Checking Out
(1) Please give me as much notice as possible regarding the date and time you plan to vacate. It's extremely helpful for me to know if you plan to stay until the very end of your lease or if you plan to leave a few days early.
(2) You must make arrangements with me regarding disposition of keys. Do not give them to a housemate, leave them behind, or take them with you.
(2) You must make arrangements with me regarding disposition of keys. Do not give them to a housemate, leave them behind, or take them with you.
Preparing for Departure
(1) Preparing: Start cleaning and disposing of trash and recyclables several weeks before departure. Cleaning and packing will take longer than you expect, so start early. Purchase cleaning supplies in advance. Throw unwanted items away in the weeks leading up to your departure. If you are on an individual lease, do not leave your housemates with excess trash and recyclables. If you rented an entire house, do not leave ANY trash or recycling behind.
(2) Change of Address: Fill out a change of address form with the US Post Office (this can be done online). If you want me to forward mail that still gets delivered, provide me with address labels with your new address. Otherwise, all mail will be returned to sender.
(3) Security Deposits: Security deposits will be returned via US mail once all final utility bills are paid. Since you won't be able to make payments through apartments.com after your lease ends, you can send final utility payments through Venmo to [email protected]. After you pay the final utility bills, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject "Security Deposit Address" and include the address where you want me to send your security deposit. Please note in the email if you want the check made out to someone other than yourself.
(4) Cleaning: If you are on an individual lease, your room and assigned common spaces must be in the exact same condition as when your lease started. This means they must be thoroughly cleaned. The key word is thoroughly. If they are not 100% ready for the next person, professional cleaners will hired and the cost will be deducted from your security deposit.
(5) Personal Items: All personal items must be removed from the premises.
(6) Furniture: All furniture must be returned to it's original location. This includes items you may have moved within your room as well as items you may have moved out of your room and stored in the basement. If you want to leave any furniture behind, you must obtain prior approval.
(7) Walls: Walls should be free of damage. Holes (from nails, pushpins, tacks, screws, etc.), missing paint, remaining adhesives, or any other damage will be repaired, and the cost deducted from your security deposit. Do not attempt to repair walls with toothpaste – if you do you will be charged for toothpaste removal.
(8) Trash/Recycling: Please plan ahead and start throwing away unwanted items a few weeks before you move out. If you are on an individual lease and leave behind excess amounts of trash that is beyond what your housemates can reasonably put out for trash or recycling that week, you will be charged for private trash/recycling pick up. If you rented an entire house, you must remove all trash and recycling before you leave since there won't be anyone available to put out your trash or recycling. Do NOT put the trash and recycling bins out and then just move out. If you do, they will likely be lost, and you will be charged for replacement.
(2) Change of Address: Fill out a change of address form with the US Post Office (this can be done online). If you want me to forward mail that still gets delivered, provide me with address labels with your new address. Otherwise, all mail will be returned to sender.
(3) Security Deposits: Security deposits will be returned via US mail once all final utility bills are paid. Since you won't be able to make payments through apartments.com after your lease ends, you can send final utility payments through Venmo to [email protected]. After you pay the final utility bills, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject "Security Deposit Address" and include the address where you want me to send your security deposit. Please note in the email if you want the check made out to someone other than yourself.
(4) Cleaning: If you are on an individual lease, your room and assigned common spaces must be in the exact same condition as when your lease started. This means they must be thoroughly cleaned. The key word is thoroughly. If they are not 100% ready for the next person, professional cleaners will hired and the cost will be deducted from your security deposit.
- Bedroom: Floors must be vacuumed or swept, furniture must be wiped down, baseboards and windowsills must be cleaned and free of all dirt and dust, mattress covers must be washed and put back on the bed.
- Bathroom: shower and/or tub must be clean and free of all dirt, soap scum and mold, toilets must be cleaned inside and out, sink must be cleaned, mirror must be cleaned, tub and sink faucets must be cleaned, floor must be swept (if wood) or mopped (if tile or vinyl). Shower curtains and liners must be washed. If you did not keep the bathroom clean throughout your stay, it may be very difficult to remove some built-up dirt, and professional cleaning may be required.
- Kitchen: your assigned cabinets, refrigerator space, and freezer space must be emptied and thoroughly cleaned. Your assigned dishes must be washed and returned to the cabinet. (Let me know if any dishes must be replaced.)
