If you’re like most Arlington renters, you don’t worry too much about how to clean your rental house when you move out. That is until the day comes, and you start getting to think about how much you need to get your security deposit back. To get a full refund, most landlords expect you to leave the house as spotless as you can get it. However, this may bring some big challenges. Still, by applying these five expert cleaning tips, you can quickly improve the chances of getting your security deposit back after you’ve moved out.
Tip #1: Read Your Lease
Perhaps your lease isn’t the first place you would usually go to find cleaning tips. 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 some instances, you’ll find necessary information such as whether you need to have the carpets professionally cleaned, which areas 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 around the time that their tenants give notice they are leaving. But even if yours did not, you can find tons of full cleaning checklists online. It’s important to use a checklist as you clean to ensure that you don’t overlook things, both inside and out in the yard. Even small cleaning tasks missed might add up to big deductions on your security deposit, so it’s worth the effort.
Tip #3: Think Like a Landlord
One of the easiest ways to get your entire security deposit back is to put yourself in your landlord’s shoes. Seek to remember the condition the property was in when you moved in, and aim for that same level of cleanliness when you leave the house. If you have any concerns, ask your landlord what their definition of “clean” is. You need to remember that the next tenant needs to move into a spotless house, so leaving it the way you would like it if you were moving in is a good rule of thumb.
Tip #4: Don’t Leave Stuff Behind
It is normal for tenants to abandon personal property they no longer need or want in a rental house. But it’s not too much more effort to drag your unwanted junk to the curb or drop it off at a charity thrift shop. Also, if you abandon 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 difficulty of moving out, it may be tempting to do the minimum amount of cleaning while cutting corners wherever you can. This might succeed in some ways, but mostly, that strategy will lead to deductions from your security deposit for cleaning and repairs. If possible, give yourself a little extra time to examine some of the ideas. Fill nail holes with drywall putty, for example, or make sure you’ve cleaned interior windows and dusted the blinds and ceiling fans.
By obeying 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 360 has the perfect home for you. Check out our listings online or call us at 817-502-3588.
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