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The Essential Move-Out Checklist

Moving can be exciting, but it can also be  one of the most stressful things we experience in a lifetime . From packing and hiring movers to budgeting for the expenses, there’s so much to do! In all the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget an important step of the process. We’ve put together an essential move-out checklist to help alleviate some of the stress of moving from your current apartment to give you peace of mind and ease your mind during this truly stressful life event.   GIVE PROPER NOTICE   Photo by  Scott Graham  on  Unsplash To know exactly how much notice you need to give before moving out of your apartment, check your lease. The amount of noticed required can vary from apartment community to apartment community, so you’ll want to know what’s required of you. Pro tip: when you move into any new home, check the requirement right then and set a reminder or two. The delivery method required for your notice should also be specified in your lease. Usually, a  written notice  is required.   TRANSFER YOUR RENTERS INSURANCE   Photo by  Glenn Carstens-Peters  on  Unsplash Your renter’s insurance should move with you, but you’ll want to contact your carrier as soon as possible about your upcoming move. Some renter’s insurance will cover belongings during a move, so now is a good time to review your policy and ask questions, as well. Make sure you understand the insurance requirements at your new community, too. Most apartment communities not only require that you have renter’s insurance (and are able to provide proof at move-in), but they also may have specific requirements regarding things like liability coverage.   CALL YOUR UTILITY PROVIDERS   Photo by  Hassan OUAJBIR  on  Unsplash Two weeks before you move, call your utility providers and schedule your turn off/turn on dates. You want to turn the utilities off at your current apartment the day after you move out (to avoid the electric and water being shut off while you are trying to move boxes). This is also handy if you want to do a last-minute vacuum after all the boxes and furniture are out of the apartment. Schedule the utilities to be turned on at your new apartment the day before you move in (so you’ll have electric and water when you are moving in). Don’t forget cable and internet!   FIX EVERYTHING   Photo by  Steve Johnson  on  Unsplash In order to get your security deposit back, you’ll need to undo any damage you caused in the apartment. If you hung pictures, they likely left holes in the wall that will need to be filled. If you painted a wall, you’ll likely have to paint it back to its original color. If you switched out light fixtures, blinds, or drawer pulls, all of those need to be returned to the originals. Look for any pet damage, dings or scratches that weren’t there when you moved in, and stains on the carpets.    CLEAN EVERYTHING   Photo by  Kelly Sikkema  on  Unsplash Try to get your apartment as close to its original move-in condition as you can. Some normal wear and tear is to be expected, but make it your goal to erase the year (or years) you spent in the apartment. If you aren’t sure you can tackle the cleaning yourself, you may want to consider hiring a cleaning service to get your apartment in tip-top shape.   ASK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY’S MOVING POLICY   Photo by  Russ Ward  on  Unsplash Your apartment community may need advance notice if you will have moving assistance, like scheduling elevator time or possibly using the service elevator. If movers will have to park along the street, the apartment manager may have to notify the city, so it’s especially important that you give them plenty of notice.   SCHEDULE A MOVE-OUT INSPECTION   Photo by  La Miko  from  Pexels Once your apartment is clean and empty, schedule a walk-through with your property manager. Your property manager may arrive with checklists: the one you filled out together during your move-in walk-through and a new one you’ll fill out during your move-out walk-through. Try to be there for the move-out inspection, if possible. This way you can discuss any issues on the spot and agree to any necessary repairs, eliminating any unwelcome surprises when it comes time to get your security deposit back.   CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS Photo by  Brett Sayles  from  Pexels You can do this at your local post office or  online . Be sure to give your new address to anyone who might send you mail, from your bank to your employer to your grandma. Make sure your current property manager has your forwarding address as well, so they know where to send your security deposit refund if you’re entitled to one.   GATHER YOUR KEYS   Photo by  Ingo Joseph  from  Pexels Collect all copies of your keys. Did you give a key to your friend so they could pet-sit while you were on vacation? Be sure to get it back. If you have separate keys or cards for the security gate, swimming pool, mail room, or fitness center, locate those as well. Make sure you turn in all of your keys to your leasing office before close of business on the day your lease expires to avoid any additional rent charges.   Yes, moving can be stressful, but with a little preparation and to-do list writing, it can be manageable. And soon, you'll be settled into your new home and it will all have been worth it! For even more tips on making your move as smooth as possible, check out our previous blog post on  Moving Tips !  

