Getting your security deposit back is a legitimate concern for a lot of renters. Aside from the typical cleaning, there are some key factors that renters should know about to protect themselves and their money.
1. Document and Notify
First time renters often feel uneasy about taking pictures or otherwise documenting issues with the rental when they first move in. Please understand that WE WILL NOT BE OFFENDED if you photograph or videotape and bring to our attention any issues that are going on inside the house either before moving in or during your lease period. We understand that problems arise, and it is better to be on the same page from beginning to end. Developing a mutual understanding of what you may be responsible for is an essential part of any lessee/lessor relationship. In fact, we give two full weeks from the time you move in to notify us of any issues with the rental. We can decide together whether it is something that needs to be fixed or just noted on the agreement so that you are not responsible.
2. Ongoing Care
Try not to wait until the last week to fix everything that may be broken in the house, and don’t rely on a cleaning service to fix things that are better treated as preventative measures in the first place. Treating things like regular cleaning, landscaping, and simple maintenance as ongoing responsibilities is the best way to ensure that the rental will be in good condition when you move out.
3. Do the Walk-Through
At the end of the lease, the hands-down safest bet for getting back the security deposit is to do a walk-through. We will discuss problem areas and give the renter the opportunity to correct any issues, or quote a price for a third party to do so. The typical rate for cleaning from our cleaners is around $30/hour. We can tell you approximately how long we think it will take, and work with you to find the best solution for everyone. We highly recommend scheduling this walk through a week in advance of the end of the lease to ensure a time that works best for your schedule.
4. Prepare for the Unavoidable
It is our practice to clean the carpets and drapes between each renter. This is unfortunately a cost that cannot be avoided, no matter how strict your “No Shoes†policy. However, the good news is, like our cleaning service, we have agreements with carpet cleaners in town that are typically half of what a renter might pay on their own.
5. Watch Out For
We’ve seen it all, but there are a few things we see more often than others – dirty or broken light fixtures, dirty window tracks, and broken towel bars are some of the most frequent issues that we come across.
We Want You to Be Happy
Ultimately, we want our renters to be happy with their home. If you feel that you are not being treated fairly, or that the rental is not up to par, we want to know about it. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. We have a variety of avenues for our renters to reach us – you can use the Contact Us page of our website, Facebook Page, or call us directly.