Really hoping the answer is no
Ok, we know we need to clean everything when we hand the apt over, but does that really include the outside of the metal roll shutters when we are on the third floor?? If yes, how the heck does one do that??
It appears so (though it might vary by agency)
Yes - I open the window and wash them from the inside then flip the blind and do the other side. Steam cleaners or pressure washers make the job easier. I got a cleaning spray from Griesser.ch that makes the gunk wipe off easily. Put a towel down inside so you don't get splashes of water on the flooring.
If you need to use a lot of water and live with balconies or windows below, make sure you warm your neighbours or be cheeky and do it when it is raining.
How do you flip them?? They are mounted! Or is there a quick release somewhere that I don't know about?
If they are those metal roller blinds with the top and bottom edge of each slate fixed to the next one then you can only clean them from the outside.
Bear in mind that if you can't get to the outside surface to clean them, they'll not be able to inspect them anyway - unless they are really dirty and the dirt can be seen from ground level.
Our new place has the other sort where each slate is attached to the next with cord. You can flip these.
For other sorts,
The mounted hinged gate type: you can unhook them, they are not very heavy but better to use your strongest friend, and take them to the spray power hose type of car wash. This is very quick and effective. Stand them up to dry and hook them back on 2 hours later.
For the roller style,
I use a steam cleaner starting at the top. As Tom says, if you can't see the dirt, neither can the inspectors.
They are the roller style so will get the inside and as far up the outside as we can reach and hope they either don't inspect them or have shorter arms
See if Spiderman is available?
Check the "Merkblatt" (information sheet) you received from the property manager regarding the handover. Sometimes there are exclusions. If not, then they must be done properly. The professional cleaning firms have the expertise and tools needed for this. If your building has a professional firm looking after cleaning and maintenance of the general areas, try contacting them about the shutters.
use a (long) ladder or abseil down from the apartment above...
It's just an onsite manager here that does everything, so not a whole lot of external building cleaning gets done. We cleaned the outside of the balcony and it is rather funny to look at it from the street now as it is remarkably brighter than any others!
And no flat above us sadly, even if I was willing to hang out of a window We will do everything we can, and as there are no exclusions on the checklist, we will simply have to hope they don't bring a really long ladder to reach up to our level! At least the ones we can get to on the balcony will be spotless so hopefully that is all they look at...if not, then I guess we will end up paying for a company to come do it anyway and likely they will try to do the entire building and charge us...!