MOVE OUT INSTRUCTION

MOVE OUT INSTRUCTION

1.  CLEANING YOUR HOME FOR VACANCY

     The following is a list of areas tenants tend to forget or leave dirty when they vacate a home. It is not intended to cover every possibility, as each dwelling is different. However, if you cover this list and remember that the objective is to leave the unit clean enough that a new tenant will not call to complain about dirt, you should be okay.

1. All pins, nails, and screws used to hang pictures should be removed. If you need to patch or spackle them, there are several products available. If you need to touch-up paint over  a hole there are paint stores that can match paint from a small chip. You can purchase as little as a quart to do the touch-up.
2. Be sure to wash dirt and marks of the walls and woodwork. Especially note areas around light switches, doorknobs and moldings.
3. Tenants almost always forget to dust the front and back of doors.
4. Ceiling molding, wall molding, window molding, baseboards, and windowsills should be dusted, washed or wiped down.
5. Blinds should be wiped clean of dirt and dust. Vacuuming will sometimes do the trick if you have a soft round brush attachment. This same method should be used to clean any wall or floor furnaces you may have.
6. Bathroom walls and ceilings must be free of mold and mildew. A product called TSP can help with this chore.
7. Kitchen walls can also be cleaned with TSP, or other similar cleaner, to remove grease and grime that builds up over time.
8. All sinks, toilets, bathtubs and showers should be scrubbed clean. There should be no soap scum or hair left behind.
9.  The inside of the stove and broiler should sparkle. EZ Off works wonders-just follow the instructions and make sure it is wiped clean after.
10.  The inside of the refrigerator and freezer should be washed. If you have a freezer that frosts up, it must be defrosted and cleaned. Don't forget the refrigerator drawers and door,  also top of the refrigerator
11. The inside of all cabinets should be emptied and the shelves wiped clean. All drawers should be emptied and wiped clean. A good vacuum works wonders in this area also. Don't forget medicine cabinets - get rid of that left over toothpaste and hair.
12. Closets should be completely empty. That includes hangers and gift-wrap. Be sure to dust any closet shelving.
13. All non-carpeted floors should be scrubbed clean - even the corners. Murphy's Oil Soap works wonders on hardwood floors
14. Carpets should be vacuumed and any stains cleaned up. Remember to take special care to vacuum up dirt and dust bunnies along the walls and in corners
15.  Decks must be completely cleaned.
16.  Garages must be cleared of all personal property and broom swept. Oil stains should be cleaned up. "Oil-eater" will remove/dissolve oil residue on garage floors.
17. If you have a yard or garden and the property does not have a gardener then you are responsible for the maintenance. Make sure the grounds are free of debris. If you have been piling up clippings or dead foliage during your tenancy it is your responsibility to remove it, otherwise you will be charged for clearing the hauling fees
18. Your move-out garbage must go with you or to the dump. Do not leave all the trash cans full and a pile of things to be thrown away. Make arrangements with the garbage service or take it to the dump. Trash and personal belongings left behind will be disposed of at your expense.
19. Obviously, dirty glass light fixtures should be washed. Make sure all the light bulbs are working.

  Tenants with pets

1.  Animal smells and soils must be removed from carpets. A professional company who specialize in neutralizing odors and removing pet stains.
2.  Remember to remove any pet feces from the yard, garden or surrounding grounds. This is very important!
3. Fleas are a very big issue for tenants with pets. Fleas live only a small portion of their lives on animals. The rest of the time they live and breed in dust and debris in the carpet - especially along the walls and in corners. Carpet must be professionally cleaned upon move out and provide original receipts upon completion. Flea bombing needs to be done. You should provide proof that this was done. Once the pets are removed fleas go to people. Generally, a double bombing and care to vacuum thoroughly between bombs will do the trick. If you had pets and incoming tenants complain of fleas, you're responsible. Explanations about "regular flea baths" or "I never saw any fleas when I lived there" will not be accepted. You will be charged for de-fleaing the unit.

  Tenants Utilities

       You should  notify the utility companies of your move and request a "special reading" on your move out date because you  may be responsible for continued utility usage even       after you are gone.  Utility accounts generally fall back upon the owner or the management company for payment after a certain point, but these charges will be deducted from your security deposit if do not terminate your service and pay the final charges.  Requesting a special reading and "final bill"   will eliminate confusion.

You are responsible for any outstanding utility bills, late fees, NSF charges or delinquent rent. If you are concerned about this, call the office. We will provide you with a tenant ledger and you can make arrangements to pay this before you move out.
Finally, please understand that Essential Management Team, is not interested in taking your security deposit from you. We find no greater joy in our job than returning a security deposit to a recently-vacated tenant because they have left the unit in a condition that is equal to the unit's condition when we first rented it to them. This allows us to re-rent the unit right away and saves us a great deal of hassle and expense.

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF RETURNING YOUR KEYS

     On the day you have arranged to vacate your property please make sure that you  have returned your keys to our office. This terminates your tenancy in a very real and tangible way because it means that you have relinquished possession of the implements that allow you to control access to the premises. Please do not expect for us to come to your property on the day you told us you were moving out and pick up the keys there.

3. RECEIVING YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT REFUNDS CHECK

     The  property Code does not obligate a landlord to return or account for the security deposit until the tenant surrenders the property and gives the landlord a written statement of the tenant's forwarding address, after which the landlord has 30 days in which to account. Essential Management Team, strives to return security deposits to their tenants in a timely manner, ideally well before the end of the mandatory 30 day period. Please make sure you provide us with your forwarding address so we can send you your deposit refund check. If we are not given your forwarding address, we will have no choice but to send your deposit refund check to your old address and hope that you have arranged with the US Postal Service to have your mail forwarded to your new address.

Your security deposit refund check will be accompanied by a statement detailing any credits and debits that have been made from your initial deposit. If deductions are made to compensate for damages left in the home, we will include copies of invoices from our vendors detailing the charges.

Thank you for doing business with us.

Essential Management Team