5 Surefire Tips for Getting Your Rent Deposit Back
Saturday, March 10, 2018, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
You are all excited about getting into a new apartment. You can practically smell the new carpet and paint smell in the back of your mind. It is going to be great, because you will have friends, family and may even have that special someone spend the night.
But, before you move your bags in, there are a few things you need to think about so that you can get your security deposit back when it comes time to execute your exit strategy.
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A Word on Property Management Companies
Before you sign a lease, it is your duty to do your due diligence and check into the background of the property management company who is holding your lease. You want to work with a company that has a good reputation in this area.
If you’re not sure what a property management company like Robert Cottingham Property Management Co‘s policies are, be sure to ask them.
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Take Pictures
Whenever you move into a new rental, always go through and take extensive pictures of the state the rental property or apartment is in before you first sign a lease. It is best to use a camera that date and time stamps pictures for authentication purposes. This is to protect yourself against any preexisting damage to the rental being charged to you later: when it comes time to move out of the rental.
If you have no evidence, you will be left at the mercy of the lease holder. That is always a bad idea. Taking pictures at the end of your lease period is also advisable, because you can show both sets of pictures in a comparative fashion in your defense. This is especially helpful if the later pictures show that the rental looks better when you are leaving than it did when you moved in to the place.
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No Pets
When renting it is best to have no pets. Pets get fur in carpets, leave urine smells behind, damage walls and can be at the heart of why you may lose some or all of your security deposit.
By not having any pets, you remove a huge liability and will have a much greater chance of walking away with more of your own money.
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Get Rid of Mold
Mold can make an apartment smell bad. It can also be a cause for a lease holder to have a professional cleaner come in on your dime. Before you move out, make sure you get rid of any mold spots you can find. You will save more of your own money that way.
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Other Common Protective Measures
Covering rugs with runners, and covering walls to prevent scrapes and stains is also a great idea. In fact, renting an apartment without rugs is better. Generally it is easier to keep hard floors cleaner.
Also, take full advantage of any obligatory cleaning services your lease holder offers on contract, because that is a free cleaning before your final walk through that can help get the place looking great. Remember, looks are everything during that final walk through prior to moving.
Conclusion
When you reach the end of your lease, your lease holder will be going over your rental with a careful eye. Any damage to the rental they can charge you for will be taken out of your security deposit. If you prevent damage to the rental and clean well throughout your stay, chances are you can recover most, if not all, of your security deposit upon departure.
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