If you’re like most Brooksville renters, you don’t worry too much about how to clean your rental house when you move out. That is until the moment comes, and you begin to worry about how much you need to get your security deposit back. To receive a full refund, most landlords expect you to leave the house as spotless as it can be. But doing that can be stressful. However, by taking these five expert cleaning tips, you will greatly improve your chances of getting your security deposit back after you’ve moved out.
Tip #1: Read Your Lease
Probably your lease is not the primary thing you would typically go to find cleaning guidelines. But as a renter, the chances are that your lease documents (including addenda, if any) include language that can help you understand what your landlord’s expectations are. In certain instances, you will get an answer to queries such as if you need to make the carpets professionally cleaned, which portions of the property will be tested, and so forth.
Tip #2: Get (and Use) A Move-Out Checklist
Good landlords will typically send their tenants a move-out checklist at the point when their tenants give notice that they are leaving. But even if yours did not, you can search for a cleaning checklists online. It’s necessary to use a checklist as you clean to make sure that you don’t forget things, both inside and out in the yard. Even small cleaning tasks missed might add up to big deductions on your security deposit, so the effort is worthwhile.
Tip #3: Think Like a Landlord
One of the best approaches to get your entire security deposit back is to put yourself in your landlord’s shoes. Try to remember the condition the property was in when you moved in, and aim for that same level of cleanliness before leaving. If you want to know more, ask your landlord what their definition of “clean” is. It is important to bear in mind that the other tenant will need a comfortable place before they move in, so leaving it the way you would want it if you moved in is a good rule of thumb.
Tip #4: Don’t Leave Stuff Behind
It’s all too common for tenants to abandon personal property they no longer need or want in a rental house. But it’s not too much effort to drag your unwanted junk to the curb or drop it off at a charity thrift shop. Plus, if you leave your stuff on the property, the landlord will likely charge you for clean-up and removal of the items. That spells a smaller security deposit coming back to you.
Tip #5: Go the Extra Mile
In the chaos of moving out, it may be tempting to do the minimum amount of cleaning while cutting corners wherever you can. Although this is effective in some cases, most of the time, that technique will lead to deductions from your security deposit for cleaning and repairs. As much as possible, give yourself a little extra time to go over some of the details. Fill nail holes with drywall putty, for example, or make sure you’ve cleaned interior windows and dusted the blinds and ceiling fans.
By applying these move-out cleaning tips, you leave your landlord with very little to complain about and no excuses not to give you your full security deposit back in regards to cleanliness.
Are you looking for a new rental? Real Property Management Connection has the perfect home for you. Check out our listings online or call us at 352-428-2316.
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