If you’re like most Nampa 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 thinking about how much you need to get your security deposit back. In order to receive a full refund, most landlords expect you to leave the house as spotless as you can get it. But you need to do a lot of hard work to get that result. Nevertheless, by implementing these five expert cleaning tips, you can surely boost the possibilities 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. Yet, 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 certain contexts, you’ll discover answers to questions like whether you want to have the carpets professionally cleaned, which portions of the property will be examined, and many others.
Tip #2: Get (and Use) A Move-Out Checklist
Good landlords will typically send their tenants a move-out checklist when their tenants give notice that they are leaving. But even if yours did not, you don’t need to worry about it; there are a lot of useful cleaning checklists online. It is a smart idea to use a checklist as you clean to ensure that you don’t neglect important stuff, both inside and out in the yard. Even small cleaning tasks missed might add up to big deductions on your security deposit, so it is important to be hardworking.
Tip #3: Think Like a Landlord
Another effective way to get your entire security deposit back is to put yourself in your landlord’s shoes. Try to remember the condition the property was in when you moved in, and aim for that same level of cleanliness when you leave. In case you have any doubts, ask your landlord what their definition of “clean” is. You should also remember that the next tenant needs to move into a tidy home, so keeping 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’s all too normal for tenants to abandon personal property they no longer need or want in a rental house. But it won’t take much effort to drag your unwanted junk to the curb or drop it off at a charity thrift shop. Besides, 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 for you.
Tip #5: Go the Extra Mile
In the anxiety of moving out, it may be tempting to do the minimum amount of cleaning while cutting corners wherever you can. That may work in some situations, but most of that approach will often lead to deductions from your security deposit for cleaning and repairs. Give yourself a little more time to go over some of the specifics, if possible. Fill nail holes with drywall putty, for example, or make sure you’ve cleaned interior windows and dusted the blinds and ceiling fans.
By applying these move-out cleaning tips, you leave your landlord with almost nothing to worry about, which will help you take your full security deposit back in regards to cleanliness.
Are you looking for a new rental? Real Property Management Nampa has the perfect home for you. Check out our listings online or call us at 208-960-0660.
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