This article explains how to deliver an apartment after a move so that you can collect the deposit and leave without having to pay any damage.
Steps
Step 1. Call the utility companies and set the day they will block services in your name
(For example, the company of water and light, etc.)
Step 2. Remove all nails and screws that you put in the walls, ceiling or doors of the apartment
With the magic sponge, remove all marks on walls, floors and doors in every room. (Warning: test to make sure the sponge does not take away the wall color).
Step 3. Clean the kitchen
Fill the sink with hot water and put dish soap in it.
- The refrigerator - Remove all shelves and drawers from the refrigerator and freezer and place them in the dishwasher or wash them by hand. Wet a sponge with water in the sink and clean the inside of the refrigerator and freezer, being careful to remove all traces of food. Don't forget the little butter and egg compartments! Clean all the shelves, dry them and put them back in the refrigerator.
-
The oven - To get a good result, it is recommended to use one or two bottles of oven cleaner (the amount depends on whether this is the first time you clean the oven or not). Read the instructions for use carefully, as these products often require the use of gloves or goggles to protect themselves and good ventilation. Don't ignore the instructions on the bottle.
Place some newspaper in front of the oven, and slightly under the door or drawer and also around the oven, to protect the floor. Apply the detergent everywhere inside the oven, on the racks, etc. Put the parts of the hob in it as well and spray them with the same detergent. Leave it on for 24 hours. Do not turn on the oven!
With a sponge or paper, clean all surfaces. Rinse with clean water. Clean the fan above the stove and make sure the hood light is working well.
- Cabinets - With a detergent suitable for cabinets, clean the inside and outside of the cabinets.
- The chandeliers - Make sure they are clean and that there are no dead insects inside. Clean any glass ceiling lights. Think carefully before washing them in the dishwasher: too much heat or too aggressive detergents could damage the glass.
- Surfaces - Make sure you clean the outside of the refrigerator, and all parts of the hob (including under the burners), and all counter tops. Clean the outside and inside of the dishwasher, microwave oven and any household appliances in the apartment (including washer or dryer).
- The sink - Empty the sink and clean the faucet. If it's steel or porcelain, a washing powder will do just fine! An old toothbrush or small brush will help you clean around the fixtures and sink well.
- The floor - Sweep and scrub the floor. For a job done right, you should take out the kitchen and fridge and clean that part of the floor as well. Be careful when moving them as they could mark the wooden floor, linoleum or break tiles. You will also find quite a bit of dirt on the sides of appliances or cabinets. Oh, you'll find all those little things that you lost several months ago, slip under the kitchen and refrigerator.
Step 4. Clean the bathroom
- Thoroughly clean the sink, tub, toilet, and shower. Make sure any accumulated dirt is removed and clean all fixtures.
- Clean the mirrors, the medicine cabinet, and any fans or lights. Do not use mirror cleaners that contain ammonia. Make sure any chandeliers or other lights are clean and the bulbs are working. Again, put the ceiling lights in the dishwasher.
- Sweep and wash the bathroom floor. Clean around the toilet well.
- Do the same thing for all bathrooms.
Step 5. Clean the rooms
Clean cabinet shelves and any mirrors. If you have a carpet, you should wash any stains and then vacuum it. If there are no carpets, wash the floor. If the floor is wooden, use an oily cleaner. Repeat in each room.
Step 6. Devote yourself to the living room, study and dining room
Clean the windows and wash the blinds. Clean the fan propellers and other lighting fixtures in the room. Remove any stains on the carpet. Vacuum or mop floors.
Step 7. Sweep and clean the outside parts (including balconies, terrace and doors) and take out all garbage bags from the apartment
Make sure the outdoor lights are working. For the eventual collection, put the garbage cans on the sidewalk.
Step 8. Measure and replace broken shutters
Step 9. Take pictures of the apartment and keep them in case the owners accuse you of doing any damage
Send photos and a written description to the owners or managers and ask them to sign. Send a copy to yourself too, but don't open the envelope. If the owners refuse to sign, the stamp date will be a proof of how you left the apartment.
Step 10. Go to the apartment inspection
Get a copy of the inspection protocol to keep in your documents.
Step 11. Hand over the keys
Advice
- Try to understand if the owners or the administration provide a free carpet cleaning or if a certain number of years of residence is required for such a service. First clean any stubborn stains with carpet cleaner.
- Some complexes require the walls to be repainted before the move; talk to those in charge to be sure before buying the painting.
- Get a list of the costs of repairing certain items from the landlord or administrator and use it as a guide to decide how much energy to invest in cleaning the apartment.
- Make sure you have everything you need to clean before you go to work. Otherwise, you will waste time getting what you are missing.
- Ask your family or friends to help you clean up in exchange for a dinner in the new home.
- Put on some music while you clean.
- If possible, start in the room furthest from the entrance and work your way to the front door. This will prevent you from locking yourself into a corner.
- Send your new address to the landlord so they can mail the bail money to you.
-
Keep close to all the various documents about the time you lived in the apartment, such as:
- lease agreement
- rent payment receipts
- a copy of the damage agreements made between you and the owner
- a copy of the letter sent to the owner with the new address
Warnings
- If possible, clean the apartment when you have taken everything away and on a day other than that of the move or the inspection.
- Use products suitable for the material you are cleaning.
- Consider how all products are used and use gloves to protect yourself from chemicals that are harmful to the skin.
- If you need to repair any holes in carpets or floors, it's best to get professional help rather than making the damage worse.
