Your Memphis Apartment Move-Out Inspection
Sep 8th, 2007 by Memphis Apartments
At the end of your Memphis apartment lease term, you decide to move out and rent another Memphis apartment. It is in your best interest to ask your landlord to conduct a move-out inspection with you, similar to the move in inspection you did. You should both agree to the overall condition of the Memphis apartment. This is important if you want your full security deposit back.
Your lease may detail how you are to leave your Memphis apartment. Specifically, it might describe how you are to patch holes in the walls left from nails. You should follow the instructions outlined in your lease.
You should vacuum the carpet throughout the Memphis apartment once you have moved your belongings out. Try to leave the Memphis apartment in the same condition it was when you moved in. Once you are finished, ask the landlord to conduct the move-out inspection with you.
During the walk through, pay attention to the same items listed on your move in list. The carpet should be free of stains. It should not be stretched or be a tripping hazard in any way. If there is any damage to the carpet in any room, you will probably be asked to replace the carpet.
The walls should also be in good condition. You do not have to paint the walls before you move out. In fact, many leases prohibit your painting the walls. This is because the landlord wants professionals to repaint the walls. They are careful not to damage the carpet or spill paint. One of the best ways to cover the holes in walls left from nails is to fill the holes with toothpaste. If your landlord requires something else, he will indicate accordingly in your lease.
A common issue is holes in walls. A typical reason is that doorstoppers break and the landlord is not notified to replace them. This allows the door to open all the way to the wall and the doorknob pushes into the wall creating a hole. Since this is not normal wear and tear, you will need to pay for the damages to be repaired.
Doors and doorframes should also be well maintained. The doors should still fit snuggly in the doorframe without getting stuck. If the doors have locks on them, the locks should work. The same goes for windows. They should open and close freely and the lock should work. If any of the windows have a crack or are broken, you will be required to replace the window.
Your landlord will check the condition of the appliances. Each appliance should be clean and in good condition. If anything does not work, let the landlord know up front. He will find out eventually. All of the cabinets in the kitchen should be clean. There should be absolutely no garbage in the Memphis apartment at this point.
Your Memphis apartment landlord will look under the sinks in your kitchen and bathroom to make sure there is no water damage. If there is, you might have to pay to replace the cabinet floors. If there is mold as a result, your landlord might charge you for cleaning up the mold.
The best thing you can do if you damage your Memphis apartment during your tenancy is to report it immediately to your landlord. He will decide if it is something you should fix or if he will handle it after you move out. You should document your conversation with him in writing for future reference. Remember you are doing this to ensure you get your security deposit back when you move out. To further protect yourself, take photographs of each room. Use a camera that date and time stamps each photo. This will go a long way if you end up in court over disputed damages.