There are some important things you must take care of as part of a move-out process, regardless of where you are moving from and to. There are steps to follow, required or not, that will make for a smoother transition. Also, moving out of an apartment has some aspects that differ from moving out of a house. Make life easier on yourself by using these apartment move-out steps to help avoid any issues.
Provide Ample Notice
It is a common courtesy and often a requirement to give your landlord at least 30 days’ notice. Landlords try not to leave apartments vacant so you will typically be asked to give them a letter to inform them of a move at least 30 days prior, as this allows landlords enough time to find a new tenant by the time you’re gone. Although a 30-day notification is a common requirement, be sure to check your lease documents as some require as much as 90 days’ advance notice.
Plan your Move
There is ample planning that goes into just about every move. There may be new tenants that will be moving in soon after you so you could have a very strict deadline to vacate the premises. When you have determined your final move-out date, it is smart to begin figuring out your arrangements as soon as possible. Are you moving everything yourself or will you be hiring a moving company? It is recommended to map out all of the details at least a month before you move.
Handle the Utilities
You will need to take care of the utilities. Note that moving from a rental may make it a bit more complicated since you will need to decipher what utilities have been covered in the lease and what ones have not. If you cover all of the utilities, you can simply notify the service providers of your new address. However, moving to another state will most likely require you to switch to all new providers.
Clean
Do your due diligence by thoroughly cleaning out your apartment before you move. You could even be fined if you do not leave it in a decent condition. A complex manager or landlord will inspect the unit for any damages once you are vacated. These inspections are typically very thorough, so it is worth your while to spend some time cleaning and making sure it is close to the condition it was when you moved in.
Retrieving the Security Deposit
Hopefully, you can earn the security deposit back that you paid when you moved in. If you took adequate care of your apartment while you lived there, there should not be an issue getting these funds back. It has been up to you to take care of the space and have a good relationship with your landlord.
Address Update
Changing your address is often overlooked but is so important. You will want to avoid having the new tenants go through your personal mail. Be prompt in updating your address with the US Postal Service, banks, and other service providers. Any move can be exhausting and apartment moving comes with its own specific challenges, so do what you can to make the process easier and do not be afraid to ask for help!
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