Your home is where a big part of your life is lived. Whether it’s bringing home a new baby or simply relaxing after a long day at work, your home is a place that you create memories. When it’s time to move on from your current rental property and find a new place to create those memories, there are several things you should keep in mind when moving out.
First and foremost, make sure you let your landlord you’re moving out. In many cases, you’ll need to give written notice that you’re leaving 30 days in advance. Make sure to consult the rental agreement to find out exactly how many days prior notice you need to give.
Once that has been established, it’s time to start packing!
1. Review the security deposit
Look back to the paperwork that you have when you initially moved in to review all the information on your security deposit. Read the fine print about what you need to do to get the deposit back and contact your landlord if there is any confusion.
2. Don’t leave anything behind
Packing is a big job and even if you think you have everything packed up, be sure you check every corner before you walk out of the space for the final time. It can be upsetting to realize that you may have left something behind and won’t have the opportunity to get it back.
Leaving stuff behind could also mean money will be deducted from your security deposit. Even if you don’t care about the deposit – lucky you! – leaving a bunch of stuff behind may come back to haunt you. By that we mean your landlord may give a negative review when it comes to future attempts to rent.
3. Clean and walkthrough
Cleaning is one of the most important things you can do before leaving your rental property. Hiring a professional cleaning company is a good idea, especially if it means that it will help get your security deposit money back. Once the cleaning is done, walkthrough and make sure there are not any last-minute repairs or fixes that need to be completed.
Normal wear and tear is one thing. Leaving trash all over the place, doors off their hinges (how did that happen??), and other issues that can be fixed during a weekend should be remedied.
4. Start packing immediately
We know that it’s easy to accumulate “stuff” the longer you live in one place. Maybe you have more belongings than you did when you first moved in. As soon as you put in your notice, start packing stuff up you won’t need for the next month. Spreading this process out over a month is much better than doing it the days before you have to leave.
Packing is a big job and we can help with that. Our team at Smooth Move People is experienced in helping customers of all kinds move quickly and efficiently into their next home. Contact us today to help!
