Ready to move out of your rental property? If you know in advance the steps involved in ending your lease and moving out, things are more likely to run smoothly. The last thing you want is to lose part of your bond or not have enough time to pack everything.
In this article, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about moving rental properties. This includes what you should prepare before you move out, like checking the lease agreement to the moving day itself and what to check post-move.
Statistics show that many people consider moving to be a stressful event, with the figure climbing in recent years. Our guide will help you reduce the stress attached to the moving process, especially with rentals, and ensure a smooth transition.
Please keep in mind the advice in this article might depend on the state you’re in and the rental situation. The advice below applies to most houses and units, but always check with your real estate agent/landlord and lease agreement.
Before You Move Out
From start to finish, every step in the process of moving out of a rental is important. The last thing you want to do when moving out is poor planning, like miscalculating rental payments or missing the notice period.
Below, we’ve put together a list of tips and actions you need to undertake before you move out. We recommend adding these to a checklist or to-do list so you can easily keep track of your progress.
Check Lease Agreement
Unless you know your lease agreement backwards, you always want to double-check the vacating process. Although it’s usually pretty similar between most rental properties, some landlords or real estate agencies might have a specific process, for example, with returning the keys.
End Date
The end date on a lease agreement refers to the date on which the tenant must return the keys and have already vacated the rented premises. An end date can be changed if the landlord and tenant agree.
Notice Period
This term refers to the period of time in which a tenant has to give notice to a landlord (or real estate manager) that they’re planning to end the lease. For a fixed lease agreement, a tenant must usually give 28 days’ notice to end an agreement by the end of the fixed term.
If you’re a tenant in a periodic lease agreement, the notice period is slightly different. You have to give at least 21 days or one month’s written notice if rent is paid monthly to end a periodic agreement for no reason.
It is possible to break a lease and move out before the end date if there is a reason, like poor housing standards, but this may incur costs. That’s why we always recommend checking the notice period information on your lease agreement.
Rental Payments
It’s important to make sure your rental payments are up to date. The last thing you want is your rent to come out of your bond and stain your rental record. Always check to make sure you’ve paid rent up to your moving day.
Schedule Final Inspection
The end-of-tenancy (final) inspection is crucial to the moving-out process. This helps the landlord or real estate agent assess the property’s condition before returning the deposited security to the tenant.
Clean Thoroughly
Real estate agents and landlords have a notorious reputation for being meticulous when it comes to the final inspection and cleanliness. We recommend always hiring an end-of-lease cleaning service that has a bond-back guarantee. Always document the cleaning process by taking photos because they may be required for evidence when claiming your bond.
Repair Any Damages
If you’ve damaged any part of the property, ensure that it is fixed and returned to the state it was before you moved in. Aside from expected wear and tear, damage that doesn’t fall under this category may be taken out of your bond.
Moving Day
Moving day is typically the most stressful, but if you’re prepared—it can be a breeze. The best way to get through the day of moving smoothly is to plan and get everything done beforehand, like packing.
The first thing you want to do is to confirm the moving time. If you’ve hired a removalist service, double-check the arrival time of the movers and triple-check the time of the final inspection.
For peace of mind, we also recommend keeping essentials separate from everything else you’ve packed. The last thing you want to do the first night in your new home is dig through all the packed boxes to find your toothbrush. We’ve outlined other tips to ensure your moving day runs smoothly below.
Have Everything Packed In Advance
Where possible, start packing non-essential items and moving furniture in advance. The less work you have to do on moving day, the better. It’ll free up time and energy and, most importantly, be less stressful.
Packing and moving out of your rental is also a great opportunity to declutter. Get rid of or donate anything you don’t need or use anymore.
Document Everything
When it comes to moving out of your rental, we recommend documenting everything. The last thing you want is something coming up, like a dispute with the landlord or miscommunication with a previous housemate causing issues.
Record everything, from messages to email correspondence. Wherever possible, use photos to document things, like the end-of-lease cleaning. This can be useful if your landlord only tries to partially refund your bond due to poor cleaning or damages.
Post Move
Finally, all the planning and the moving day is over—what do you do now? As part of the post-move process, you want to ensure all of your belongings are moved, hand in the keys, and do a final clean (if required).
Also, remember to update your identification and accounts to your new address. The last thing you want is a new tenant receiving your mail. For most forms of ID, like driver’s licenses, you have two weeks to update your address.
Ensure All Belongings Are Moved
Before the movers leave, check to ensure the van has nothing left behind. If you made a checklist with all of your furniture and belongings, double-check to ensure everything has been ticked off.
Final Clean
Sometimes, a landlord or real estate agent won’t deem an end-of-lease clean as “adequate”. You will be given a period of time after moving to remedy this and do another final cleaning if required.
So, if you’re required to do another clean, make sure to ask the property manager for areas of improvement, and what they had issues with. That way, you can specifically target those areas when cleaning to ensure you get your full bond returned.
Hand Keys In
Finally, make sure you hand in the keys per the lease agreement process. For most agencies, you just need to return it to the agent in person during the final inspection or at their office.
Keep The Building And Your Belongings Safe With Ready Movers
Ready Movers can take the stress out of moving houses as a renter. Whether you are in a rental alone or a sharehouse, our team has experience in all removalist scenarios and will take the utmost care in keeping the building and your belongings safe.
We are a trusted name in local, interstate, and international moves. We offer fully insured pack and move services for home removals and a “No Damage” written guarantee on local moves. Our team prides itself on its work and keeping your items safe and sound from point A to B.
Ready Movers also understands how difficult the transition period can be for storing furniture between rentals. That’s why we also offer storage services if you need a temporary space for your possessions.
For a reliable and trustworthy removalist service, think Ready Movers. Contact our team today to request a quote. We’d love to help you on your journey to your next home with our pack-and-move services.