Make Sure You Clean These 10 Things

If you think you're doing a bang-up job cleaning your apartment, well, think again. What about the outside of the toilet bowl? When was the last time you gave that a good chlorine wipe down? Have you wondered if the pile of dirty dishes is a haven for bacteria? Let’s get cracking to clean  where you haven’t given it much thought  until now. Here are 10 ideas to start. It’s spic and span time, people. 1. Bathroom sink Guys, this one’s for you. If your girlfriend or other visitors are coming over, you want to make a good impression. Be sure to get rid of shaving debris in the bathroom sink and dried toothpaste streaks. What’s handy for a  quick clean up ? Disposable wipes will do the trick, and don’t forget to do a once over on the countertop and faucets. 2. Appliances How often do you think to clean around or under appliances? Think spilled coffee by the coffee maker, or the trail of crumbs under your toaster. The big appliances are dirt traps, too, like under the refrigerator and stove. Set up a reminder that dings once every couple of months to wipe, sweep or mop. You’ll be glad you did. 3. Doorknobs How many times have you touched a doorknob with sticky fingers? Or discovered a layer of dust on the hardware surrounding the knob? There could also be lint way on top of a doorway, where you need a retractable dust-grabber to reach it. Doors that are used a lot, like the pantry, laundry room and bathroom doors, get grimier than you realize. Try your best to clean right away  so you don’t forget . 4. Shower curtain Have an icky shower curtain? Throw it in the wash with musty towels. A good wash will get rid of moldy black streaks that have accumulated over time at the base of the shower curtain. Be sure to use a cup of detergent with white vinegar, or add half a cup of baking soda to equal parts of laundry detergent. 5. The rest of the toilet There’s a ring inside the toilet bowl that can be pretty impossible to get rid of. But with a heavy-duty toilet bowl cleaner or one of the pods you leave in the tank — you can reduce the impact of the stain. But the area at the base of the toilet bowl and the floor surrounding it is another story. It can get nasty down there, so be sure to wipe it off on a regular basis. Keep disposable wipes handy or a cleaning spray nearby as an inspiring reminder of the task at hand. 6. Backsplash Cook much? The backsplash is a magnet for gunk. Check for layers of dust and grease build-up that you might not notice. If you’re  already wiping down the countertop , then you should add the backsplash to your must-clean list. Be sure to use a disinfectant that is non-toxic and safe around food prep areas. 7. Bedroom Look, a smelly bedroom is unpleasant for everyone. But you might not even notice the odor because you’ve gotten so used to it. If the funk is from dirty sheets, wash them. Or clean up that pile of laundry that’s been sitting on the floor for way too long. Reclaim your personal space by making everything smell nice again. Step one to recovery: Air everything out! Open the windows! Step two: Wash bed linens, that dirty laundry pile, your grungy gym clothes, plus the T-shirt you sleep in. 8. Windowsills Next time you open or close your window blinds, give the windowsills and window tracks a hard look. You’ll be surprised with what you find there: Pet dander, dust, dead bugs and more grossness. This is a quick fix and there’s no excuse to ignore something right before your eyes. Use a damp cloth or microfiber cloth and a cleaning solution and you’re done. To clean the cracks in the window tracks, use a putty knife wrapped in a cloth. 9. Under the couch It’s hard to know what’s lurking under the couch until you take a look and realize you have a city of dust bunnies! You know, those small clumps of dust that are a tangle of pet dander, your hair and lint, among other icky things. Be sure to clean under furniture and in the corners. If you’ve got carpet, then vacuum it all away, or use a sweeper-style duster or broom on laminate floors. 10. Garbage cans What’s up with not lining a garbage bin with a bag? Loose trash is a big no-no, so don’t keep all the soiled remnants of your life out in the open. Instead, stay private and clean by using a liner for the bin in the bathroom or elsewhere. You can even shop for bags infused with a scent to ease any chance of funk. A little at a time goes a long way Proud of yourself for  cleaning those ignored places ? Now just think of everything else that deserves a good refresh in your apartment. Start making a list and take it one step at a time. You don’t have to deep clean every day. Make a habit to take a look around every so often and clean things as needed.

