Every tenant wants to get the most deposit back at the end of the lease right? There are a few things you can do to make sure you are getting back as much as possible.
Make sure there is no damage to the any of the property, walls, appliances, blinds, exterior, etc. Using products like Command hooks to hang decorations and pictures is a great alternative to using nails.
Having all of the light bulbs working is another area that you may not think about when moving out but it does make a big difference. If you have quite a few bulbs that need to be replaced those dollars can really add up.
A cleaning fee is pretty typical after moving out of a rental, however, you can decrease this fee if you leave it clean. By cleaning it before you move out you decrease the amount of time that the cleaning company has to spend there. On the other hand, if you don't leave it clean it can cost even more than normal for excessive cleaning fees.
If you have damaged something you have a couple of options. 1st, you can expect the cost of fixing the damage to be deducted from your deposit. 2nd, some Landlords will work with you so if you talk to them and see if you can find a licensed contractor to fix any damage you could have the option of shopping around and potentially finding a better price but the work has to be completed before you move out.
If you are thinking of making any permanent changes to your rental like painting, you will definitely want to talk to your Landlord beforehand because those can be costly if they need to be changed back after you move out.
In the end good Landlords will want to give you back as much of your deposit as possible and by law they are required to refund anything not used to turn the unit from your occupancy. It is very important to do a Move In Checklist to account for any damage or random things you may notice once you move in. Keeping a copy of this till your deposit refund is settled could be helpful in making sure you are getting back the most possible.
At Utah Property Solutions we like to help the tenant get the most back from their refund and which also helps the Landlord
