Making a home rent-ready after a tenant moves out can be pricey. Especially if the tenant left the home a mess. Fortunately for us as property managers, that’s what a security deposit is for. It is there to cover any potential losses or damage, due to tenant neglect.
A good rule of thumb as a renter is to leave the home how it was found, if not better. By doing so, there will be virtually no reason why the security deposit shouldn’t be returned. Aside from the financial aspect, imagine the load you will be taking off your property manager if you leave the home in great condition! If you are moving out of your rental home, review our guidelines for fool-proof ways how to get your deposit back. Every scenario is different, but by following these general rules, it could work more in your favor!
CLEANING
Cleaning the home is an important make-or-break of getting the deposit returned. Some management companies require carpets to be cleaned upon move out, to ensure the freshness of the home. Rooms like the kitchen and bathrooms might require more elbow grease but it will be worth it!
Before you move out, set a day or two aside to do some deep cleaning. Having the carpets professionally cleaned is a crucial step to take when leaving your rental home. Would you want to move into a home with stinky and worn carpets?!
EMPTY THE HOME
This is the #1 reason in property management that prevents tenants from getting their security deposit back. When leaving a rental home, it is crucial to ensure that all personal belongings, and trash, are taken out of the home. Lugging away garbage is expensive, and in some cases, the security deposit will not even cover the entire cost of the pickup, depending on the severity.
If you are planning on moving, start clearing out and purging items in advance, so by the time your move-out date arrives, you are not rushing around trying to figure out what to do with 10 bags of garbage, or leaving it to the property manager to deal with.
DAMAGE
As property managers, we understand homes go through general wear-and-tear after being lived in for a year plus. However, there is a thin line between general wear and tear and flat-out neglect. Nail holes all around the home, broken blinds, and TV mount damage are all ways to lose a portion, or all, of the security deposit.
If you notice there is damage around your home, communicate that to your PM and see what steps you can take to try and repair the wear and tear. We don’t suggeest doing extreme repairs on your own, as you could potentially cause more destruction. An excess of nails/holes is a guarenteed way of losing money from your security deposit; we recommend using command strips to lessen the wall damage around your rental home.
LEASE TERMS
Another fool-proof way to get the security deposit returned is to stay for the duration of the lease (given there are no other underlying physical issues). As most leases state, breaking the terms will automatically forfeit the deposit, due to the urgent costs that are caused by not staying the full lease term. Owners and investors plan accordingly with the lease, so when it ends abruptly early, it can cause financial stress.
If something happens and you need to end your lease early, talk with your Property Manager and discuss your options. Depending on how extreme your case is, some PMs will be willing to work with you and make some type of deal, which would allow you to have some leniency. But, generally, there is no way around getting your security deposit back if you end your lease early.
Leaving your rental home in a disastrous state is a surefire way to lose your security deposit. By simply cleaning out all your belongings, ensuring the home is in somewhat of a clean state, and repairing any minor damages, there is a higher chance that you will get your deposit returned.
As property managers, we understand there will be generic wear and tear around the home. It does not have to be perfect, but it is much appreciated when an effort is made to help us out after you leave!
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.
