Today, 36% of Americans live in rental properties. There’s a good chance you’re one of them!
If so, then you’ll probably either move to another rental or save up to purchase your own home sometime in the future. And when that time comes, you’ll want to know what to do before you leave your rental property.
To help you out, here are 5 things to do before moving out of a rental.
1. Give Notice to Your Landlord
Before you do anything else, the first and most important thing you need to do is give notice to your landlord. Your lease will tell you the legal time frame you have to give notice, which is usually 30 days.
However, the sooner you can tell them, the better. That allows your landlord to start searching for the next tenant ASAP.
Also, make sure to give notice in writing. That way, you have definitive proof that you notified your landlord. Otherwise, you might be stuck in a situation where you have to pay an extra month’s rent.
2. Make Repairs
There’s a very good chance that your apartment has some wear and tear. One of our tips for moving out is to make all the repairs you can. That way, it’s more likely that you’ll get your full deposit back.
Simple things like repainting and repairing dents in the walls can make a huge difference.
3. Start Packing Early
It’s always good to get started earlier rather than later. You never know if something will cause obstacles in your move, such you getting sick or your car breaking down.
Sit down and put together a checklist for moving out. That way, you can tick items off the list while you’re packing. Not only can this be motivating, but it can also ensure that you’re not missing anything.
4. Make Arrangements for Moving
Whether you’re enlisting the help of your friends and family, or you’re hiring movers, you’ll want to make arrangements early on too.
This ensures that when the big day arrives, everyone knows what they’re doing and the move can go as smoothly as possible.
5. Clean Your Apartment
Some tenants choose to tackle cleaning on their own. But if you don’t have the time or energy to do so yourself, that’s fine as well.
The price of end of tenancy cleaning can be quite affordable. Not to mention, these professionals know how to get things spotless. It’ll be well worth the price you pay when you get your entire deposit back, thanks to the great work they’ve done.
Know the Things to Do Before Moving Out
Now you know the things to do before moving out. By having this knowledge ahead of time, you’ll know what to expect, and moving out of an apartment won’t be as stressful.
If you found this moving out checklist helpful, then make sure you check out our other blog articles too.