When you start a new lease there’s a good chance that you’ll have to pay a security deposit to the landlord for them to keep in case anything gets damaged while you live there. Wondering if you’ll get your security deposit back doesn’t need to be a stressful situation, as long as you take the proper steps from day 1. We’re going to discuss some of the things you can do right when you move in, through the day that you move out, to make sure you get your security deposit back.
Take Pictures the Day You Move In
If you want to get your security deposit back when you move out, the process starts the day you move in. Before you even bring any items into the home, you’re going to want to do a thorough walkthrough of the place and take photos of any existing damage. We suggest going as far as testing all the faucets, toilets and showers to check for issues or leaks. Once you’ve compiled photos/a list of all of the imperfections, save it and send it to your landlord to make note that these issues were pre-existing. It will go a long way once it’s time to move out.
Update Landlord with Any Issues or Enhancements
During the time that you love in a home, you should update your landlord any time an issue occurs, immediately. If you end up fixing the small issue yourself, keep note of that and the expense that you were incurred by handling the repair. If you make any upgrades to the home (Fresh paint, small repairs, etc.) be sure to make note of those as well.
Fix Small Damage Yourself
A great way to get your security depost back is to make small repairs to damage caused by you or your family/friends. This means if there are small holes in the wall or scuffs on the floor, handle these on your own without asking your landlord to pay for them. The amount of money it will cost you to fix small problems vs. what your landlord could potentially charge you to fix them is a very large gap. You don’t want to take that risk. Also, a great preventative measure is to use command hooks that you can find at any big box store to hang items in your home instead of putting holes in walls. They’re very affordable and easy to use.
Clean to Get Your Security Deposit Back
If you want to get your security deposit back, clean EVERYTHING thoroughly before you move out. Do a final check of all of the closet areas and cabinets as well where you may accidentally leave items behind. Your landlord could hit you with either a cleaning or a trash disposal fee if you leave items behind that they need to get rid of for you.
We hope that this post will help you get your security deposit back when its time for you to move out. If you’re interested in receiving a moving or storage estimate for FREE from our team here at Your Move, just fill out our Moving Request Form and we’ll be happy to assist you.
