This Checklist at Check Out Will Help You Get Your Deposit Back

Depending on how long you lived in the rental property before it was time to move, you may not even remember how much you deposited, but you will be very happy when you receive a large sum of money. back, which can help you with your expenses when you settle in a new place. We talk a lot about how to legally guarantee you get it back and hold your landlord accountable for forking it out, but here, too, you have some responsibility. Here’s what you should clean up and fix before taking the plunge.

Walls

The first thing you need to do is the walls. Your landlord is not responsible for their minor damage , whether you currently live in it or are about to leave. After everything that belongs to you has been removed from the device, thoroughly clean all the walls. Remove all nails, screws and nails from walls and ceilings. Look for any cosmetic blemishes on the wall, such as where the adhesive strip held the painting, and repair them at the same time as filling the screw and nail holes. ( Here’s a complete guide to fixing it all. )

floors

If your apartment has carpet, you need to remove stains from it. It is best to do a complete deep cleaning . Although it can be expensive, depending on when you have to rent a steamboat, it won’t cost as much as a non-refundable deposit.

Other than that, you can just sweep and mop the floors as usual, according to Innovation Rentals , but be sure to check for any major damage that you could fix yourself.

Kitchen

I once moved into an apartment where the previous tenant left everything from expired groceries to heavily dried dirt in the fridge. The landlord took no initiative to clear this for me before I inherited the liability, which was disgusting but also, according to Innovation Rentals, against the rules on the part of the previous tenant. If you don’t clean out the fridge, it could result in a lower bail (plus your unit’s successor cursing your name).

You will also need to repair any minor water damage caused by the pipes under the sink and thoroughly clean the oven. Lastly, double check any sideboards or cabinets for old food and be sure to clean them out. There’s no way to know how long your device will stay on the market, but if mice or cockroaches come to clean up after you, it could still be your problem. (This also goes without saying, but take out the trash before you leave. Don’t give the ammo renter to say you’re creating a pest or stench problem.)

Bathroom

According to Pods , a moving and storage company, you should wipe down windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces, so don’t forget them in the bathroom — even in the shower. However, a more pressing problem in the shower will be scale. Soap scum and dirt should be gone. Before you move in, start storing a refillable dishwashing brush there and clean the shower gradually every time you rinse so that the task isn’t so difficult towards the end. Don’t forget the shower head too. Soak it in four cups of white vinegar, half a cup of baking soda, and a cup of water, then scrub with an old toothbrush. (If you can’t remove the shower head, place this mixture in a large plastic bag and secure it to the shower head for a while while you clean something else.)

All in all

For the most part, you want it to look as clean and empty when you leave as it did on the day you first got your keys. This means getting any stains, dirt, and debris out of the way, but it also means not leaving any furniture behind. Landlords may charge you a fee for furniture removal. If you leave any large furniture, let your landlord know, get their permission, and make sure it’s all in writing. Don’t forget about what you have on the fire escape. Not only could you just get into the hot water due to it being blocked at any point during your stay at the location, you could also be charged upon leaving. (This almost happened to me because of two pillows .)

Don’t unplug any appliances unless your landlord tells you to, but make sure there’s nothing in them anyway. Your landlord will eventually have to go around the place to make sure it’s habitable for the next person, so you don’t have to go crazy, but you do need to make it clean and empty before you can live freely. take a deposit and move on.