Move Out Instructions
You are required by your lease to provide a sixty-day written notice to vacate to Platinum Property Management Services, Inc. Please complete the online Intent to Vacate form, located in your tenant portal. You will receive an automated confirmation upon receipt. Once your notice to vacate is approved, a team member will contact you. They will install a lockbox and conduct a property walkthrough. The home will be put on the market for potential applicants to view. Potential applicants must be accompanied by a licensed Realtor or a Platinum Property Management Services, Inc. team member. All Realtors are advised to provide at least 24 hours’ notice. Please review your lease for obligations regarding property showings.
When moving out of your present residence, ensuring the return of your security deposit is crucial. Taking the proper steps will help guarantee its prompt and complete refund. The following guidelines are designed to help you prepare the property for the final assessment and secure the refund of your security deposit.
Review your move-in assessment form that was completed when you originally took possession of the property. As an additional consideration, Leased Premises must be left clean, operable, habitable, and in original condition, less normal wear and tear. Any alterations or changes made to the property must be restored to their original condition unless prior arrangements have been made and agreed upon in writing. Damage, if any, caused to the Leased Premises will be deducted accordingly from the security deposit.
Please review the lease agreement you initially signed, along with any subsequent addenda. The Security Deposit section will detail the refund procedure and explain any additional charges you may incur. Ensure that:
- All light fixtures and bulbs are operational
- Smoke detectors are functioning
- Walls are not left patched or with mismatched paint touch-ups
- No trash is left inside, outside, or in the trash service cans at the property
- Furthermore, thoroughly cleaning the residence according to the Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook is the most significant step to ensure the return of your security deposit. The following checklist serves as a guide and is not exhaustive. The specific layout and amenities of your residence will determine the actual cleaning and preparation required.
Kitchen:
- Clean the refrigerator, including all shelves, crisper, footguard, and wipe off the top, sides, and doors.
- Clean stovetop and oven, paying attention to broiler pan, burners and/or coils, drip pans, controls, and the ‘collection’ area under drip pans.
- Unless your oven is a self-cleaning appliance, use oven cleaner on the interior, including the door gasket. Please do not leave aluminum foil on drip pans.
- Clean the upper and lower surfaces of the range hood and wash out the metal filters (suggestion: if practical, run it through the dishwasher).
- Clean all incidental appliances, including the microwave and dishwasher.
- Scrub the sink thoroughly. Leave no refuse in the disposal.
- Empty all shelves and cabinets. Clean thoroughly, including drawer interiors and door handles.
- Wipe spills from walls and around outlets. Clean outlet plates.
- Wipe off countertops and clean the cutting board.
- Clean light fixtures/covers.
- Sweep and mop behind all appliances that can be readily moved (i.e., the refrigerator).
Bathrooms:
- Scrub the tub/shower and remove any decals you applied while in residence.
- Remove soap and water residue from the pan, wall surround, and glass enclosure.
- Clean the toilet inside and out.
- Scrub the sink, clean the countertop, and the vanity or medicine cabinets.
- Polish the chrome and the mirror.
- Clean the light fixture/cover.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
Living Room / Dining Room / Family Room / Bedrooms / Hallways:
- Clean baseboards, door frames, walls, and switch plates, removing fingerprints and other marks, and wash only with a mild soap solution.
- Carefully remove any picture hangers, nails, or ‘stick-on’ picture hangers from walls. Avoid ripping them off. (Review your lease agreement for additional steps necessary to patch/paint after removing any type of nail or hangers.)
- Check window coverings for dirt, stains, or signs of damage. Clean as appropriate.
- Check the tops of traverse rods and valances and clean as necessary.
- Clean windowsills, windows, and screens. Check window tracks and clean out dirt to allow water from condensation to dissipate. Remove any stickers from windows.
- Clean heater vent covers and change the air filter.
- Remove cobwebs throughout.
- Vacuum closets and remove clothes hangers and other incidentals.
- Clean light fixtures and ensure all bulbs are operational.
- Have the carpets professionally cleaned.
- Clean the fireplace.
Carport / Garage / Patio:
- Ensure that the patios are cleaned.
- Clean and sweep the carport or garage floor.
- Remove any oil spills.
- Dispose of any remaining refuse.
- Clean any storage closets or compartments.
- Remove cobwebs.
Yard Care / Landscaping:
- Lawns should be freshly mowed and well-maintained.
- Yard waste, weeds, and debris should be removed.
- Walkways and porches should be swept.
- The landscaping should, at a minimum, be consistent with its appearance when you moved in.
- If you are responsible for exterior care and cleaning, ensure the outside of your residence is suitably prepared before you vacate. This will prevent it from appearing untended and ignored. Any debris or personal refuse should be properly disposed of. (Please note that yard waste containers should not be used for trash disposal. Hauling companies will not separate trash from yard waste and may charge additional fees for special handling.)
Occasionally, we have discovered physical damage beyond normal wear and tear upon completing the move-out assessment. The cost to repair such damage or neglect will be deducted from the security deposit. If you are aware of a repair for which you are responsible, such as a broken door frame, you can arrange for a properly licensed and insured vendor to address the repair before you return possession of the property. If you have questions on this matter, please contact a Platinum Property Management Services, Inc. team member for assistance.
The move-out condition report will be completed within three (3) business days after the date of termination of occupancy. The date of termination of occupancy may not exceed the last day of the lease agreement. A representative will contact you about the move-out and collection of the keys. Upon returning possession of the property, you are required to release all access keys. Rent is due through the term of your lease agreement and may not be deducted from your security deposit.
Lastly, along with your keys, please be sure to provide us with your forwarding address so we can process and mail your security deposit refund in a timely manner. Please log on to your tenant portal to provide your forwarding address. The balance of the Security Deposit to which you are entitled will be returned within thirty (30) days after the termination of the agreement or the surrender of the Premises, whichever occurs last, and the balance will be mailed to the last known address on file.