Renting an apartment or home has many advantages, including flexibility. At the end of your lease term, you can choose to renew or look for a place that better fits your needs. If you choose to move out, you’ll probably be hoping to get your security deposit back. But how can you ensure you have the best chance of seeing your money again? Below you’ll find tips, hacks, and great advice on how to make your apartment move-out work for you and your property manager.

Top 7 Tips on How To Keep Your Security Deposit

1. Make a Move-Out Checklist

This is probably the easiest tip to follow when moving out of your apartment. Simply make a move out checklist that you can use to check off when certain tasks are finished. That should include:

• Major rooms like the kitchen, living room, bedrooms and bathrooms
• Any hallways or passageways in your apartment
• All your closets
• Storage areas you might have
• The garage (if you’ve rented one)

As you finish cleaning and any repairs, check them off on your list. This will keep you on track, lower your stress levels, and ensure you don’t forget something.

2. Repairing Minor Damage

As with many things, doing it yourself will save you money. That includes repairing any minor damage you made to your apartment. If you leave those for your landlord, it might cost so much that you end up owing them! To prevent that, make these common repairs:

• Patch any small holes with spackle and then paint them
• Replace any lightbulbs that aren’t working
• Fix or tighten loose handles and hinges on cabinets and doors
• Replace broken floor tiles or floor trim
• Fix anything else that was damaged while you were living there

Many leases stipulate that tenants must repair “normal wear-and-tear” damages. What constitutes normal wear-and-tear is up to the discretion of the landlord, so fixing small issues like these is in your best interest. If you’re aware of any damages that go beyond what is expected from everyday use, it’s best to notify your landlord prior to giving your move-out notice so that the damage can be repaired and your security deposit isn’t withheld.

3. Deep Cleaning

Even if there isn’t any damage, leaving your apartment dirty is not recommended. In fact, experts recommend deep cleaning the entire place. In many apartment complexes, Leaving behind a clean apartment is the best way to get your security deposit back. Here’s a room by room cleaning checklist you can use:

Kitchen

• Deep clean the oven and stove top.
• Clean inside the microwave.
• Wipe down cabinets, countertops and the backsplash.
• Mop the kitchen floor.
• Completely empty the fridge and freezer and clean them both well.
• Throw away any insect traps you might have been using.

Living Room and Bedrooms

• Dust vents and ceiling fans.
• Wipe down light switches and baseboards.
• Vacuum any and all carpets. If necessary, rent a rug cleaning machine, especially if you’ve had pets in your apartment.
• Remove all tacks and nails and fill-in the holes.
• Clean the windows and blinds.
• Dust all surfaces where dust can gather.

Bathroom(s)

• Deep clean the toilet, sink and bathtub.
• Wipe any mirrors and other surfaces.
• Mop the floors.
• If it isn’t a pristine white color, scrub the tile grout.

Closets

• Remove everything.
• Vacuum the floors.
• Use baking soda to reduce odors. (Sprinkle a good amount, leave it on for a day, and then vacuum it up.)

Remember, an apartment needs to be cleaned by someone before it can be rented to a new tenant. If your landlord doesn’t find your apartment spotless, they can hire a cleaning crew and charge you for the cost. In most cases, that will be much more expensive than doing it yourself, so deep cleaning makes good financial sense.

4. Take Plenty of Pictures

The very best way to prove that you did something is to take pictures, and that goes double for moving out of your apartment. Time-stamped photos will protect you if your landlord claims that you left your apartment dirty or damaged. A few of the areas you should focus on include:

• Any and all major appliances
• Bathtubs, sinks, and toilets
• Floors and walls
• All doors big and small
• Any repairs that you made

Be sure to keep these photos until you’ve gotten your security deposit back. If you have a dispute with your landlord, you’ll be glad you did!

5. Don’t Leave Anything Behind

You might think that, if your apartment is clean and undamaged, you can leave stuff behind without a problem. Unfortunately, most apartment complex complexes will charge you if they have to hire someone to come in and remove things you’ve left behind. For that reason, be sure to remove:

• All food in your fridge or pantry
• Any and all garbage
• Furniture (even if it’s in good shape)
• Clothing

6. Notify Your Landlord Well in Advance

One of the most important tasks when moving out of your apartment is to notify your landlord. That’s because most leases require at least 30 days notice before you move out. If you don’t give your landlord proper notice, you might lose all, or at least part, of your security deposit. To that end, be sure to:

• Give written notice to your landlord
• Keep a copy of the written notice for your records
• Confirm your move out date with your landlord

7. Schedule a Pre-Move-Out Walk-Through

Most people schedule a walk-through on the day they move out. What experts recommend, however, is to schedule a pre-move-out walk-through. That way, your landlord can point out things that need to be cleaned, repaired, painted, etc. During this early walk-through you should:

• Take notes so that you can make any repairs or clean anything the landlord noticed.
• Agree with your landlord on the condition of the apartment.
• Ask your landlord if there are any problems that might affect getting your deposit back.

Although unusual, if your landlord won’t do a pre-move-out walk-through, don’t get upset. Simply send them an email with all of the photos you’ve taken and a written summary of the apartment’s condition on move out day. This should suffice and also protect you from any false claims your landlord might make.

Store Your Items with NSA Storage While You Move

We hope the tips and advice we’ve provided today have been helpful and informative. Although it might seem like a lot, if you start early, getting your apartment ready for move-out day isn’t impossible. If anything, it will ensure you get back to your security deposit!

At NSA Storage we help people move out of their apartments all the time by providing clean, safe and secure storage units. A storage unit can be extremely helpful when moving out if you want to get certain things out of your way. It can also help you when moving into your new apartment or new home.

You can reserve a storage unit online quickly and easily. That way, it will be ready to store anything you need when you arrive. Happy cleaning and happy moving!