Pet Hacks for Your Apartment

Pets are the joys of their owners’ lives … you know, when they’re sleeping all curled up and adorable on the chair. But when those little guys are awake, they can be serious mischief makers. Renting with pets  brings their owners a lot of day-to-day nuisances, including litter all over the floor, scratches up and down the hardwood and all over the furniture, and general disarray that comes from sheer boredom after being home alone all day. But some of these small issues have pretty simple solutions. Take a look at these easy pet hacks that will keep both you and your pet happy in your pet-friendly apartment: Pet Deterrent Hacks Ever lost a phone charger or piece of jewelry because your pet used it as a chew toy or absolutely had to bat it down the sink? Frustrating, yes — but there are ways to deter your dogs and cats from messing with things that don’t belong to them. Dogs will avoid anything rubbed with Bitter Apple Spray, which you can buy at the pet store. As for cats, they instinctively avoid citrus, so if you use a citrus-scented cleaner they’ll likely stay off that surface. If you’re hoping to keep your kitty off counters and other surfaces, try laying down tin foil or lining the counter or table with double-sided tape. Both methods are safe, and you can use them to teach cats to stay off. Pet Hair Removal Hacks Although your furball is adorable, they’re exactly that: covered in fur. Chances are your apartment is too, and sometimes vacuums and lint rollers just don’t cut it. A couple of common life hacks for  pet hair removal  involve stuff you may already have laying around your apartment. If you’re struggling to get hair off the furniture, for instance, put on your rubber gloves, get them slightly damp and run your hands along the hairy furniture. The damp rubber picks up hair like a charm. If you’re renting with pets in a carpeted apartment, use a squeegee, like the kind you use to clean your shower, to pick up fur from the carpet. Hardwood floors and tile can easily be cleaned with either a good old-fashioned weekly sweep or one of newer wet/dry mops on the market. Scratching Post Hacks One of the most common complaints that pet owners have is that their  apartment and possessions suffer from scratches  when they’re renting with pets. Both dogs and cats like to scratch to mark territory and because it feels good to them, so give them something they’re allowed to scratch up. If you don’t have room for a scratching post, make your own using coarse sandpaper glued onto a wide piece of wood. If your cat or dog likes to stand up and scratch, try hanging it on a wall close to the ground. Pet Food Storage Hacks When it comes to pet food, the sooner you can get rid of the bulky and annoying large paper bags of dry kibbles and bits, the better. Many people use sealed plastic trash cans kept in a kitchen cabinet or closet to store pet food because they keep dry food fresh, and they’re easy to scoop food from. Plastic cereal containers are much smaller, but they also work great to easily store dry food and pour it into your pet’s food bowl at mealtimes. Litter Box Hacks When usually perfect feline has questionable litter box etiquette, it can leave an unsightly mess that you definitely don’t want guests to see. There are some awesome furniture options out there for  hiding litter boxes , but there are also ways you can spend a little less money to hide the mess. Some pet owners put the cat’s box under a side table, then attach curtains around the edges of the table to hide it. It’s a pretty touch that can easily complement your decor and hide the messy box, but can also give your pet some privacy. If your cat kicks litter around like they’re going for the world kickboxing championships, you may want to try a covered litter box that’s facing a wall. The cover will keep most of the litter from flying everywhere, and the wall will keep the little bit that gets out of the door in an isolated area instead of all over your floor. Doggie Boredom Hacks If you want to cure your dog’s daytime boredom, leave Fido with  an activity that will keep him occupied  for hours. One of the more brilliant DIY life hacks is to cut about a 2-inch slice into a tennis ball, then fill it with small treats and short strips of fabric. Your pup will spend hours trying to get to the treats inside the ball, and he’ll likely leave your plants, trash and/or other exciting apartment features alone. A similar idea for the warmer months is to fill up a dog Kong toy with a little bit of peanut butter, then put it in the freezer for a few hours. Your dog will love trying to get all of the frozen peanut butter out of the toy.

