Move-Out Checklist for Leaving Your Apartment
Maybe you’re making the leap from renting to owning a home. Maybe you’re getting hitched and are off to settle down with your spouse-to-be. Maybe it’s just time to make a change. Whatever the reason, the only way to get to the next chapter of your life is to get through a massive obstacle: moving day.
But moving can be daunting between the paperwork, your things, and getting your hands on a new place. But with this handy move-out checklist for leaving your apartment, you’ll make it through the ordeal.
Have a Chat With Your Landlord
As soon as you know the moving date, it’s important to give your landlord and leasing company written notice, even if you don’t plan on moving for months. That way, your landlord can start looking for someone to replace you. You should also sit down and have a discussion with them about the logistics of your move. Here are a few items to bring up in your chat:
- Any outstanding bills you owe them
- When they want your last rent check
- Whether you will get your security deposit back
- When they’ll perform their inspection
- When they want you to move out by
Along with the landlord, you’ll also need to contact your utility companies to get some services switched over and others shut off completely.
Prepare the Apartment
Your goal is to leave your apartment as close to the condition you found it in as possible. Depending on your experience living in the apartment, this can be an intensive job, so it’s best to start early. Along with the normal tasks you’d perform if you were cleaning, make sure you add these tasks to your to-do list:
- Clean out the refrigerator
- Scrub the stove
- Dust and vacuum the spaces under the furniture
- Clean out any cobwebs
- Wipe down the cabinets
Additionally, you will need to repair damages that you may have caused while living in the apartment. For example, if you nailed a hole in the wall to hang a picture, you’ll want to remove to nail, repair the damaged wall, and repaint it.
Walk Through on Moving Day
Doing all your apartment prep work will make the moving day easier. However, there is still plenty to do that day. Here’s a list to follow when leaving your apartment on moving day.
- Take a last walk through with the landlord
- Check closets, shelves, and cabinets for forgotten belongings
- Clear any last food out of the fridge
- Sweep the floors
- Turn in your key
It’s a lot of work, closing one chapter and moving on to another. When you take the steps you need to take to move well, you will make that transition to the new chapter smoother.
