Move Out Process and Cleaning Checklist
If you are looking at this page, it’s likely that you given us your notice to vacate or will be doing so shortly. Please remember that we must receive written notice no later than 20 days prior to the end of the month in which you will be vacating. If proper notice is not provided, you will be responsible for the following month’s rent and other lease obligations.
If you have provided us with your intent to vacate, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your tenancy.
To help ensure a smooth transition, please review the below information.
All keys, garage door openers, and any other items issued to you at move-in will need to be returned to our office no later than 11:59pm on the last day of your lease. This is still the same if your lease ends on a weekend or on a holiday. You can place all keys and openers in a sealed bag and place them in our drop box out front if it is after our business hours.
If placed into the drop box, make sure you email info@impactpropertymgmt.com as well as call 425-334-6361 and leave a message upon doing so.
Failure to turn in your keys by the last day of your lease will result in holdover rent charges of $100 per day until they are all received at the office.
Move Out Cleaning
You are required to return the home empty and in a clean condition. Cleaning issues will NOT be considered to be normal and wear, under any circumstances.
If the home is not satisfactorily cleaned, has trash or abandoned items, appropriate charges will be deducted from your Security Deposit. If it is necessary to hire someone to clean the home, labor will cost much more than if you take the time to properly clean the unit in the first place.
As required by your rental agreement, you will be responsible for the cost of a mandatory professional carpet cleaning, which will be performed after you move out by a carpet cleaner of Landlord’s choosing. If you have animals, there will be an enzyme treatment done as well.
Below is a cleaning checklist. It is to serve as a reference only and is not meant to be all-inclusive to your particular home or situation.
General
Walls and doors should be washed and marks removed, including streaks above heaters.
Do not fill or patch ANY holes that you have put into the walls, even if just small pin holes. More often than not, more damage is done by Tenants filling in holes improperly and creating more work that needs to be done to correct the situation. Any incorrect filling of holes will be corrected, and you will be responsible for the costs incurred. It is best to leave the holes as is and allow a vendor to correctly patch and/or paint as needed. Painting will be done as needed based on the amount of patching needed. There may be charges assessed if the walls need to be repaired and/or painted due to damage, excessive wear, and/or improper preparation.
Remove all cobwebs from walls and ceilings.
Wall and ceiling vents should be vacuumed and/or washed.
Clean switch plates and any other outlet covers.
Floors in kitchen and bath or any linoleum should be cleaned.
Fireplace(s) should be clean of all debris, including ashes. Clean glass on fireplace. If a wood-burning fireplace, the chimney/flue must be cleaned professionally per your lease agreement and documentation provided at the time of move out.
Drapes should be vacuumed and cleaned if necessary.
Blinds should be cleaned.
Light bulbs should be replaced where needed.
Light covers should be removed from light fixtures and cleaned.
Everything must be removed from closets (including coat hangers) and shelves need to be cleaned.
All windows and other glass surfaces are cleaned and free of prints.
Kitchen
Range should be completely cleaned, including broiler pans. Clean stovetop, panel, dials, and sides of oven.
Drip pans should be removed and the underneath surface cleaned. (Most stovetops lift up to clean underneath)
Clean out drip pans. If all stains do not come off after cleaning, have them replaced with the correct size.
Clean under and behind stove. Clean out oven drawer.
Clean under and behind fridge.
Exhaust fans and overhead light should be free from grease and dirt, including filter. Replace filters if necessary.
Replace exhaust fan light if necessary.
Dishwasher should be wiped out, including around the inside of the door.
Garbage disposal should have ice cubes ran through it and be free of any dirt or debris inside.
Cabinets and drawer fronts cleaned.
Clean inside and outside surface of microwave, including underside filter
Defrost refrigerator and freezer, if applicable, and remove any water – DO NOT TURN OFF FRIDGE/FREEZER WHEN VACATING
Clean entire fridge and freezer, inside and outside, including all drawers, shelves, and seals around doors.
Replace water filter in fridge/freezer.
Clean all countertop surfaces.
Clean the inside and outside of cabinets, wipe down all shelves.
Clean and wipe out all drawers.
Clean sink and faucet fixtures.
Wipe down all pantry shelves.
Clean light fixtures and covers.
Wipe off all electrical covers.
Clean all walls, including ceilings and corners.
Sweep and mop floor and/or vacuum carpet.
Wipe down all baseboards.
Wipe down all woodwork.
Clean doors and around frames.
Clean vents on floor or wall.
Living Room
Clean electrical outlet covers.
Clean light fixture and covers.
Vacuum any carpet and edges by baseboards
Clean any hard surface floors
Wipe down baseboards
Clean walls, ceilings, corners.
Clean windows, window sills and tracks (most windows lift out for easy cleaning).
Clean doors and around door frames.
Clean all vents on floor or wall/
Clean out closet and wipe down shelves.
Remove any cobwebs.
Clean fireplace and any shelving as applicable.
Bathrooms
Tiles should be washed and grout cleaned
Vanity and medicine cabinets should be cleaned including shelves and mirrors.
Tub, shower, sink, and toilet should be cleaned and sanitized.
