Attn: people who have rented apartments

[ChicoRaton]

I have been cleaning my apartment like a madman today because I'm moving on sunday and I want my deposit back. If you have ever been docked because of things you missed when cleaning, what were they? I'm a guy, and I don't have that dirt-o-vision women seem to have...

[Dangerdoll]

make sure of course, there are no holes in the wall, nothing's broken. If there are picture hanging holes... spackle them.... if there is carpet, it's expected to have wear and tear but make sure there's no staining or burns from cigs, kitchen area is clean, bath is clean and you're good to go.

[jojo22]

I once was docked for burnt out light bulbs (IN A FREAKIN CLOSET) and not lifting the top of the stove to clean where the piolt lights are. My dad is a landlord so here are some other pointers. Toothpaste works good for nail holes, and a leaf rake makes the carpet look better which may take his mind of a speck of dirt here and there, also if you have the black air vent grates take them out and spray on a cheap coat of plack paint not that he would dock you but the better his first impression the better your chances. make sure you clean around cabinet handles and light switch and wall plug outlets too, these are places where dirt builds up so you may not notice it as much as he will.

[Omega]

I have been cleaning my apartment like a madman today because I'm moving on sunday and I want my deposit back. If you have ever been docked because of things you missed when cleaning, what were they? I'm a guy, and I don't have that dirt-o-vision women seem to have...You have a nice smile.

[ChicoRaton]

You have a nice smile.

Thanks :) :hi:

So I downed a pot of coffee then I went from one corner of my place to the other and exterminated every speck of dust, dirt and grime. I was all like ":look:"... I even cleaned those weird spots that form on bathroom ceilings. These :rant2:-ers better be satisfied because this place looks better than I found it. I even found a recipt from before I moved in. I couldn't clean underneath the stove burners though because the stovetop is attached to the oven. there's no way to lift it up like a normal stove, so I hope they don't charge me for that. Thanks for the tips.

[5xevy]

Even if you don't clean every little detail, they really shouldn't take off money for it. Like someone said above, there should be an acceptable level of "normal" wear and tear. I wouldn't think they'd take off if they spotted any dirt versus actual damage. Of course...I don't know your landlord though. :D

[Shelby_Tempo_GT]

I couldn't clean underneath the stove burners though because the stovetop is attached to the oven. there's no way to lift it up like a normal stove, so I hope they don't charge me for that. Thanks for the tips.



did you roll the stove out so you could clean under it and behind it?

[ChicoRaton]

Yeah, I was like a janitor on crack.

[Dangerdoll]

LOL that's funny. Chico, I think you should be in good shape. As I said, there are things that are expected due to normal wear and tear. As long as the place isn't beat up looking and nothings broken or showing physical damage, they shouldn't need to keep any of the security. Have you read through the lease which would entail anf provisions on the condition of the place?

[ChicoRaton]

Yeah, I found the page regarding the condition things are supposed to be in. My landlord is kind of anal though. When she was here for the annual inspection they do I had just cleaned my place to what I considered acceptable and she told me I really needed to clean up so I Made sure everything's perfect.

[Dangerdoll]

annual inspection? I've never even heard of anything like that.

[Shelby_Tempo_GT]

Yeah, I was like a janitor on crack.

if you were that much of a janitor... you were probably showing a lot of crack when bending over to clean.

:eek:

[Dangerdoll]

I kinda thought that was a plumber's action...

[FishFans]

Good Luck to you Chicko! I live in a apartment and I know what your dealing with...

My last apartment I moved out of August of last year. the manager told me I had to have the carpets professionally cleaned. even though they had put new carpet in right after i moved in so the thing was spotless already. So ok. I got all my stuff moved out and called a company to clean my carpets. I took the receipt and my keys to the apartment manager. She didn't even take the receipt. just wrote the company and the amount down. And i said are you going to do the walk through with me to make sure its good for renting. she said is there any damage. I said no.. she said we're good i'll have your deposit in the mail.

