Moving day is typically a pretty stressful yet exciting time in anyone’s life. From finding the perfect new home to making sure kids are enrolled in new schools, so many things need to be taken care of. It can often feel a bit overwhelming. Sometimes, it is so overwhelming that we forget there are things to do at our current home before we leave. That is why we have found the top five things everyone should do before moving out of their rental home.

Create a Schedule

One of the top things that can help alleviate some of the stresses of moving is to create a schedule that everyone can stick to. First on the schedule should be the day you must remember to have the utilities switched to your new location. Be careful not to get them switched too early; otherwise, you may find yourself without working electricity, which can be a nightmare.

Another thing that you may find helpful in creating a schedule is packing your belongings—everything from kid’s clothing to the contents of your sink (if you take them). Ensure everyone knows the schedule and, most importantly, has everything prepared when moving day comes.

Go Over Your Lease

Before beginning the moving out process, we strongly recommend giving your lease a once over to ensure you’ve helped up your obligations as listed in the agreement. The biggest thing to take into consideration is your security deposit. What are all the terms that surround the return of your deposit? If this includes fixing damage or giving proper notice, you need to make sure you are paying close attention. This is a signed contractual agreement, and you must ensure you are fulfilling your part of that agreement.

Repair Any Damage

If you have lived in your rental home for a long time, there is a pretty good chance you and your family have caused some wear and tear. You want to make sure you check out the flooring. If it is hardwood or laminate flooring, look for damage that did not exist at the time of move-in. If it is carpet, do the same thing. It is important to locate these areas; if you cannot fix them, report them to your landlord. If you find anything that can be repaired, you want to ensure you do this.

Repaint Walls

Once you have repaired any damage, painting all the walls is usually extremely helpful. Even if there wasn’t extensive damage that needed fixing, it is often smart to paint the place back to how it was when you moved in.

Clean

Once you have packed, repaired, and painted, it is time to clean, clean, clean. Once you have cleaned your rental home, look it over for missed spots and clean those. Sometimes, living by the thought process is important, “If you’ve cleaned it once, it is time to clean it again.” Nothing is “too much” when discussing getting your security deposit back.

If you have any questions about your current rental agreement, it is important to ask your landlord for clarification. This will ensure that you know exactly what to do before you move out to get your deposit back.

Buckeye Northwest Realty works closely with our tenants to ensure everyone is on the same page come moving day, however if you have any questions please feel free to contact us today!