Move-Out Guide
We understand that moving can be stressful. That’s why we made this easy-to-follow guide. If you have any questions along the way, just give our offices a call at (832) 701-0766.
Important: You are responsible for all rent, charges, utilities, and fees through the duration of your contracted lease, even if you move out before your lease term ends. DO NOT TERMINATE YOUR UTILITIES EARLY or you may find a utilities re-connect fee added to your security deposit charges.
Prepare
📫 Mail Forward: Forward your mail to your new address by filling out this form with the US Postal Service: https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm. Any mail left behind will be returned to sender. If you need us to collect any mail after moving out, call our office and we can swing by the home for a $75 trip fee. We will hold your mail for 14 days.
📩 Forwarding Address: Texas Property Code requires you to provide a forwarding address to return any security deposit funds.
⚡ Terminate Utilities: Contact your utility companies to terminate utilities on the day your lease ends. Do not terminate early if you are moving out early. Utilities must stay on until the last day of your lease. Any reconnection fee will be charged to your security deposit.
🧹 Hire a move-out cleaner: For a stress-free move-out, we recommend hiring a professional cleaning company to perform the move-out cleaning. Otherwise, follow the cleaning guidelines below.
🔑 Return Keys: Just like returning a rental car, you must return your house keys by the last day of your lease. Every day your keys are not returned, you will be charged additional fees to your security deposit. That means, preparing early will help avoid additional fees. You have 2 options to return keys:
- Set an appointment to drop off keys to our office during our office hours: https://calendly.com/rpmheritage/return-keys
- If you drop off keys to our office outside our open office hours, use the locked drop box on our porch. Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the theft of keys from the lock box. It is recommended and preferred to return keys during our open office hours.
- Purchase a key lock box for the front door, place a key inside, and attach it to the front door. Email the code to your property manager or [email protected]. The lock box is surrendered to our possession.
🚫 DO NOT leave the key under the doormat, a rock, a planter, in the mailbox, or leave a back door or window unlocked. If this occurs, we will charge an emergency trip fee of $400 to rush someone to the property to secure it.
Drop box is accessible at any time, located on the back of the porch column
Cleaning Checklist
- Remove everything. Do not leave anything, even if you may think the next tenant might want it (i.e. cleaning equipment/supplies, hand/dish soap, light bubs, etc.). For every item left behind, it is $50 PER item to dispose of.
- All trash should already be collected, no trash left in the trash bin or on the street. ($75 fee to empty trash or move trash bins out of the street)
- Scrub and disinfect all walls, baseboards, door frames, etc. (Make sure there are no black marks on walls or dirt on door frame)Wash/Wipe all window tracking (make sure there is no dirt or bugs)
- Scrub and disinfect all window sills, windows, and blinds.
- Scrub and disinfect all bathrooms, showers, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, mirrors, counters, medicine cabinets, etc.
- Scrub, degrease, and disinfect everything in the kitchen, countertops, sinks, disposal, cupboards, etc.
- Scrub and disinfect inside and outside of the refrigerator, sweep and mop behind and wipe down walls.
- Scrub and disinfect inside of the dishwasher, no hard water should be visible
- Scrub, degrease and disinfect inside, outside, and underneath the oven, burners, drip pans, and bottom drawer, sweep and mop under the stove, and wipe down walls behind the oven.
- Scrub, degrease and disinfect Microwave inside and out
- Scrub, degrease, and disinfect the fan and fan hood cover over the oven
- Scrub, degrease, and disinfect all light covers and fixtures.
- Clean all fans and vents on ceilings, walls, and floors (remove dirt and dead bugs)
- Remove all cobwebs and dust throughout the entire home.
- Sweep out the garage, shed, and porch front and back.
- Sweep, Mop, and Scrub all vinyl, tile, and hard floors. Any moldy tile spots will be charged.
- Remove all trash from the yard.
- Remove any debris from walls and ceilings. Any nail/screw holes etc. on walls should not be visible.
- Replace any burned-out or missing light bulbs and replace any low batteries in smoke detectors.
- Mow all grass/lawn, trim up any and all bushes/shrubbery, rake lawn and clean up the yard.
- Have repairs completed on any damage you or your pets have caused.
- Check the A/C filter, and change it if dirty
Professional Carpet Cleaning
Carpet holds dirt, human oils, animal dander, and so much more. Vacuuming is not sufficient. The carpet must be professionally cleaned before your departure.
We will send out our carpet cleaner and deduct the cost from your security deposit. If you choose to pay for the carpet cleaning separately, you must provide a receipt to your property manager or email [email protected]
Move-Out Inspection
📋 Final Move-Out Evaluation: You can conduct your own move-out evaluation for your records. We will conduct our own move-out evaluation after you return the keys.
Security Deposit Return
💸 Security Deposit Disbursement: After the property has been evaluated post-move-out, and damages (if any) and/or cleaning needs have been assessed, any remaining balance of your deposit will be mailed to your forwarding address 30 days after your move-out. If you need an expedited Security Deposit return, we can return the deposit within 14 days for an expedited Security Deposit return fee of $200.
Please make sure to provide us with your forwarding address. Otherwise, per Section 92.107 of the Texas Property Code: The landlord is not obligated to return a tenant’s security deposit or give the tenant a written description of damages and charges until the tenant gives the landlord a written statement of the tenant’s forwarding address for the purpose of refunding the security deposit.