I was a little aggravated.. i mean i would have cleaned anyway but i could have saved my money on having carpets cleaned and done it with my moms if i would have known she wasnt even going to bother to check things out...


btw DD. at my apartment we have annual inspections too.. sometime the big bosses come by surprise and check apartments at random. since i'm new i guess they haven't came to mine yet! :)

we do have monthly inspections which is a waste of time. the maintenance man comes, changes air filters if they need it, makes sure the plumbing isnt leaking, checks smoke alarm and leaves. lol


there's nothing like having your own home.. i hope to be able to have my own home one day... no worries with nosy neighbors, rules, and i can have my big tank i want. i cant go over my 29g. :(

well anyway...

again Chico.. good luck w/everything!!

[Dangerdoll]

I find that so weird but I guess it also depends on the State you're in. I've lived in apartments when I first moved out on my own and have never had anyone make annual inspections/visits to my places. Ever... I just find that a little strange however, I can totally understand the reasoning for it because of the loose lucy's in the world today and the property and all that. Not sure if I wouldn't want to do the same if I had bought and apartment house.

[J double R]

make it as nice as you found it. if you had to do ANY repairs, cleaning, etc. when you moved in, i hope you documented it. you shouldnt (and ive never been) be required to go above and beyond for your cleaning.

[lokel]

Annual inspections sounds weird to me too. Is this just a thing in the US or has ppl in Canada had that too. Maybe ive just been lucky.

Good luck with the inspection, sounds like you've done everything you can.

[Dangerdoll]

maybe just some places Lokel... I've never heard of it either.

Chico, how'd it go, bud?

[mee-mee]

dont forget under the fridge and in the fridge they look at that too and the window sills i lived in an apartment in mpls and the check list was like very anal but i got everything done and got all of my money back and dont forget the drains in the sinks some places look at that too saves them from unexpected work for the maintenance crew and carpentars(sp.) good luck:) :read: :huh:

[Bkman]

Ive had some pretty bad experiances in the apartments ive been in. Now when i move into an apartment i make a check list off eventhing in need of repair, and take polariods of the bare apartment for proof when i goto move out. All apartments ive lived in have annual or every couple off months inspections, sometimes there just checking things that are getting old in alot of the buildings. My worst experiances come from when my apartments were owned by property management companys, not just a single landlord(I've found just having a landlord to be much kinder and not all about making money. the property management companys are where you'll get screwed. They normally charge for repainting and carpet cleaning no matter the shape it is in. This is the important part to remember, if it is a property management compnay(prolly the same for an individual landlord I'd assume, not positive though) They are required to provide you with some type of reciept or charge slip accounting for what they did with any money that they did not return from your deposit (I actually looked this one up, and got money back, (They'd charged me an enormous ammount for a 'professional' carpet cleaning, upon having it looked further into they had rented or own a 'rug doctor' and have their maintence guy use it on every aparment, and charge about what the most expensive pro cleaning compnay charges)

So request they provide you with this info, and if your moving into another apartment, document everything that needs repaired and report it to them before you get a settled in to avoid them claiming you did it while moving in, and take pictures of what every room looks like bare, so you have proof of your cleaniliness(sp?) when you move out.

[ChicoRaton]

well, I'm out. Waiting on them to give my deposit back. I'll be sure to request recipts for what they take out.

[Dangerdoll]

you're "expecting" them to take money off?

[wolf13]

having lived in apartments for the past 6 years, 5 differnt landlords, 4 cities, I've been through this before. Sorry I am late on helping clean and what to look for. Anyway, I consider my deposite gone as soon as I sign the check. I have only gotten a full deposit back once. University and military towns are the WORST, they will nitpick it to death and may even make things up, to them its free rent.

having them lift the stove top and check is pretty common. I've also had them pull out the refirgorator and check if i cleaned behind it and between it and the cabinents. Burned out lightbulbs are huge, external and internal. cleaning inside fixtures is a must. make sure the drains are running fast, if they are slow they may sock you with a plumbers bill. Always make sure appliances are spotless, inside and out. IF you can, take some photos before you leave and ask for an inspection while you are there, try to avoid letting them do it alone after you're gone. when they send you their findings, check their math, deductions and photo evidence. if they don't have photo evidence of dirt, requast it. be nice about it, but don't hesitate to be a jerk if neccessary and keep requasting. Don't threaten legal action or anything like that, unless they are hitting you for a lot of money, they know you aren't going to spend the cash to fight them in court. in the end, they will give you back what they want to give you back.