No renter wants to go into a situation where they put one month’s rent down up front as a security deposit and then finds that they don’t get most of it back upon vacating a property. It’s a substantial chunk of change that can easily go towards a future month’s rent or other expenses. It’s not easy to swallow losing your security deposit, so set yourself up for success as a renter in order to get your security deposit back. There are several things you can do in order to get the most money returned, and treat a house for rent like it’s your own home. Keep these tips in mind to see the best possible security deposit return when you move out of your rental.
Clean as You Go
There is nothing worse than coming to the end of a lease and realizing you not only have to pack and relocate all of your belongings, but that you also have to clean the property from top to bottom. This can be made much easier if you stay on top of your cleaning during the entirety of the lease. Make sure to clean your basics every couple of weeks and then pick detailing projects roughly once a month. Consider tasks such as cleaning the baseboards or wiping down the blinds every now and again so that when it comes to that final cleaning, it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
Repair Damage
We’ve all seen a time where a kid tripped, fell right into a wall and the drywall decided to give way to a small hole. Or the dog got up in the front window blinds, breaking two slates while barking at the mailman. While you could wait and have the property manager take the cost of repairs out of your security deposit, if you are able to fix the damage ahead of time, it’s probably worth the effort. Repairs will typically cost you much less if you do them well yourself, and then the issue is resolved early, versus upon move out. Ideally, you’d do everything in your power to avoid damage to the property, but we understand that accidents happen. Another option is to pay for the repair when it happens, versus waiting for after the move out for it to be charged to your security deposit.
Care for the Yard
When you’re renting a house, there’s an expectation that you will care for the yard unless the owners pay for a lawn care company. More often than not, you’re going to be responsible for watering, mowing, and weeding the yard. Failure to take care of any of these tasks can quickly result in a reduction in the security deposit. Take time to care for the yard in a reasonable fashion and you won’t have to worry about money being deducted from the security deposit.
Here at Real Property Management Central Arkansas, we strive to work with our renters in order to take the best possible care of all the properties we supervise. Keep these tips in mind when you move into a house for rent in the Jonesboro area and you’ll do great!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
