As a renter, I’ve dealt with my fair share of frustrating move-outs. Usually, I am told to leave the apartment clean and turn in my keys and parking pass, then they’ll send me my deposit. It’s meant to sound simple, though in actuality is anything but.
From the renter perspective, I try to leave the apartment in good condition but there’s always something I get dinged for. Then landlords get frustrated because they have a very different idea of what the resident is supposed to do before they move out, but it didn’t get done. Yet neither side talks to the other much about what is expected.
That’s more angst than necessary.
So here is my simple solution for landlords - spell out every single detail of what you want your tenant to do on move-out and how it affects their deposit.
Ninety percent of your tenants will be grateful for it. Really. No one likes to guess what the other person wants.
Not sure what to include? Here are some thoughts for a list to get you started-
What needs returned - keys, parking pass, that drill you let them borrow…
So what does a detailed move-out list have to do with deposits?
Deposits have three purposes
Help cover the costs of damage tenants may inflict on the unit
Cover missing rent in case they bail
Incentive to leave the property in good condition
To end, let’s focus on that last item. Your resident already knows they may not get the full deposit back for X reason, but they have no idea what that reason is. When you give them the move-out list, tell them what those reasons could be. If you end up having to clean something, let them know what the cost would be. If a piece of furniture is missing or a light bulb hasn’t been replaced, let them know the cost of those items as well. The deposit is the motivation for tenants to leave the unit in tip-top shape.
When you take the guess work out of move-outs and deposits, everything will run a lot smoother.
