So, you’re moving out of your apartment. What do you need to take care of before you leave? Here are a few ideas.
1: Notify your landlord
The first thing you need to do is notify your landlord that you’re moving out. This gives them time to find a new tenant and it also ensures you’re not held responsible for any damages that occur after you’ve moved out.
2: Clean the apartment
Now it’s time to clean up. Start with a thorough cleaning of the entire apartment. If you’ve lived there for a while, there’s bound to be some grime and dirt that accumulates. You can always look for apartment cleaning services to help you out with this, but make sure you do a final sweep before you leave.
3: Remove all of your belongings
By this time, you should have already transported all of your things to your new place. Now it’s time to make the final sweep again to make sure you haven’t left anything behind. If something remains in the apartment when you turn in your keys, it could be considered abandoned property and disposed of by management. Of course, you also don’t want to leave anything behind, because many landlords charge tenants for all or part of the cost of replacing these items.
4: Return your keys in a timely fashion
Once you’ve turned in your keys, make sure you return them in a reasonable amount of time. If you don’t return your keys on time, you may be charged a late fee, so it’s best to avoid that.
5: Make sure you’ve paid your rent
Make sure you’ve paid your rent in full and on time. This will ensure a smooth transition from tenant to the landlord and it’ll also leave a good impression on your former landlord.
6: Leave a positive review
Once you’ve moved out and everything is finalized, leave a positive review of your experience as a tenant. This will help future tenants who are looking for an apartment in your area and it’ll also show your former landlord that you were a good tenant, helping you with references if needed in the future.
7: Close out your account with the utility companies
If you have any accounts with the utility companies, make sure to close them before you move out. This includes your electricity, water, and gas accounts.
8: Transfer your cable/internet service
If you’re transferring your cable or internet service, make sure to do this before you move out. This way, you won’t have to worry about any service interruptions or transfers during the moving process.
9: Get your security deposit back
Once you’ve completed all of the above steps, it’s time to get your security deposit back. Most landlords will either mail it to you or drop it off at your new place. Make sure to keep an eye out for it and contact your landlord if you don’t receive it within a reasonable amount of time.
10: Document the condition of the apartment
Before you move out, document the condition of the apartment. This way, if there are any damages that occur after you’ve moved out, you can hold your landlord accountable. You can do this by taking pictures or video of the apartment, as well as creating a list of any damages.
11: Say goodbye
Finally, take a moment to say goodbye to your old apartment. This is the place where you’ve created some of your best memories and it’s served as a home for you over the past few months or years. It’s always bittersweet when moving out, but remember that there’s always something new waiting for you around the corner.