A Checklist of Things That are Your Responsibility When Moving Out
People relocate for many reasons such as new jobs, lower rent, new desires, studies, more space, etc. So apartment renting is usually a short-term thing, typically between one or two years. There can be more than one reason to move, but whatever the case is, it’s undeniably a harrowing ordeal. The good thing is that house renters can downscale this complex task into a simpler and easier task by knowing their responsibilities and planning ahead of time to move out.
There’s plenty of advice that you can follow to help you move out of a rented apartment without stress. While there are a few things that might be beyond your power immediately, the bulk of them falls at your desk. To make it easier, create a checklist of your responsibilities before you move out and start doing them ahead. According to an essay writer, here are a few of them.
Go through the lease agreement again.
One of the first things to do before moving out is to review the lease agreement that you signed when you were renting the property to have a good idea of how you can end your lease.
You’ll have to check the rules surrounding moving out of the property, utility transfers, maintenance obligations, etc. This might vary based on the type of rental agreement that you have in place. Also, property managers and rental agencies have different requirements and policies. This is why you need to recheck the agreement before making a move.
This would determine how long ahead you need to notify the landlord before moving out (usually a month ahead). After reviewing the agreement, you’ll have more idea of your responsibilities. Hence, you can give a deadline for each task before moving out.
Notify your landlord and other relevant persons
Before you start moving out, your landlord and other relevant persons should receive a moving-out notice from you beforehand. This is not a part of the lease agreement, but it is very important too. If you’re moving because of poor conditions or because the environment isn’t conducive, you should state these reasons and complaints when writing to your landlord. You may incur additional costs breaking your lease agreement.
Be sure to send texts or reach out through different means to your family and friends. You would also need to inform your bank that you’ve moved or other companies that deliver mails to your resident about the address change. You should also arrange for phone/cable/utility services to your new house to avoid interruptions after you move in.
Fix repairs and damages
You should inspect the whole house while you’re planning to move out. This will make it possible for you to find or remind you of damages in the house so you can fix them before you take your leave. These final repairs aren’t something that you can avoid or neglect. And if you fail to do it by yourself, your landlord will still charge you for it, and he’ll charge you way more than you’ll spend if you do it by yourself. This is why you should take it upon yourself to fix that door, tiles, ceiling, etc. It won’t cost you much to outsource this work to contractors for flooring. The truth is, you might not be able to do it all by yourself. Be sure to keep the receipts of the repairs that you do and the cost of everything. Also, make sure you restore the wall to the way you got it when you moved in. If you made any designs for the wall, don’t leave it that way; change the paints of the wall back to how it was. Contact painters here.
Housing laws don’t often require that tenants repair regular cracks and other signs of natural deterioration on the floor. However, if it’s serious damage or there are several damages to the floor, then you’ll have to repair it by yourself.
Offset all your bills
If there are any bills or charges that are unpaid, your landlord reserves the right to offset these bills with your deposit money. So you must make sure you pay all fees and taxes before you start moving out - utility bills (electricity, water, and gas), waste management, service fees (including cable TV, internet, and phone services), etc.
It’s your responsibility to inform the service providers that you patronize about your plans to move out so that they can disconnect you immediately (this might depend on the agreement you have with your landlord, though). Informing them of your new location and inviting them to fix it in your new house will make things more convenient for you.
Lastly, take time to take photographs of all readings, water, gas, and electricity before moving out to serve as proof.
Clean the house
Cleaning is an essential part of the moving-out process. No matter how much of a housekeeper you think you are, there are still some parts of your house that you must have neglected while you lived there. Start with pulling out the refrigerator and stove and cleaning them thoroughly, including the areas around them. Thoroughly check all the nooks and corners of the house for proper cleaning.
The bathroom is another place that you need to check and make sure that it’s sparkling clean. Check the bathtub, toilet bowls, wall tiles, ceiling, fixtures, etc.
Go over some of the parts of your kitchen that you don’t use often. Check the oven and the hood on top of the stove. Many parts of your house will likely need deep cleansing. Do a thorough cleaning of the house, from the parts you clean daily to the abandoned parts. Remove the curtains, clean the window blinds, cabinets, remove the refrigerator, clean that spot where it was, etc. You can get help with the cleaning service here.
Conclusion
When moving out of a rented apartment, there are responsibilities that you must fulfill. While there are a lot of them, some of them are already discussed in this article.
Author Bio
Leon Collier is a blogger from the UK who loves to write about everything: pop culture, history, travel, self-development, education, marketing. He also works for an assignment writing service where he provides dissertation writing services. When not writing, you can find him behind a book or playing tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.
