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Cleaning your rental before moving....
We've got a week left in our apartment, and I'm not sure how far I want to go to clean up. I know we won't get our security deposit back. The cat had a stroke and pissed on the carpet as she lay dying (saddest night ever), we were never really able to get the stain out, though it doesn't smell any longer. DD ground a fruit-filled granola bar into the carpet, never really got it all out. The carpet hadn't been replaced prior to us moving in, it was gross to begin with.
Anyway, I've cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, cleaned all the windows and mirrors. Do I bother vacuuming before we move out or just leave it as is? I'm sure the place will get new carpet and linoleum. Every place I've ever lived, I've left spotless upon exit, but not so much this place.
How much elbow grease did you put into moving out of your rental apartment?
Re: Cleaning your rental before moving....
I left my rental cleaner than when I moved in.
I polish mirrors, windows, mop the floor and wash the carpet.
I would absolutely vacuum the carpet.
Even if a place is gross to begin with, I think I would be embarrassed leaving it looking like I didn't take care of it while I was there.
We are having the carpets cleaned and the house professionally cleaned after we move out because it's a condition of our lease.
In previous rentals we have cleaned ourselves and I like to think we left the places in move-in condition.
When we leave our current rental we will clean it top to bottom because the landlord has been great in working with us on the house building timeline. We also plan to get our deposit back and I don't want to give him any reason to keep it.
You might check your lease to see what it says about move out or call your landlord and ask.
Our house building adventure (UPDATED 8/20/12)
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Our wedding blogged! (Click Brad & Briana on the right side)
If you live in a complex, the amount they take out for the carpet might be minimal. I thought we were going to lose our whole deposit ($2,500) for one place because I spilled red crystal light on the carpet. They only took $40.
We left our last place SPOTLESS. MIL was literally laying on the floor scrubbing baseboards. We didn't ask her to do that, but she's a landlord and very meticulous.
From my tenants I tend to get 'tidy', but never spotless. I'm happy as long as the aren't leaving trash or dirt behind and the bathroom isn't dirty. We go through and clean the floors/kitchen/etc anyway, no matter how the place was left.
Honestly it sounds like they'll be replacing that carpet anyway so I wouldn't go ballistic cleaning it.
I wouldn't assume you're getting nothing back...a good carpet cleaning is likely less than your security and can do wonders. We had a tenant whose cats stained the light beige carpet everywhere, and the cleaners made it look brand new for about $300! Plus if it was in bad shape they may have been planning to replace it anyway after you moved out and your charges will be minimal.
So definitely leave the place clean and don't give your landlord an excuse to deduct further. Vacuuming is so easy I'd do it anyway just because I couldn't stand to have them think I was sloppy.
Yup. I always hire cleaners to do the windows, oven, fridge, etc.
If I was the landlord and I walked in and saw you didn't even bother to try to clean/vaccuum the carpet, I definitely wouldn't go easy on you when I looked at the rest of the unit.
40/112