(5) Personal Items: All personal items must be removed from the premises.
- Bedroom/bathroom: All personal items should be removed from the bedroom and bathroom. This includes books, school supplies, soap, shampoo, trash, etc. If there is something you genuinely think the next resident would want, you must obtain prior approval to leave it behind. (You can leave behind toilet paper and cleaning supplies.)
- Kitchen: All personal items must be removed - no exceptions! This includes frozen food, canned food, packaged food, spices, condiments, bottled drinks, storage containers, etc. If you are giving any of these items away to your remaining housemates, they must put them in their own space before you leave.
- Basement/other common areas: All personal items must be removed. This includes boxes, luggage, etc.
(6) Furniture: All furniture must be returned to it's original location. This includes items you may have moved within your room as well as items you may have moved out of your room and stored in the basement. If you want to leave any furniture behind, you must obtain prior approval.
(7) Walls: Walls should be free of damage. Holes (from nails, pushpins, tacks, screws, etc.), missing paint, remaining adhesives, or any other damage will be repaired, and the cost deducted from your security deposit. Do not attempt to repair walls with toothpaste – if you do you will be charged for toothpaste removal.
(8) Trash/Recycling: Please plan ahead and start throwing away unwanted items a few weeks before you move out. If you are on an individual lease and leave behind excess amounts of trash that is beyond what your housemates can reasonably put out for trash or recycling that week, you will be charged for private trash/recycling pick up. If you rented an entire house, you must remove all trash and recycling before you leave since there won't be anyone available to put out your trash or recycling. Do NOT put the trash and recycling bins out and then just move out. If you do, they will likely be lost, and you will be charged for replacement.
Security Deposit Deductions
It is my sincere hope to return everyone's security deposit in full. However, the following deductions will be made if necessary:
Stained or missing mattress covers - $50 each (most beds have two mattress covers)
Stained mattress - $400/twin $600/full $800/queen
Missing dishes or cutlery - $2 per missing piece if not reported prior to move-out
Stained or missing curtains - $50 per panel
Moved furniture - $50 per item
Disposal of food/beverages/condiments/spices/etc. - $5 per item
Disposal of other small items (books/shampoo/etc.) - $5 per item
Disposal of large/heavy items - $50 per item
Cleaning of bedroom, bathroom, kitchen cabinets, refrigerator/freezer space, etc. - Actual cost of last minute professional cleaning (usually ranges from $130 - $150 but will depend on the extent of the cleaning required). Fee will be lower if scheduled in advance, so please consider this option if you don't think you will be able to clean thoroughly.
Excess trash or recycling from move-out - $100
Stained, damaged, or missing furniture - Actual repair or replacement cost.
Damage to walls or paint - Actual cost to repair. Depending on the extent of the damage, this may require repainting entire wall or walls.
Damage to floors - Actual cost to repair or replace.
Other damage - Actual cost to repair or replace.
Note: **The most common security deposit deductions are for insufficient cleaning and damage to walls**
Stained or missing mattress covers - $50 each (most beds have two mattress covers)
Stained mattress - $400/twin $600/full $800/queen
Missing dishes or cutlery - $2 per missing piece if not reported prior to move-out
Stained or missing curtains - $50 per panel
Moved furniture - $50 per item
Disposal of food/beverages/condiments/spices/etc. - $5 per item
Disposal of other small items (books/shampoo/etc.) - $5 per item
Disposal of large/heavy items - $50 per item
Cleaning of bedroom, bathroom, kitchen cabinets, refrigerator/freezer space, etc. - Actual cost of last minute professional cleaning (usually ranges from $130 - $150 but will depend on the extent of the cleaning required). Fee will be lower if scheduled in advance, so please consider this option if you don't think you will be able to clean thoroughly.
Excess trash or recycling from move-out - $100
Stained, damaged, or missing furniture - Actual repair or replacement cost.
Damage to walls or paint - Actual cost to repair. Depending on the extent of the damage, this may require repainting entire wall or walls.
Damage to floors - Actual cost to repair or replace.
Other damage - Actual cost to repair or replace.
Note: **The most common security deposit deductions are for insufficient cleaning and damage to walls**