How to Clean an Apartment or House when You Move Out: The Outside

When it comes time to move out the place that you are renting, whether it is a house or apartment, you may have to do a bit of cleaning outside of the rented unit in order to get your deposit. Think back to when you first moved in, what was the condition of the outside. In order to get that deposit back there may have to be some things that you will have to do before you turn in the keys for your place.

Look for Holes

Bury any wholes that were dug in the ground during the time that you rented the house or apartment. It is most likely that any holes that were dug in the yard were dug by an animal, so if you have a dog you will want to make sure that they did not dig any holes that will bother the landlord in your back or front yard of the place that you are renting.

Look for Debris

You most definitely will want to make sure that you pick up everything that is outside, garbage, toys, anything that may be in the yard areas of the house or apartment that you are renting.

Leave the Lawn Looking Nice

If you can help it, depending on the season that it is during the time that you will be moving out will affect what you can do for the yard, leave the grass cut and looking a nice shade of green. If there are any outside plants you will want to water them one last time before you leave.

Clean the Doors and Windows

Make sure that there isn't any dirt on the outside of the doors or on the outside of the windows of the place that you are renting.

Porches and Walkways May Need to Be Hosed Down

You can quickly wash off sidewalks or walkways to your house or apartment by spraying it with a hose. You may be able to do this to your porch but sweeping will work well too.

Garages and Outbuildings Can Still Count as Needing to Be Cleaned

You may be charged for the time that it takes the person or people to clean up outbuildings and the garage cans of the place that you were renting, so be sure to clean them up really well also.

When you are outside cleaning up remember that if the landlord has to hire someone to clean the premises after you leave they will deduct money and possibly charge you in addition to the deposit if they feel that the deposit did not cover all of the expenses that they had in order to get the place that you rented clean enough to show to the next potential renter. A landlord may pay someone as much as twenty dollars an hour for their cleaning service and that is the wage you will ultimately be paying if you don't leave the apartment or house outside area in good condition.