Moving Out Tips for Renters

Are you ready to get incredibly organized and prepared for your move?

Follow these tips and hopefully everything will go smoothly. 🤞

1. Review Your Lease Agreement

This is VITAL. Make sure you understand your lease agreement WHEN you sign it!

The worst situation we were in was our very first lease agreement we signed together back in the mid 90’s. We signed a 15 month lease with NO OUT.

We just assumed we would be staying in Oxford, MS but life happened and we had to move. We couldn’t find anyone to sublet and the owner wouldn’t budge.

We went back one time to check on the place and he was storing his stuff in it! In retrospect we should have made a big stink about it, but we were so out-done and almost through paying that rent that we just stewed in silence.

• Check for move-out requirements: Some leases require specific cleaning tasks, notice periods, or repairs before vacating. Make sure you know what is require!
• Determine how much notice is required: Usually 30 or 60 days’ notice must be given to the landlord in writing. Most of our leases were the 60 day notices.

2. Provide Written Notice to Your Landlord

Do everything in writing…Get EVERYTHING in writing!

• Give proper notice: Ensure you notify your landlord according to the terms of your lease.
• Include moving-out date: Clearly state when you will be vacating the property to avoid misunderstandings. The last thing you need is to be locked in your new lease/home and have had a miscommunication with your old landlord!

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3. Clean the Property Thoroughly

• Deep clean the entire space: Vacuum carpets, floors, bathrooms, and kitchen appliances.
  • If the carpet is really bad from pets or mishaps, you might want to rent a carpet cleaner and go the extra mile!
• Address any damage: Patch holes in the walls, fix minor repairs, and make sure everything is in its original condition.
  • If you have drywall issues, here’s what I’ve done in the past – find a VERY inconspicuous spot and cut a 2″ square from the drywall – just the paper part – and take it to a paint store to match the paint. That way you can repair any wall damage and paint over it. They’ll never know!
• Hire a cleaning service if necessary: This might be very, very helpful to meet the cleaning expectations in your lease. Especially if you are not physically able to clean yourself!

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4. Document the Condition of the Property

• Take photos and videos: Capture the property’s condition as proof that it’s being left in good shape.
  • Hopefully, you’ve taken photos and videos of the condition before you moved it. If so, then you’ll have definite proof of how you’re leaving the property.
  • A video is really great because you can verbally explain any issues or remind the landlord of anything that was there when you moved in.
• Create an inventory list: Make note of any damages that existed prior to your occupancy to avoid being blamed for them.
  • Hopefully you did this when you moved in and have written documentation of that!

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5. Schedule a Move-Out Inspection

• Coordinate with your landlord: Arrange a move-out inspection to go over the property’s condition together.
  • If at all possible, make sure you are there for your walk-out inspection. Otherwise, there could be discrepancies that are difficult to prove.
• Fix any issues promptly: If the landlord finds anything that requires attention, address it before leaving.
  • If you are present with them, you will be able to immediately deal with any differences of opinion or claims that the landlord might make about he condition of the property.

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6. Cancel or Transfer Utilities

• Contact utility companies: Be sure to give notice to any gas, electricity, water, and internet providers about your move.
• Transfer services to your new address: If you’re staying in the same service area, arrange for services to be transferred. That way you’ll have uninterrupted service and you probably won’t have to pay any deposit fees.
• Set termination dates: Make sure utilities are turned off after you leave to avoid extra charges.
  • Be sure to check your lease or with your landlord about dates. Sometimes they require termination on the day after your end date. It can be weird, but you need ot make sure you follow their instructions to the letter!

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7. Forward Your Mail

• Submit a change of address: Notify the post office of your move so that mail is forwarded to your new address.
  • You should be able to easily do this online!
• Update important contacts: Inform banks, employers, subscriptions, and other key services about your new address. Especially the banks…lol.
  • You might also want to send out a quick text message/email to your close friends and family with updates about your move and new address. You want to keep getting birthday cards!

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8. Remove All Your Belongings

• Clear out all personal items: Ensure nothing is left behind, including in closets, cabinets, and storage areas.
  • Check unexpected places like the dishwasher. I think I left some of my expensive dishes in our last move. But I didn’t hear from our realtor so 🤷‍♀️.
• Dispose of large items properly: If you’re leaving behind furniture or bulky items, check if there’s a disposal service you can use or donate them.
  • Sometimes the Salvation Army will come pick things up for you. Otherwise, find a friend with a truck. LOL

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9. Return the Keys

• Hand over allllll keys and access cards: Don’t forget spare keys, mailbox keys, or building access cards.
• Be 100% sure to follow your landlord’s instructions: Make sure you return everything on time to avoid penalties or delays in receiving your security deposit. Get that money back, yo.

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10. Get Your Security Deposit Back

• Ask for your deposit return: Inquire about when and how the deposit will be refunded (usually within 30 days).
  • This should be clearly specified in your lease agreement. FOLLOW up. Sometimes, they try to hold your money and that’s not cool.
• Provide your new address: Make sure the landlord knows where to send the check.
  • If you are local, you can go pick it up to make sure you get it!
• Dispute any deductions if necessary: If the landlord makes unreasonable deductions, negotiate or provide your documentation of the property’s condition.
  • One time, my landlord tried to claim I was habitually late on my rent. He tried to take my entire security deposit. That was not fun.
  • These days, lots of rental companies accept online payments which is great to prove it was paid on time. If I could go back, I would have paid in person, rather than the sketch drop box that was hanging on a fence!

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If you are keep detailed records and take care of the property, you shouldn’t have any issues.

If you run into any issues during the process, check your state laws. Every state is different.

If you live in Virginia, there is no such thing as self-help and you can’t do things like withhold your rent if the landlord isn’t fixing maintenance issues. Be sure you understand your state’s laws!

It can be frustrating when you have a shady landlord, but in my experience, if you have the concrete proof, they’re less likely to cause a problem when you move out!