Truth, Lies and
Security Deposits
A Primer for Moving, Cleaning and
Doing it Right
ChicoForRent
(530) 342-3423
ChicoForRent.com
Every year on May 25 we find
a group or two that have been caught off guard when it comes time to move and
clean. I remember hearing “we’ve been
cleaning all day” from a group that was behind. In fact, they had been
MOVING all day. Moving and cleaning are two totally different things.
There is quite a bit of
information here. However, it is important information. If you take the time to
read it, you won’t get caught off guard yourselves. Read it carefully, as we
are telling you up front how to MAXIMIZE the return of your Security Deposit.
This is a busy time of year.
You have finals, friends, family and summer on your minds. If you want to have
a great summer (not your parents screaming at you about security deposits) you
need to allow time to clean and move too.
SECURITY DEPOSITS
The Myth:
Management
companies will do whatever they can to keep your deposit, and you will have to
fight to get it back.
The Truth:
Your
deposit is held to pay for any damages (financial or physical) that you cause,
and we would like NOTHING better than to give it all back!!
In
fact, if you read through all of this material, follow the instructions, and
don’t have any outstanding balances owing, you will be very happy with the
check that is returned to you.
However,
you get out what you put in. If you wait until the last minute or expect that
you can move and clean 12 months worth of dust and fingerprints in an
afternoon, you will be disappointed.
On the following pages you
will find helpful lists of things that will make your cleaning easier, as well
as tips as to what, and how much to clean. We even go as far as to tell you
what other people have missed, so you won’t.
STUFF YOU’LL NEED LIST
Paper
towels galore and/or cleaning rags
Old Toothbrush (you can use your room mate’s in a
pinch, we won’t tell)
Trash Bags
Scrub Brush
Sponges
with one side that scrubs
Rubber Gloves
Broom and
Dustpan
Mop
Vacuum Cleaner
Bleach
Bathroom
Cleaner
Glass Cleaner
Dishwashing
Detergent
Radio
TIME*
Cleaning product hint: Miracle cleaners, like “scrubbing bubbles” and
“toilet ducks” rarely work. You will get more done, in less time, and for less
money if you purchase tried and true products, such as: Comet cleanser, 409,
bleach, and Windex brand glass cleaner.
These cleaners are also
inexpensive, so purchase enough that three people cleaning in different rooms
aren’t sharing one bottle of 409.
*TIME – To play it extra safe, budget 4 hours of cleaning
(real hard scrubbing, taking things to the dump, not “planning”) for each month
you have lived in your home.
Start
Early!
You can not expect to move and clean
your home, no matter how much help you have, in one day. If you are going to
successfully clean your home, you need to have a game plan BEFORE the day you move. While you can’t clean everything weeks in
advance, you can get started.
Sort through
closets and storage areas and get rid of things you no longer need.
Start packing things you can do
without. The less you have to pack and organize on moving day the better off
you will be. Label boxes so you can retrieve the toothbrush you mistakenly
packed.
Dispose of the furniture you will not
be taking with you. Old couches and chairs can be troublesome. Don’t get caught
short trying to figure out how to get them to the dump on moving day.
Pre-clean the really dirty, or hard to
clean things like bathtubs and showers, stoves and ovens, refrigerator and
windows. These things are time consuming to clean. If you do them early, you
will just have to do a quick wipe down before you move.
Clean
in the correct order:
On cleaning day, after you have moved
all of your belongings out, clean in the correct order. Don’t waste your time
cleaning floors if people are still cleaning and moving around, or you will
have to clean them twice.
You will find that you can get more
done, and more quickly if you pick a room to start in, and don’t leave that
room until it is done. Cleaning a little here and a little there is not
efficient.
Room
by Room Cleaning tips:
Kitchen:
Clean
all appliances, inside and out. Lift up the top of the stove and clean out all
the gook. Clean the oven. If you can’t get all of the burned on stuff off the
stove burner rings and pans, either wrap them in aluminum foil, or purchase
replacements at Wal Mart. (SAVE the old ones, no matter what condition they are
in. Just leave them on the counter)
Clean UNDER the
drawers in the refrigerator.
Clean the door seals
on the refrigerator and dishwasher.
Clean grease
splatters on the stove hood and wall behind the stove with a degreaser like
409.
Vacuum, and then wipe
out all cabinets and drawers with a damp cloth.
Clean windows, window
tracks, baseboards and floors.
WARNING: Do not get
oven cleaner on ANYTHING but the inside of the oven. It will eat through paint
and discolor chrome and plastic. Read the directions carefully!
DO NOT move
appliances. If it is necessary, WE will clean under the stove. This is MUCH
cheaper than paying for a damaged kitchen floor.
Bathrooms:
Scrub the toilet,
shower and bathtub. Be sure to remove all soap scum from the shower / tub. This
takes 
some
elbow grease, and the right cleaner. For bathtubs, use Comet cleanser. This
works for showers as well, but be sure not to scratch the surface.
Mildew can easily be
eliminated by cleaning with bleach. Just spray it on, let it sit a few minutes
then rinse with clear water.
Bleach poured into
the toilet will remove most stains, but scrubbing may be required.
Clean all cabinets,
and drawers. Clean the medicine cabinet.
Clean the mirrors and
windows with Windex.
After scrubbing,
chrome faucets can be “polished” by cleaning with Windex.
Wipe down spots on
the walls and ceilings with a damp rag and some 409.
Clean the floors and
baseboards last.
Bedrooms
and Common Rooms:
Vacuum
or broom cobwebs from all corners (both floor and ceiling)
Dust off the shelves
in closets.
Remove all nails and
staples that were used to hang pictures (do NOT patch holes).
Wash baseboards.
Clean
windows and window tracks.
Clean
floors (on your way out the door).
Do
NOT attempt to clean the carpets, or have them cleaned.
Walls:
Walls should NOT be
washed. If not done properly you can do more damage than good. You SHOULD wipe
down door jambs and doors, as well as remove scuff marks and small spots on
walls, but the wholesale washing of walls should not be done.
Outside
(yards and parking area)
Be sure both front
and back yards are clean of all litter, including beer cans and bottles, paper,
cigarette butts etc.
Trash barrels must be
neat, with lids closed. DO NOT put anything beside the trash barrel or
dumpster.
Broom down all
screens (take care not to bend them).
Common areas, such as
laundry rooms and shared parking / yard areas are YOUR responsibility. Work out
a plan with your neighbors to get them clean. If they are not cleaned, we will
split the cost to do so between ALL tenants.