MAKING YOUR LANDLORD HAPPY BEFORE YOU MOVE

If you are currently renting and also preparing to move, there are a few things you should consider doing prior to your movers showing up—and they involve making your landlord happy.

First, let’s discuss why making your landlord happy is important. For starters, it’s just good karma. Leaving the space you once resided in better than you left it is just good practice and it sets a precedence in your life that you can be proud of. Further, if there was any kind of security deposit made when you moved in, following these six steps will help you earn it back!

  1. Empty all closets, cabinets, shelves, etc.
    Leaving anything behind just means someone else has to clean it up and make a decision regarding what to do with it for you. That’s not only disrespectful, it’s lazy. And, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be charged by the hour for the time it took the apartment to clean/clear out your left-behind belongings. Even if you intend to throw everything away from within the cabinets, do it—don’t make someone else do it.
  2. Patch up the walls
    Whether your hung pictures with nails, screws, or adhesive, be sure to clean up the walls before you go. Spackle/putty is extremely inexpensive and very easy to use to cover almost any size hole. If you used any adhesive, be sure to clean-up the residue if any is left on the surface (a bit of lemon juice works well for this).
  3. Clean up well!
    Clean your apartment or rental home with this goal in mind: I am going to make this place even more spotless than it was the day I moved in! This mindset should help you earn every bit of your deposit back. Remember to get everywhere:
  • Kitchen sink and cabinets
  • Toilet and bathtub
  • All walls and windows
  • Mirrors
  • Baseboards
  • Balcony/patio
  • All floors—carpeted and linoleum/hardwood
  • Dust the tops of window frames and ceiling fans
  • The insides of the refrigerator and behind it
  • Stove, oven, and behind it.
  • Pay special attention to any lingering odors; enzyme cleaner is excellent at removing those.
  1. Double-check your lease agreement
    There may be a few details you don’t remember from back when you originally signed your lease agreement. Who really reads those? Now is the time. Before you move, comb through your lease and be completely clear on the landlord’s expectations.
  2. Return your keys in person
    Unless you are unable to do so, deliver your keys back to your landlord in person. There’s a niceness to handling transitions face-to-face that has been lost in modern culture.

The professional movers at ABS Movers & Storage want your move to be a successful one! Do you live in the Markham, Brampton, or Toronto, ON, area? We’re just around the corner! For more tips like these and for affordable price quotes on your next move—give our Toronto, Ontario moving team a call! We would love to help you with your next move!

ABS Movers & Storage | 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 | (416) 588-1499