If you're like the millions of
Americans who rent a house or apartment, you're probably familiar with the
concept of getting your deposit back after you move out. Sometimes that deposit
is worth a month or more in rent, so it's safe to say it is a large sum of
money. If you look back at your original renter's agreement, it's typical to
come across some rules that allows a landlord or property manager to keep a
portion of your deposit (or all of it) to cover the cost of 'damages' that may
exist upon you leaving. With that in mind, you are going to want to do
everything you can before you move out to ensure the unit is in top condition
so you can get all of your deposit money back. Here are a few ways to increase
that chance!
1. DIY Fixes
More than
likely your rental unit was quite lived
in, meaning it's not 100% up to par when it comes to cosmetics. There might be
scruffs on the walls, nail holes from hanging pictures and a few stains on the
carpet. If that's the case, you want to try and fix these minor issues because
you can almost bet that those small blemishes will be heavily deducted from
your deposit. Head to the local home improvement store and buy some spackling
supplies to take care of the holes in the walls. While you're at it, rent (or
purchase) a rug cleaner to give those carpets a much needed refresh and try
good old fashioned elbow grease to rid the scuffs from the furniture.
2. Hire A Handyman
For the fixes
that require more serious work, hire a handyman! If you've accidently put a
hole through the wall from moving the couch or if the door knob swung back too
fast and went through to the other room, a handyman can surely help. Replacing dry
wall can be a little more hands on, which is why you can have someone who is
experienced fix the wall instead of letting the landlord see the damage and
inflate the estimated repair costs.
3. Cleaning Services
One of the
best things you can do, even if you can't fix that little hole in the wall, is hire cleaning services in Austin. Schedule the cleaning service to come in as
soon as you remove all of your belongings because they will be able to see
every nook and cranny that's filled with grime and dirt. They can give your
rental unit a top to bottom cleaning that will make it less likely for the
landlord to come up with a reason to take money out of your deposit.
Additionally, have the cleaning service come to your new address for a full
scrub because you won't ever know who lived there before you and the best
feeling is a clean feeling!
These three
tips could help you get all of your deposit back, so be sure that your unit is
in the same condition as it was when you first moved in.
