5 Things To Do Before Moving Out

MOVE-OUT STEPS FOR KNOXVILLE APARTMENTS

The lease for your apartment explains the specific responsibilities you must fulfill before moving out. But as a starting point to the move-out process, it’s helpful to review the five steps that most renters in off campus housing near UTK complete in order to successfully move out of their apartments.

GIVE A VACATE NOTICE

Providing your landlord with an advance notice that you are vacating the apartment at the end of the lease term is the first move-out step. Meanwhile, the method and deadline for you to submit a vacate notice are stipulated in your apartment lease. Since in Knoxville off campus apartments are highly sought after by students, current tenants are required to provide notices in order to allow landlords sufficient time to arrange for new renters. Without proper notice, an apartment may become vacant for an interval after you leave, which is a loss of revenue for the landlord. Consequently, most landlords charge a penalty fee to residents who fail to submit notices on time.

CLOSE UTILITIES ACCOUNTS

In Knoxville student apartments have the majority of utilities already hooked up and included in the rent, but electric is the one utility renters are invariably responsible for setting up and paying for separately. Just as you created an account with the local power company upon moving into your apartment, you must call the electricity provider and either close or transfer your account to a new address prior to vacating the apartment. Failure to close your utilities accounts could result in you paying for services you’re no longer using.

UPDATE YOUR HOME ADDRESS

Updating your mailing address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is a critical step before moving out of an apartment. Not only do you want to avoid an interruption to your mail and package deliveries, but having a piece of mail with your new address printed on it is a way to show proof of your residency when applying for documents such as a driver’s license or library card. Physical change-of-address forms are available at any post office, or you can change your address online at the United States Postal Service website.

CLEAN THE APARTMENT

In order to recoup your full security deposit, you must clean the apartment thoroughly before moving out, otherwise the landlord may deduct cleaning costs from your deposit. The best approach to a final cleaning is to first pack and remove your possessions and then systematically clean each area of the apartment from top-to-bottom. Attention should also be paid to the walls, including any pinholes that need to be filled or scuff marks that need to be painted over.

DO A FINAL WALKTHROUGH

Before you return the keys to the landlord, take a final walk around the apartment and search for any belongings you may have overlooked, such as items located in the back of closets or cabinets, as well as any areas that still need cleaning. Also, if you shared the apartment and are moving out before your other roommates, make sure any items borrowed among you are returned to their rightful owners. When you’re satisfied the apartment is clean and all your possessions have been removed, it’s time to return the keys to the leasing office, at which time you can also inquire how your security deposit will be returned following the landlord’s final inspection of the apartment.