Get Full Deposit When Moving Out Checklist
Many rental properties require you to pay a cash deposit up front when you sign a lease or rental agreement. When the time comes for you to move out of that property, it's possible to get that money back. Sometimes the only requirement is to ask for your deposit back. If you have left your home in good condition, the landlord should have no problem refunding your deposit. Requirements for getting that money back can vary from landlord to landlord, but there are some steps that are crucial in most rental situations.
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Patch Holes
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When a tenant hangs photos on the living room wall or tacks posters up in the bedroom, there will be evidence of it when they come down. There is nothing wrong with hanging items on the walls as long as you remember to fix the damage they cause before moving out.
To increase your chances of getting a full refund back, check all of the walls in the entire dwelling for holes. If there are small tack holes, it may not be necessary to fix them. If there are multiple larger nail holes, you should repair them by using putty found at most home improvement or department stores. You could even let the landlord know you are repairing them, and ask if he would like to provide you with some touch-up paint to cover the putty.
If an incident has caused a head- or fist-sized hole in the wall, you can still repair it if you know a little about replacing Sheetrock. Otherwise, you are probably going to lose some deposit money to cover this more serious damage.
Check Carpets
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Although tenants may be careful in trying to prevent spills on floors and work hard to train pets to relieve themselves outside, accidents will happen occasionally. As the tenant, ideally you will have responded quickly to prevent permanent stains on the carpets.
Check the carpets thoroughly for stains of any kind a few days before the move. If you find a stain, use a quality carpet stain-removing product. If the stains are widespread, you may need to rent a steam cleaner and shampoo the carpets. Leaving carpet in a poor condition is a sure way to forfeit your deposit.
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Leave It Clean
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Try to remember the way the house or apartment looked when you first moved in. It was most likely clean, or at least it was what the landlord considers clean. When you have everything moved out of the way, compare the property's appearance to the way it looked when you moved in. Clean it until it looks at least as good as it did then.
Sweep and mop wood, tile or linoleum floors. Vacuum the carpets and wipe down the baseboards. Leave the toilets and showers in sparkling condition, and remove any leftover debris or garbage remains from closets, behind doors or other hidden areas. Clean all the windows to remove handprints and smudges.
Fulfill Lease Obligations
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If you have lived up to your end of the bargain when it comes to the terms of the lease and you've left the property in satisfactory condition, you should get your full deposit back. Read over your lease carefully and check for any discrepancies in the requirements and your particular situation. If it is a one-year lease and you are moving out in six months, for example, you shouldn't expect the landlord to refund your deposit. If your lease prohibits smoking in the home and you smoked anyway, this is also a reason for the landlord to withhold the deposit.
Inquire Early
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Ask about getting the deposit back before you pay the last month’s rent. Find out if there are any fees you will be responsible for when you move out. Ask your landlord to take a look at the place to see if you need to do anything specific to ensure you get your entire deposit back.
If you get the feeling that the landlord is going to try and keep your deposit when there is no good reason to do so, deduct the amount of the deposit from your last month’s rent. Part of the reason for a security deposit is to make sure the landlord gets the money for the rent in the event that you disappear without paying.
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References
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