Glass door(s), if applicable, should be cleaned so all of the soap scum is removed.
Exhaust fans should be taken down and cleaned.
Clean bathtub, shower walls and fixtures free of any soap scum.
Clean soap dishes and wipe down towel bars/rings.
Thoroughly clean toilets inside and out.
Wipe down all counter tops.
Clean and wipe out all drawers.
Clean electrical outlet covers.
Clean light fixtures and covers.
Clean walls, ceilings, and corners.
Remove any cobwebs.
Sweep and mop floor and/or vacuum carpet.
Wipe down baseboards.
Clean doors and around door frames.
Clean all vents on floor, wall or ceiling.
Bedrooms
Vacuum carpet and edges by baseboards.
If no carpet, sweep and mop all floors.
Wipe down baseboards.
Clean electrical outlet covers and switch covers.
Clean light fixtures and covers.
Clean walls, ceilings, and corners.
Remove any cobwebs.
Clean windows, sills, and tracks.
Clean blinds or curtains (if applicable).
Clean doors and around door frames.
Clean all vents on floor or wall.
Clean out closets, wipe off shelves or drawers, clean doors
Laundry Room
Clean out lint trap in dryer.
Remove any items from inside washer and dryer and clean both inside and outside of washer/dryer.
If a front load washer, wipe off door gasket and ensure that no mold is present. This is not normal wear and tear and you may be held responsible for the cleaning or replacement of gasket if unable to be cleaned.
If in a laundry room or laundry closet – clean exhaust fan, clean walls and doors as applicable.
Clean floors around and under W/D.
Clean any shelving.
Garage
All trash and personal items need to be removed from the premises.
Clean any oil or other stains off floor that were not there at move-in. Stains are not normal wear and tear and you may be charged for any cleaning.
Sweep floor.
Replace any burned out light bulbs.
Clean any windows and window tracks.
Clean any blinds or window coverings.
Yard and Exterior
Weed all flower beds.
Mow lawn.
Edge lawn.
Re-seed lawn if bare patches have occurred during tenancy. Please note that grass must be present at the time of vacating and not just the seed. Charges will apply if we need to hire someone to water the area(s) to ensure proper growth.
Remove all personal items, garbage, and yard waste.
Replace any burned out bulbs in exterior light fixtures.
Sweep off any patios and decks. If excessive dirt, moss or debris is built up on decks, clean off debris.
Sweep or blow off driveway.
Remove any weeds or grass from driveway expansion cracks and any gravel.
Clean ceiling fans blades and draperies.
Empty and clean out storage units, sheds, decks and patios.
Replace any burned out light bulbs throughout home and garage.
Replace any dead smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector batteries and re-install on wall or ceiling as originally installed.
Replace furnace filter – if the filter is metal, clean the filter thoroughly and re-install.
Replace garage remote or garage keypad batteries if necessary.
Remove all paper towel holders and adhesives (including 3M hooks or other similar hooks) if you installed them.
Remove hooks, ceiling hooks, mounted mirrors, (etc.) that have been installed during your tenancy. Properly patch holes and paint wall if necessary.
Maintenance and Cleaning Costs
If you choose not to thoroughly clean your home, repair any damages, remove any trash from the property or if any other work is needed after you vacate, be advised of our standard rates for some of our most common items:
Cleaning: Minimum cleaning charge for any items not completed $125.00
Carpet Cleaning: Our vendors charge on average $.20-$.30 per square foot. Enzyme and stain treatments are an additional charge depending on the job. Enzyme treatments are required if you had animals in the home.
General Maintenance: Minimum one-hour charge of $85-$145 (depending on location of property and type of work). An additional $95 is charged each additional hour plus any supplies needed for repairs.
Haul Away Charges: For any items left in home or on property there is a minimum haul away charge of $145 for labor plus the disposal fee (minimum is usually $30).
Yard Maintenance: Minimum charges range from $100-$150 depending on the job.
If painting is needed, do not touch up paint. Touch up painting seldom matches the existing paint. Per your lease agreement, if any painting is done, you must paint the entire wall to match. Tenants will be responsible for any costs of painting beyond normal wear and tear. Impact nor its contractors will provide any touch up painting.
If you installed a satellite dish and wiring during your tenancy, all of that must be removed at move-out and restored to its original state to avoid removal and repair costs.
The above list is not all-inclusive and rates may vary.
Deposit Refund
Once all keys and garage remotes are returned, we will complete the move-out inspection and have any necessary work performed. Your move-out inspection will be compared to the move-in inspection that was provided to you at your lease signing along with any revisions that you had submitted to our office, within the time allowed per your move in inspection, after your lease signing. If you did not submit any changes to us within the allotted timeframe, we will reference the original copy provided to you.
Your deposit settlement statement and any refund will be mailed to your forwarding address within 21 days of you returning your keys (or less if required by your lease agreement).
If a forwarding address was not provided, any documentation and/or refund will be mailed to the rental property address. It is your responsibility to ensure that we have your forwarding address. As we have limited time to process your move out and will be processing additional move outs than just yours, we will not be reaching out to you to obtain your address if you did not provide it us prior.