A generalized rule of thumb when living in a rental home is to leave it better than how you found it. This pertains to carpets, walls, cleanliness, etc. When you move in, a security deposit is due to protect the homeowner from having to fix all these things after you move out. So why not try and guarantee that you will receive it back at the end of your tenancy? Here are a few tips to ensure your property manager will be satisfied with your rental home move out!
Regular Cleaning
Keeping up with routine cleaning will take some of the stress away when moving out! Dusting, vacuuming, wiping down appliances, and purging unused items while living in your rental home are all small to-do’s that can benefit you in the long run. By regular upkeep of the home, you hopefully won’t be as stressed as you would if you are rushing to take care of all of this during your move-out. Also, when it is time to move out, ensure you take all of your belongings and trash with you. Having to hire a clean out crew can be a generous chunk of your security deposit.
Kids/ Pets
This is a big one! Kids and pets can be messy; stains on carpets and walls, chewed up drywall from dogs and scratched posts from cats, are all factors that could affect your security deposit return. Ensure you have a grasp on what your kids and animals are doing to prevent any heavy damage. As property managers, we understand that minor wear and tear of your rental home is expected, but there is a thin line of normal wear and tear and flat-out damage!
Carpets/ Floors
Carpet damage is the largest cause of not getting your security deposit back! Stains, smells, and rips are all detrimental to the cleanliness of the home. Would you want to move into a rental home where the carpets are in terrible shape? To prevent carpet/ hardwood floor damage, try and use area rugs to cover the most trafficked areas of your home. Doing so is an effort to protect the floors and leave little to no damage on them. Before you move out, be sure to have the carpets professionally cleaned to ensure they are at their best!
Walls/ Ceilings/ Doors
Wall damage is almost inevitable in rental homes. Wall and ceiling décor, TV mounts, and curtains/brackets are all factors that contribute to making your rental house a home, but there are correct and incorrect ways to go about them! If hanging picture frames and wall décor, try and use small nails or thumbtacks, or command strips. These all minimize the damage done to walls and are easier to cover. TV mounts are recommended to be installed professionally, to prevent missing studs and causing more damage. When peeling off command strips/hooks, be sure to pull off properly or you will end up ripping off a large portion of the paint and drywall!
Obviously, there are many more factors that contribute to keeping your rental clean, but these are a start! There is a lot of work that goes into getting a rental home ready for its’ next tenant and keeping it clean while living there is HUGE! Not to mention getting your security deposit back is a plus! As mentioned before, leave your home better than how you found it! It will be appreciated by your property manager and homeowner more than you know!
If you are looking to move into Gwinnett County, contact us today and we will help you find the perfect rental home! If you own a home and would like to rent it out in Gwinnett County, reach out to us and we will be glad to assist you in the process!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
