Dirty Apartment Rentals

After working several years as a cleaning vendor for major apartment rental companies and preparing them for corporate walk through evaluations, I'm going to give you the inside view of what your leasing agent isn't telling you. There are many ways to see what you are getting yourself into before getting into it.

Every complex has a set cleaning list of what needs to be clean upon move in. Whenever you rent, view the place that you are going to move into with your leasing agent. Do not do the walk through on a place that is similar to the one you will be in. If maintenance is still working on your place ask to schedule an appointment when they're done to see it. Bring your camera with you and a note pad. The agent might think you're being a pain, but it's your money and they won't want to stop you from giving it to them.

Ask your agent to bring their cleaning inspection list with them and a copy for you. The rental should look like no one has ever lived there before. Granted with older properties there is going to be some damage that cannot be fixed unless the whole thing is replaced like scratches on windows or in counters and such. Go over the list item by item with your agent and camera. Note any damage to the carpet, counters, vinyl floors, blinds, bathtub and any damage that is outside that will be your responsibility in the rental agreement. If these things aren't documented before you move in, they will be charged to you for fixing when you move out and you can kiss your deposit goodbye.

In addition to damages take a look at the cleaning. Start with the living room when you walk in. Notice the smell; it can tell you a lot about the place. If you smell a sweet or bubble gum smell it's the carpets. They have been cleaned and then odor bombed instead of replaced. The odor bomb will only work for a few weeks or even as short as a couple days. Companies do this to save money since replacing the carpet and padding costs way more. That smell will also indicate that the previous renters were either smokers or pet owners and these are the smells you are going to have to put up with lingering during your rental period. Ask your agent about the smell and make sure that it's documented so you don't get charged with a carpet replacement when you move.

If you notice a musty, dirty smell with a hint of ammonia, do not rent. Turn around and don't bother to look at the rest. This indicates a roach problem. Even as a cleaner I won't set foot in a roach apartment. They are easy to spread and hard to completely eliminate. Complexes generally only treat for the one unit and not the whole property which is only a temporary fix. The roaches will come back.

If everything seems to pass the smell check take a look with what's immediately in front of you. Windows, blinds and outlet covers should all be thoroughly cleaned. If these simple things haven't been touched chances are you are going to find more dirt and grime. A hint on the blinds, look and feel above your eye level. Most cleaners will skip out on the upper half because no one other than corporate looks there for cleanliness. Your fingers come back dirty, your move in costs are beginning to get cheaper. Do this for all windows and panels in the apartment.

Move on to the dining area where they usually have a hanging light. The glass piece will normally have a lot of grooves in it. A fixture that is difficult or time consuming to clean is no reason for someone else's filth to be left behind for you. Make sure that it's not covered in grease, caked dust or even nicotine.

Next make your way to the sliding glass door and their blinds. This door normally placed next to the kitchen is a prime target for outstanding build up and a combination of all that is disgusting. Look at the vertical blinds top to bottom and front to back. You don't even want to know what I have had to clean off of these things and how long it can take. Check to be sure that there is no food, crayon, grease, boogers or anything of the like on them. The cleaners will do the best that they can to clean them and the complex will still refuse to replace them. If that is the case with yours, demand replacements.

The sliding glass door behind these vertical blinds including it's tracks should be clean. Step outside and look at the back deck's condition. Have the agent unlock the storage shed on the porch if you have one. Make sure that all the lights work and that there are no wires showing. All light fixtures should be intact and not broken. Take pictures and note if they are.

Stepping into the kitchen focus your eyes down at the floor. The seam between the carpet an vinyl is a huge indicator of how dirty the kitchen was and may still be. Look to see if there is food and dirt build up in the crease. Point it out and tell your agent that it needs to be taken care of.

Cupboard doors are best to be inspected at an angle. Grease and food spots not well taken care of can be hard to see head on. Check inside and out. The shelves should all be resting on pegs. Look at all of them. This isn't as hard as it sounds. Simply grab the front of the board and tip it. Stand to the side in case there is something still on it including left behind food products. Pull out kitchen drawers and feel into every corner of them. You should find absolutely nothing in them.

Check behind all appliances in the kitchen. To check behind the stove, pull out the bottom drawer and take a look. The fridge will pull out with ease to see behind. Be sure not to pull it out too far since it will be plugged in. The floors should be spotless back there as well as the back splash along the wall. The floors should be in good to at least decent condition. Once again take pictures. This is the stuff that is going to cost you the most when it comes to charging you on move out. If you don't have proof to support the claim that it wasn't done by you they will win in charging you for it. Do the same for the laundry area if there is one in the apartment. Check behind the washer and dryer as well as the cupboards.

Look inside the dishwasher and fridge. Is everything in it that is supposed to be? Note any food left behind or anything that appears to be broken in it. In the freezer there is a ridged spot on the bottom with screws. That whole space under neath should be clean and absent of left behind frozen peas.

The oven should be clean and so should the oven racks. Some ovens that are old will have too much wear and tear to get everything out but newer apartments should not have anything left behind. Be sure to turn on the light to the vent above the range. Another prime spot that cleaners can get lazy about is up in there. The last thing you want is to have someone else's grease dripping into your food when making your first meal in your new place.

Finished with the kitchen, move down the hall to bathrooms. Newer apartments will have fiberglass tubs and older properties are more likely to have porcelain tubs. There is nothing any one will do to fix horrible looking scratches in porcelain tubs on an old property. It's not worth the money to them and their clientele generally doesn't care enough to complain. However, all the tubs should be clean top to bottom. Check for pink mold that can be found around the drain, under ledges, and in the seams. Do the same for the sink and check the toilet bowl and floor behind it. The cupboards should be inspected the same as the kitchen. Take notice, there should be not one piece of hair left behind in your bathroom. Mirrors, lights and medicine cabinets should be spotless.

A walk through should be done before the move in date to check that everything was taken care of. If not speak up. You are paying for a clean place to live in. It's not your job to clean up after someone else.

With your proof in hand and your leasing agent as witness give them a copy for their records. Remember when you are apartment hunting these agents are trying to sell a product. They will work with you to make you happy if it means that you are going to purchase what they are selling. If the apartment was really bad on a walk through they will often give discounts on moving in or on your first months rent.

Go in knowing what you are looking for and don't be afraid to say something if you don't agree with the quality. Make sure that you are within reason and keep your attitude in check. You will get a much better response and willingness if you are polite.