Spending money that you don’t want to spend is never fun, and security deposits are no different. Luckily, this is one form of money that (if you play your cards right) will come back around.
The purpose of a security deposit is to provide your apartment with a source of money in the event of any damages or necessary cleaning after you move out. If you handle these things ahead of time, however, then you can expect to make the moving process just a little bit easier.
Moving is expensive, and doing it with a little extra money in your pocket doesn’t exactly hurt. Here’s what you can do to make sure that your security deposit doesn’t wind up in the hole.
1. PLAN AHEAD
After informing your landlord of your intent to vacate, it’s important to begin your prep right away. Start with reviewing your lease to determine what you’re entitled to or not entitled to. Taking the time to re-familiarize yourself with your lease and its restrictions is a great way to ensure that you’re not blindsided later on.
Remember that rental inspection checklist you were supposed to fill out when you moved in? Pull that sucker back out (check the junk drawer if you can’t find it) and review any existing damages to your apartment that were there when you got there.
Stay organized, be thorough, and know your rights!
2. CLEAN, CLEAN, AND CLEAN SOME MORE
Here are some good places to start:
- Carpets
- Any rooms that have it will probably need some degree of cleaning. Some complexes even require that the cleaning is professionally done.
- Tile & Grout
- Floors, backsplashes, showers, and any other part of your home where tile may be present.
- Wood Floors
- All floors are subject to some degree of damage, especially wood floors, where the damage tends to be more obvious.
- Smells
- Open a window and light a candle. Still not gone? Carpet Tech can handle odor removal, as well!
Leave no surface untouched when you’re cleaning your apartment and prepping it for your departure. There is no such thing as “too thorough” if you want that money back in your pocket!
Don’t know where to start? Allow us to help: 25 Spring Cleaning Must-Do’s
3. REPAIRS? MADE.
Leaving any necessary repairs for your apartment complex to handle is a sure-fire way to lose that deposit that you’ve worked so hard to get back. Think loose doorknobs, sheetrock holes that need filling, lightbulbs that need replacing, etc.
4. TRIPLE CHECK EVERYTHING
5. DONE? CHECK AGAIN.
Think you’re done? Not yet, you’re not.
6. CONDUCT A WALKTHROUGH
The last step in getting your security deposit back is conducting a thorough walkthrough with your landlord. They’ll be prepared to nitpick everything, and being there to go through everything with them is the best way to make sure that you’re looking at the same thing and that no wires are crossed.
And that’s it! You worked hard, collected that sweet, sweet deposit, and now you’re well on your way to starting the next chapter of your life.
Need some help making sure all bases are covered while you’re moving out? Call Carpet Tech — we’ve got the tools and experience to make sure every corner of your apartment is left looking spick and span. Click below to get started with a free quote.