After you’ve lived in your rental unit for a while, there will come a time when you have to move out and find another place to live, either because you’re moving away or the lease has run out and you need to leave. While this might seem like an easy enough task, there are actually some steps that you should take before you go and make it as painless as possible for yourself. Here are some things that you should do when moving out of your rental home.
These processes vary between states and will also depend on your landlords requirements so make sure you read your lease and contact your landlord or relevant state tenancy authority.
- Remove all belongings
Be sure to take everything with you when you leave. This sounds like an obvious statement, but many renters forget things when they move out. If you can’t fit it all in your car, rent a storage unit and use it as a temporary home for your belongings. Renters typically get 24 hours after their lease expires to remove their belongings from their rental property, so plan ahead! Some landlords may extend that deadline up to three days if you ask—so there is no harm in asking.
2. Clean the house thoroughly
Sure, it seems obvious that you should clean before you move out, but many people forget this. Some people choose to do the bond clean themselves, but many just prefer to pay a professional. Even if you are going to pay a professional bond cleaner, you should ensure your house is sufficiently clean before you move out.
3. Get a bond clean
You can do a bond clean yourself but many people opt to pay a bond cleaner. Some landlords require you to pay for a bond cleaner. If you’re going to do it yourself make sure you’re cleaning every surface. This includes skirting boards, walls, windows and doors, the exterior of the house and inside of cupboards/drawers.
4. Get a pest control treatment
Most rental agreements require you to pay for a pest control treatment at the end of your lease. The requirements vary between landlords but generally an end of lease pest control treatment consists of treatment for cockroaches, ants, spiders and fleas (particularly if you had pets living with you). If you’re in the Fraser Coast region and need an end of lease pest control service, contact us on 0428 420 667.
5. Carpet cleaning
Like pest control and bond cleaning, it is usually a requirement that you have an end of lease carpet clean (if your rental has carpets). Here at Ivey’s Carpet Cleaning and Pest Control we offer discounts when multiple services are bundled together. We are a local family owned and operated business servicing the entire Fraser Coast including Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Tiaro and surrounds. Call us today on 0428 420 667 or fill out our quote request form here.
6. Complete exit condition report
At the start of your tenancy you would’ve completed an entry condition report where you recorded anything that was damaged, broken, missing or stained. An exit condition report is similar to this. Don’t forget to have the photos ready from your entry condition report for comparison.
7. Organise to terminate and transfer any utilities accounts
Something many people forget is to organise with their utilities company that they’re moving out. Whether you need to cancel your energy and water or just transfer internet to your new house, make sure you don’t forget to tick these things off your list or you could be left paying for someone else’s usage.
8. Hand in the keys and get your bond back
The last thing to do is to hand the keys in and get your bond back. Usually the RTA will refund your bond within 3 days of you vacating the property however this may vary in certain circumstances.
