When you’re moving from one apartment to another, there is a lot of stress. For a limited time, you are dealing with two apartments and two landlords. You have to get your stuff out of your current apartment and to your new one, making sure nothing gets damaged along the way. You need to ensure everything is out of the old place before returning the keys.
In all of the chaos, it is way too easy to do some damage to the apartment at the last possible moment. Your security deposit is there for the taking, and then a mover is careless with a piece of furniture and damages the wall.
How do you prevent this from happening? Follow these guidelines.
Take advantage of renters insurance
Renters do not need insurance for the property on which they are living. That is covered by the landlord’s insurance. As such, many renters don’t think they need insurance at all. However, it plays an important role in covering all of your possessions, which probably cost tens of thousands of dollars.
There’s another advantage that renters insurance gives you if you live in New York (for other states, check with your insurer). If you cause the damage to your landlord’s property, it should be covered by your NY renters insurance. This is because it includes personal liability cover, paying out claims made against you for damages.
You may have to pay a deductible to your insurer, but it will not be anywhere near as much as your security deposit is worth.
Hire professionals
One of the biggest reasons things go wrong when moving is that people choose to do it themselves. Maybe you’ve considered asking your family or friends to help move out and plan to avoid the expense. Unfortunately, moving is a job that requires a fair amount of coordinated labor. No matter how well you focus while carrying a piece of furniture, it is easy to lose your bearings.
Good movers have a lot of experience that allows them to move around your apartment with no trouble at all, no matter what they’re carrying. It is something you cannot just pick up on. If your friends are not all that happy to be helping you, their attention may also be elsewhere.
What you pay for movers is well worth it, especially considering that you might have to hire a truck anyway.
Leave the furniture until last
If possible, try leaving the furniture until last. You can easily get caught up in trying to get everything done and may still be packing up some of the smaller stuff. However, the less there is in the way, the easier the job will be. You will also avoid damaging your own possessions in the process.
Ideally, you should have packed everything in suitcases and boxes before moving day, leaving only the bare minimum for last.
Carefully document any damage
Even the best movers can make mistakes and may cause a bit of damage to the apartment. If that happens, take your time in documenting the damage. Many people are so caught up in moving that they rush out, leaving the landlord to paint whatever picture they like. They may claim that the damage is worse than it is, withholding your security deposit for what should be cheap repairs.
Ultimately, landlords who try to withhold your security deposit will give in if you push back with evidence of your own. There are laws to protect you in New York, so ensure that you give yourself the best chance of success.
Losing your security deposit on the day you move out is incredibly frustrating. However, with care, you will be able to avoid causing damage on moving day.
We hope you found this blog post on How To Move Out Without Losing Your Security Deposit useful. Be sure to check out our post on How to Protect Your Security Deposit in New York City for more great tips!
Have Experience in the Moving Industry? Want an Additional Income Stream? Work With All Around Moving!
Relocation and Moving Consultant: Join the Work With Us program!We provide you with the carriers, or you can use your own carriers, and by joining, you could have your own company up and running very fast.
Click here to learn more and how a nominal one-time start-up fee gives you the “key” to have your business.
