Post-Construction Cleaning: How to Price, Bid, and Win Builder Contracts

Post-construction cleaning is one of the best-paying specialty services a cleaning company can add. Builders, general contractors, and property developers need every new or renovated space turned over spotless before a walkthrough, an inspection, or a tenant move-in, and they need it on a deadline. If you can show up on schedule, work around trades, and leave a unit ready to hand over, contractors will call you again on the next job.

The catch is that post-construction work is very different from routine janitorial. There's drywall dust in every surface, stickers on every window, paint drips on floors, and a schedule that changes daily. This guide covers how to scope, price, and bid it so you win the work and still make money.

Understand the three phases

Most contractors think about post-construction cleaning in three phases. Pricing and bidding them separately makes your proposal easier to compare and protects you when the schedule slips.

1. Rough clean. This happens after drywall and major trades finish. You remove large debris, sweep and vacuum heavy dust, and clear out packaging so finish trades can work. It's dirty, fast work.
2. Final clean. This is the detailed clean after all trades are done. It includes wiping every surface top to bottom, cleaning inside cabinets and drawers, removing labels and stickers, cleaning windows and tracks, detailing fixtures, and cleaning floors to finish standard.
3. Touch-up clean. This is a quick pass right before the owner walkthrough or move-in, after punch-list work has left new dust and fingerprints behind.

Some jobs only need a final clean. Many larger jobs need all three. Always ask which phases the contractor expects, and put each one on its own line in your bid.

How to price post-construction work

There are three common ways to price it. Pick the one that fits the job, and always check it against your labor math.

• Per square foot. This is the most common method for contractors because it's easy for them to compare bids. Use a different rate for each phase, since a final clean takes far more labor per square foot than a rough clean.
• Per unit. For apartment buildings and townhome projects, a flat price per unit type (studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom) is clean and simple. It also makes it easy to bill as units are completed.
• Hourly or time-and-materials. This works for small renovations or when the scope is unclear. Set a minimum so a two-hour visit is still worth sending a crew.

Whatever method you choose, build the price from the bottom up. Estimate how many labor hours each phase will take, multiply by your fully loaded labor cost (wages plus payroll taxes, workers' comp, and insurance), add supplies and equipment, and then add your overhead and profit. If your per-square-foot price doesn't cover that total, the price is wrong, no matter what competitors charge.

What drives the price up

Two jobs with the same square footage can take very different amounts of time. Ask about these before you quote:

• How much glass there is, including high windows that need ladders or lifts
• Floor types, especially anything that needs machine scrubbing, stripping, or sealing
• Whether trades will still be working in the space while you clean
• Access for dumpsters, elevators, water, and power
• Paint overspray, adhesive, or concrete splatter that needs special removal
• Deadline pressure, since rush jobs and weekend work cost more to staff

What to put in your bid

A strong post-construction bid is specific. Contractors are comparing several bids quickly, and a vague one looks risky. Include:

• The phases you're bidding, each with its own price
• A clear task list for each phase
• What's excluded, such as debris hauling, exterior pressure washing, or floor refinishing
• How many return trips are included, and the price of extra touch-up visits
• Your crew size and how many days you need for each phase
• Proof of general liability insurance and workers' comp, since most contractors require a certificate before you step on site

The return-trip line matters a lot. Construction schedules slip, and punch-list work creates new messes. If your bid doesn't say how many trips are included, you'll end up doing extra visits for free.

Equipment and supplies you'll need

Post-construction dust is fine and it gets everywhere, so standard residential gear won't cut it. At a minimum, plan for HEPA vacuums, microfiber in bulk, razor scrapers for glass and stickers, extension poles, ladders, a wet/dry vac, and a floor machine if you'll be scrubbing hard floors. Dust masks or respirators protect your crew from drywall and concrete dust. Build the wear and replacement cost of this gear into your pricing.

How to find post-construction work

• Call general contractors and home builders directly. Ask who handles their final cleans and whether they need a backup crew.
• Talk to property managers and developers. New buildings and renovations need turnover cleaning before leasing.
• Watch job boards and subcontracting posts. Larger cleaning companies often subcontract post-construction phases when they're overbooked.
• Take photos. Before-and-after photos of finished units are your best sales tool with contractors.

Turn one job into repeat work

Contractors remember two things: whether you showed up when you said you would, and whether the owner walkthrough went smoothly. Send a short completion note with photos after each phase, respond fast when they call about a touch-up, and invoice promptly. A contractor who trusts your crew will bring you onto every project they run, and that repeat work is where post-construction cleaning becomes truly profitable.

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