Dishwasher Tips

Not too many people put thought into their dishwasher, let alone how to “properly” load one. But if you want truly clean dishes and don’t want to work on them even after the cycle is finished, there are certain rules that one must abide. Here are seven mistakes that almost everybody – novices and experts alike – makes when loading and unloading the dishwasher. Loading it One Piece at A Time Nobody wants dirty dishes to pile in the sink, but it  is  the best strategy for an efficient load. You'll be able to use the space in the dishwasher the best if you load it all at once, starting with your largest dishes and filling in the space with the smaller pieces. Not Sorting the Flatware First This one isn't a major faux pas, but rather a simple tip that makes dishwasher life a little easier. As you load your flatware into the silverware caddy, keep forks with forks and spoons with spoons. It makes easy work of unloading clean pieces into the drawer. Letting Your Spoons Spoon Perfectly nested spoons might save space, but it means that water and detergent can't clean between them. Instead, alternative your spoons (and maybe the forks, too) between heads up and heads down. Putting Good Knives in the Dishwasher If you have nice knives (that you'd like to keep nice), keep them out of the dishwasher. The Kitchn tells us that "the abrasive detergent, high heat, and jostling with other dishwasher items will cause the blade to dull prematurely and give your knife nicks in the edge." Loading Cookie Sheets in the Wrong Spot Your big, flat trays and pans should be on the sides of the bottom rack, never the front. You don't want them to block access to the detergent dispenser. Ignoring the Sprayer Arm That arm in the center of the dishwasher is the source of all the magic that makes dirty dishes clean. Your job is just to make sure that every dish has a clear path to the sprayer arm. That means loading plates so that they face the center of the dishwasher (and the arm), but also taking care not to overload the dishwasher. You might need to run it more often, but it will pay off in the long run when you don't have to rinse afterwards, or ever run the cycle again. Unloading the Top First Like socks that go missing in the dryer, upturned cups are a given in the homekeeping world. Those cups collect gross dish water, just waiting to be spilled all over the clean dishes below. To avoid having to set the dishwasher for a repeat performance, unload the bottom rack first, then handle the cups up top.

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Odor Eliminators

Got a stinky gym bag? Living room need some refreshing? Already have some essential oils lying around? Perfect! Below are 3 recipes for all natural, green, odor busters that are sure to freshen up any fabric or air space. Even if you don’t already have these ingredients in your cabinet, we highly recommend purchasing them, as they can be used for multiple purposes. Essential oils have also been found to benefit the mind and body making these ingredients truly versitle. But first: get that apartment CLEAN! LEMON + CLOVE AIR FRESHENER SPRAY Perfect for any time a room needs a little freshening up. The lemon and clove is great warm scent for fall, but you can use your favorite essential oils too – get creative! 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup vodka (or rubbing alcohol)  – vodka is odorless and evaporates quicker 5 drops lemon essential oil 5 drops clove essential oil spray bottle Add ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine.  Spray 2-3 sprays in any room that needs a little freshening. LEMON + PEPPERMINT GARBAGE CAN FRESHENING TABLETS This concoction works great in the bottom of garbage cans and diaper pails.  Place one or two anywhere a little odor absorption is necessary. Toss when odors aren’t being absorbed any longer. 1/2cup baking soda 1/3 cup Epsom salt About 1/4 cup water 10 drops of your favorite essential oils Ice cube trays Combine the ingredients and make a dry paste and spoon a tablespoon at a time in each compartment.  Don’t fill to the top because the mixture will expand a bit.  Allow to dry out completely overnight and/or in the sun.  Once the tablets have hardened, carefully turn the tray over onto a clean surface.  Place 1-2 in a garbage can – it should last at least 2 weeks.  Store tablets in an airtight container for 3 months CITRUS + TEA TREE FABRIC SANITIZER SPRAY If you need to sanitize/freshen a pillow or a pair of shoes, this spray will become a new favorite. 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 2 drops citrus essential oil 4 drops tea trea (melaleuca) oil Add ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine.  Spray on shoes and fabric to freshen – let dry completely before using.  If you are concerned about water on fabric, test in an inconspicuous area first.