Moving into your own apartment can be a defining moment as a young adult. But even though your apartment is all about freedom, you’re still living under the rule of your landlord.
Most landlords require their tenants to pay a security deposit that will be returned at the end of their lease. Of course, it will only be returned if the apartment is left as it was when the tenant moved in. Unfortunately, many first-time apartment renters discover how expensive wear and tear can be after they move out. If you want to get all of your money back, here’s how you can ensure you get your full deposit back.
Spackle and Paint
If you hung any photos or wall art up with nails, you’re going to want to fill in the holes. Head to your local hardware store and pick up some caulk, sandpaper, and caulk spreading tool. You can use these tools to fill in the holes. Then, take a can of paint and put a fresh coat over the walls. If you painted the walls a color of your choice and it’s in the lease to return the walls to a white shade, you’re going to have to do that before you leave.
If you don’t feel comfortable painting the entire wall, you can always ask the landlord how they would prefer you to cover up nail holes.
Don’t Leave Anything Behind!
You may think that it’s courteous to leave behind a roll of fresh toilet paper in the bathroom or brand new light bulbs for the new tenant. While you think it can help, the landlord might actually charge you to remove all of those leftover items from your old space. In fact, if the landlord has to remove any of your old belongings, they will likely charge you for garbage removal. If you really want to leave some things behind, reach out to your landlord and ask them if they’d prefer you leave things or take them with you instead.
Hire Custom Cleaning Services
Since moving can be a lot to handle, adding “apartment cleaning” to the list can make it even more difficult. But hiring a private cleaning service can help take the stress of cleaning off of your mind and ensure that you will get your security deposit back in full. An experienced maid service will know how to clean efficiently. The custom cleaning service also knows how to handle cleaning products safely, as they can be harmful to you. On average, there are more than 150 toxic substances linked to cancer that float around our homes from cleaning products. If you end up enjoying working with the cleaning team, you may choose to hire them as a same-day maid service for your future apartment or home.
To ensure you get your security deposit back, there are a few simple things you can do. For instance, hiring custom cleaning services, checking with your landlord to see if they want you leaving things behind, and covering up all damage you’ve made to the walls.
