Did you know that the typical American moves nearly 12 times in their lifetime? That’s a lot of cleaning, packing, and hauling boxes! Moving is a lot of work.

As you are getting ready for your next move, you’ll want to make sure you do everything you can to get your security deposit back.

Once your lease is up and you’re planning your next move, use this move-out checklist to make sure you leave your place spic and span and get your security deposit back in full.

Move-Out Checklist: Start Here

The most important thing to do before you get ready to move out is to review your lease. See what you are responsible for. You might need to have the carpets professionally cleaned, for example. You might need to give your landlord 30 or 60 days written notice before your move-out date.

Every lease is different, so make sure you know exactly what you need to do. You don’t want to do anything to jeopardize getting your security deposit back.

Once you know what your responsibility is, it’s time to get to work. Use this checklist to make sure your place is landlord-approved.

Give Adequate Notice

Check your lease and see what kind of notice you need to give your landlord. 30 or 60 days is typical. You might have to give it in writing too, which is always a good idea. Make sure your landlord receives it, so you aren’t on the hook to extend your lease.

Fix Any Damage

Fix any significant damage you may have caused, such as broken fixtures, holes in the wall, or scratches on the walls or floors.

Compare the current state of the home to the move-in report you and your landlord completed when you moved in. Everything must be returned to the condition it was in when you moved in, or else you might be responsible for paying for it.

Clean Thoroughly

Once you’ve repaired the damage and moved your possessions out, it’s time to clean. Clean everything. The floors, the walls, the appliances. Clean any outdoor spaces, dust, vacuum, and consider having the carpets cleaned if they are overly dirty. Again, you want to leave the home in the condition you found it.

Chances are your landlord will have professional cleaners come in after you move, but you don’t want to give him or her any reason to keep any of your deposit.

Document The Condition of the Home

Before you turn in the keys, document the condition of your home with pictures and video. Share this with your landlord, so they know how you left the home.

This also protects you from any discrepancies if your landlord says that there was damage or a mess after you’ve turned in the keys.

Wait For Your Money!

If you’ve been a good tenant and left the home in great condition, sit back and wait for your deposit. Enjoy your new home and your new chapter!

The Bottom Line

Does the thought of packing and lifting another box exhaust you? Leave the packing and moving to us. Use this move-out checklist and focus on getting your previous home in top shape to get your deposit back and let us worry about moving your things to your new place.

Contact us today to see how we can help you. We offer residential and commercial moves locally and across the country.