Moving out of any rental can be a daunting task, yet with house rentals, tenants often find there are many more things to consider. Compared to moving out of an apartment, it can appear to be a formidable challenge.
But, while there may be more rooms to pack up and the outside space to take care of, the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Indeed, with a good plan of action and a generous time frame in place, moving out of a house rental can go smoothly.
So, for a seamless transition, just follow this step-by-step guide.
The Importance of Planning Ahead
When moving out of a house, there are a great many things to take care of beyond packing and cleaning. Without a plan, it’s all too easy to neglect the smaller details. A good moving plan should consist of three main elements:
Moving Plan:
- Budget: Moving out of a rental house isn’t free, and it’s essential to budget for the various moving expenses.
- Checklist: Draw up a list of all the things that need to be done before, during, and after the move to ensure nothing is missed.
- Timeline: Create a realistic timeline in which to complete the various tasks on the checklist.
With these elements properly planned out, tenants can avoid last minute surprises and expenses, reducing the stress of moving significantly. It’s also wise to be realistic and flexible. Even the best laid plans can hit unexpected challenges, but by being adaptable and making a plan B, tenants can stay on top of things.
The following step-by-step guide will help anyone moving out of a house rental plan ahead and ensure a smooth transition.
First Steps: 3-2 Months Before Moving
1. Read Through the Lease Agreement
A thorough understanding of the lease agreement is essential when moving out. Tenants need to be aware of the type of lease they have and any conditions concerning notice periods, end of tenancy clauses, security deposit terms, and penalties for terminating the lease early. Armed with this information, they can make informed decisions with regards to the move out date, avoid penalties, and ensure they get their security deposit back.
2. Give Plenty of Notice
The more notice a tenant gives the landlord, the better. The lease agreement will normally stipulate a minimum notice period, often around 60 days, but it doesn’t hurt to give notice earlier if possible.
Not only does this help the landlord, but it helps the tenant out as they’re more likely to get good feedback from the landlord and should have fewer problems getting their security deposit back. Beyond giving notice, it helps to maintain communication with the landlord throughout the moving process.
3. Create a Budget for Moving
A solid moving budget provides peace of mind and helps avoid any nasty surprises further down the line. Typical moving costs include:
- Moving company or van hire,
- Repair costs,
- Cleaning costs,
- Final bills.
Break each cost down and where required, get quotes from professionals, such as contractors and moving companies. With a budget in place, be sure to add an extra 10-15% as a safety cushion in case of unexpected costs later.
Preparing the House: 2-1 Months Before Moving
4. Fix Any Tenant-Caused Damage
Accidents can happen during a rental, especially for those with kids or pets. As such, it’s important to check the house and any outdoor spaces for tenant-caused damage a month or two before moving. This allows plenty of time to make the necessary repairs and increase the chance of receiving the security deposit back in full.
It is, however, important to remember the difference between tenant-caused damage and normal wear and tear. Tenants need only take care of damage they’ve caused, such as broken fittings and fixtures, dents and holes in the walls, and damage to outdoor structures and landscaping.
5. Start Packing as Early as Possible
While the everyday items cannot be packed until later, there’s no reason not to start packing the other stuff as early as possible. Moving house is a great time to declutter, as it reduces the amount of belongings to move. For those lesser used items, tenants can split them into 4 categories: keep, donate, throw away, or sell.
Once the fat has been trimmed, it’s good to plan the packing for a more efficient move. Divide items by the room they’ll be put in and carefully label each box with the contents and where they need to go on moving day.
6. Make Moving Arrangements
When moving out of a rental house, most tenants will tend to have more belongings to take with them compared to if they were moving from an apartment. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of hiring a professional moving company or taking a DIY approach.
Professionals will take care of all the logistics and streamline the process, but will be more expensive. Meanwhile, the DIY approach can be stressful and a lot of work, plus comes with costs of its own, such as truck hire and fuel.
Now is also a good time to check that larger belongings will fit into the new home. Measure doorways and rooms to ensure there won’t be any issues on moving day.
7. Transfer or Cancel Utilities and Services
When moving out of a rental house, tenants will normally need to arrange to have their utilities and services transferred to their new home or disconnected. Utilities and services to contact typically include:
- Water,
- Electricity,
- Gas,
- Internet and TV subscriptions,
It’s good to contact service and utility providers early to ensure things run smoothly, not just for the tenants moving out, but also for those moving in.
Last Month Before Moving
8. Ensure All Bills Are Paid
Towards the end of the tenancy, tenants need to ensure all their outstanding bills have been paid in full. This includes rent, utilities, services, and any other fees, such as HOA charges where applicable.
9. Carry Out a Deep Clean
As the house begins to empty of possessions and once all of the repairs are complete, tenants need to ensure the home is thoroughly cleaned and ready for the next tenants. Again, there’s a choice of hiring a professional cleaning company or taking a DIY approach. A professional company can be a great investment as they’re already kitted out to work efficiently and know exactly what needs to be taken care of.
For tenants who wish to do the cleaning themselves, it’s important to target every element of the home; walls, floors, appliances, fixtures, and even ceilings if they have cobwebs. Pay particular attention to areas that accumulate dust, such as cabinets and behind appliances. Finally, be sure to clean up the outside spaces and make them presentable.
10. Set Up a Forwarding Address
Setting up a forwarding address is another essential task to care of to ensure a smooth transition when moving out of a rental house. It’s surprising how many people and institutions need to be notified of a change of address, so be prepared to contact the following:
- Landlord and or property manager,
- Utility and service providers,
- Banks,
- Insurance companies,
- Medical offices,
- Online retailers,
- Friends,
- Family.
By ensuring these parties are aware of the change of address, tenants need never miss an important communication once they’ve moved. It can also help to set up a forwarding address with the postal service to catch any correspondence that falls through the gaps.
11. Finish Packing the Essentials
As the final days approach, the last essentials should be packed up and made ready to go. An essentials pack, containing important paperwork and documents, as well as basics such as toiletries, a change of clothes, and some food, is worth keeping close on moving day in case of delays. Before leaving, tenants should check every nook and cranny to ensure nothing is left behind, remembering things like curtains.
12. Carry Out a Final Walkthrough
The very last thing to do before moving is to conduct a final walkthrough to check everything is clean and in good condition. Similar to the inspection carried out upon arriving in the house, this walkthrough ensures everything is left in a comparable condition at the end of the tenancy.
Tenants are advised to document the walkthrough, photographing the state of things at the time of leaving. This offers protection in case of disputes later on regarding the security deposit, so the more photos the better.
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