrors cleaned
Electrical and lighting – [ ] Power points, switches, and buttons cleaned – [ ] Fans and lighting cleaned (where easily accessible)
Floors – [ ] Floor surfaces cleaned – [ ] (Note: specialised floor treatments like polishing, machine scrubbing, sealing, epoxy grout removal, and steam cleaning are offered as tailored extras alongside the standard clean)
Debris – [ ] Typical builders debris and stickers removed – [ ] (Excessive build-up or heavily fixed residues quoted separately)
Glazing – [ ] Windows, skylights, door glazing including frames, tracks, doors, and fixtures (internal and external) – [ ] High access glazing cleaned where safe and practical (unsafe or restricted areas may need alternative methods at additional cost)
External and ancillary – [ ] Balustrades including spigots and fixtures – [ ] Balcony and terrace floor surfaces – [ ] Alfresco and front porch floor surfaces – [ ] Garage floor and roller door surfaces (general dust removal)
3. Finish-specific care
For each finish on the project, the cleaner should use the right approach:
4. Defect walk-through
At the end of the clean, the cleaner should walk the site with the site supervisor and identify:
Defects identified by the cleaner but outside the cleaning scope (eg cracked tiles, misaligned doors) are reported to the principal contractor for the responsible trade to rectify.
5. Tailored extras Build Clean offers alongside the standard clean
The standard package keeps typical handovers simple. The items below are tailored extras Build Clean quotes alongside the builders clean when builders want the full finish. Custom homes often book several of these:
For any of these, agree the scope and cost in writing before the clean. Build Clean’s quotes are itemised so the builder sees exactly what’s in each line.
6. Client walk-through prep
In the lead-up to client walk-through:
If additional cleaning is needed between the standard handover clean and client walk-through (eg trades returned and re-dirtied surfaces), an additional re-clean can be quoted on request.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questionsCan I send this checklist to my cleaner? Yes. The checklist is a working document any builder can use to brief their cleaning contractor or compare a quote against.
What sits outside the standard package? Internal cleaning of white goods, specialised floor treatments, ceiling and ductwork cleaning, façade work, removal of protective coverings, FF&E cleaning, additional re-cleans, EWP work, abseiling, and scaffolding all sit outside the standard package. Build Clean offers all of them as tailored extras quoted alongside the standard clean. Custom homes commonly book several.
How long does this checklist take? A 250m² project home takes a 2-3 person crew a full day. A 400m² custom home typically takes 1.5 to 2 days.
Do you provide this checklist with every quote? Build Clean provides a full scope of works document with every quote that mirrors this checklist. The builder can verify item by item what is included and what is quoted as an extra.
Can I add custom items to the scope? Yes. Project-specific items can be added at quote stage and reflected in the scope. Carpet steam clean, pressure clean, internal appliance clean, caulking, and EWP work are commonly added to custom home jobs.
What’s the pricing for this full scope? $8 to $12 per square metre for custom residential. Project home builds at $8 to $9/m². Custom homes with premium finishes at $10 to $12/m². Industry hourly rates for variable scope and extras sit between $70 and $90 per hour during standard hours, with after-hours, weekend, and public holiday rates priced higher. Insurance, certifications, and walk-through included as standard.