Moving out is stressful enough without losing part of your security deposit at the end. In our experience helping tenants and landlords around Antioch and East Contra Costa, most deductions come down to a few predictable problems — and nearly all of them can be avoided with a little planning.
Start with your lease and your move-in paperwork. Many leases spell out what "clean" means, and move-in photos or an inspection checklist show the condition the unit was in when you arrived. You're generally not responsible for normal wear and tear, but you are responsible for leaving the place clean and empty.
Leftover items are the most common and most avoidable charge. The couch that didn't fit in the moving truck, a closet of boxes, the old mattress, the grill on the patio — if it's still there at the walkthrough, the landlord will have to pay someone to remove it. Book a junk pickup for a day or two before your move-out date so everything is gone in time.
Next, the kitchen. Clean the inside of the refrigerator and freezer, the oven and stovetop, the microwave, and the cabinets and drawers. Appliances are where cleaning charges add up fastest.
Bathrooms come next: toilets, tubs and showers, sinks, mirrors, and the floor behind the toilet that everyone forgets. Then work through every room — wipe baseboards, switch plates, doors and window sills, vacuum carpets, and sweep and mop hard floors.
Don't forget the outside spaces. Garages, patios, balconies, side yards and storage closets count. Clear out trash, yard debris and anything you stored there, and sweep them out.
Before you hand over the keys, take your own time-stamped photos and a short video of every room, inside the appliances, and the garage and yard. If there's ever a disagreement about the condition, that record matters.
Finally, attend the walkthrough if you can, return every key and garage remote, and give your landlord your forwarding address in writing so your deposit and any itemized statement can reach you.
Need help clearing out what's left? Call or text Santana Junk Removal at (925) 567-5780. We haul away leftover furniture and junk and can clean the empty space before your walkthrough.