Retrieved: August 3, 2015 From: www.bing.com
If you pay rent monthly for your home, you know that getting a check for your security deposit is your winning ticket right after moving out. Sometimes we don’t end up with the entire amount we initially paid out and depending on your lease terms, you may not get anything back at all. Yikes! Here’s what to do in your home NOW to prevent this from happening to you:
- Document everything!
So you signed the lease, congratulations! Before you offload your furniture and get settled in, take as many photos as possible. This is the first step to protecting yourself against any issues that may occur after you move out. Documenting everything dent, scratch and malfunction in your new home and emailing your landlord will have you both on the same page in terms of the condition of your new home prior to you moving in.
- Hire a master painter
If you’re already moved in and settled, relax. Hang up your favorite artwork, put the curtains up, and make your humble abode fabulous. Just remember to hire someone to come in and give the place a fresh coat of paint before your lease ends. The holes made from hanging up your artwork will need filling. Head over to your local hardware store to buy some spackle and patch the holes. When choosing paint, be sure to ask your landlord for the SKU number and precise paint color, finish and brand.
Your landlord will do another paint job and walk through, but it won’t be on your dime.
- Carpet cleaning
If you live in an apartment that has wall to wall carpets, preventing stains can prevent your landlord from deducting about a hundred dollars from your deposit. Add extra rugs in high-traffic areas like the door and walkways. If you have kids, make sure eating is done in a designated eating area to avoid juice spills on light carpets. Vacuuming regularly or having the carpets cleaned will preserve the life of the carpet.
Written By: Lungi Moore, Staff Writer, Modern Domestic