After staying in a rented unit for a long time, the place becomes your home, filled with personal stuff and decor. The day you decide to move out, it can get alot crazier packing everything in multiple boxes and handing over the keys. Before that, you will also need to ensure the house is as good as you found it, save for the natural wear and tear of a few things. However, you should leave the property in a clean, orderly, and good condition.
If you have been maintaining the house well with routine cleaning, repairs and renovations, it might be easier for you to hand it over. Otherwise, if it has been neglected with dirt, stains and damage, that can cause some disagreements with the property manager or owner. What you need to do is start preparing early enough before moving out. Find out in this article what you need to do before giving out the keys.
Check the Terms of Lease
Every unit in Toronto is rented under different terms and the owners may include specific conditions to be met when moving in and out. If you have forgotten, review your rental agreement for specific move-out requirements. When the house was given to you, it was definitely in good condition as per your standards.
Although wear and tear is acceptable, it doesn’t include neglected conditions. Meaning you were also responsible or part of the housekeeping. It’s important to be sure what responsibilities fall on you before checking out.
For instance, the landlord may have provided for cleaning to be done with an inspection checklist attached. Also look for other tasks, such as repairs, garbage removal, repainting walls and ensuring the fixtures are functional. It is always important to maintain repair and maintenance records and receipts to avoid disagreements with the landlord or property manager. Don’t forget to check the move-out deadline to avoid extra charges.
Do Minor Repairs and Maintenance
Renting or leasing a house in Toronto may require a large security deposit, in case you return the house in poorer condition than you found it. If you want to get all the deposit back, it’s prudent that you address issues that may affect that process. That mostly involves conducting minor repairs to damage caused by ordinary use of the house. That may include fixing loose handles and shelves or changing burned-out bulbs. If you allow the owners to charge you, it may end up costing more than doing it yourself or with cheaper service providers.
Leave the House as Clean as You Found It
After moving out your belongings and doing minor repairs that fall under your agreed terms, the final but most important thing on your checklist is a thorough house cleaning. This is intended to return the property in a clean, well-maintained condition, as it was provided, subject to normal wear and tear as per the rental agreement.
Due to accumulated dirt and stains on the walls, cabinets, floor and fixtures during your stay and repairs, a final professional clean is necessary. There are reliable deep cleaning services Toronto renters rely on when moving out to provide a systematic top-to-bottom clean in a short time.
Routine cleaning may not address stubborn dirt and grime or hard-to-reach sections. Also, a professional clean-up will most likely eliminate house maintenance disputes and your time during the busy move and increase your chances of getting all your security deposit.
Document Property Condition
When you moved in and the house was to your standards, you might have taken evidence of its condition. If you have maintained the house well and taken steps to rectify any faults in areas, fixtures and fittings, it is also important to document the current condition even as you hand over the keys to the manager.
The purpose of doing so is to prevent instances where damage occurs when you leave, but you have yet to receive a refund of your deposit, placing the obligation on you. You will also take the chance to showcase how you dealt with damages that were already present. Therefore, take high-quality photos of each room and hallway, including the walls, floors, bathroom and kitchen fixtures and closets, after you have taken out your belongings.