To our valued Client(s): This note is available to you because you have expressed the fact that your current lease will be your final occupancy. If this is incorrect, please contact the office immediately so that we can assist you.
Please read and understand this "help" sheet; it’s all important even if it’s boring. Remember, regardless of notifications, office interaction, text and email, or in-person interaction: your lease always is the guiding document; always refer to it for clarity.
SHOWING YOUR HOME: We will be showing your home soon. We will text you the time we need to show (due to clients that may be in town for only an hour or two, and other time issues), sometimes its at the last moment that we let you know due to clients surprising us of a time constraint. We will be respectful as possible, and showings will only be between 9am and 7 pm and will provide you with prior text notification so that you know ahead of time, in as much advance time as we possibly can. Sometimes a day in advance sometimes only an hour in advance. Its an unknown and difficult reality of showing houses to potential clients. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
Here is what this note covers for you:
1. The importance of mailing into the office your 30-day notice of non-renewal as outlined in your lease.
2. Realize any other form of informing the office of your intent to move does not fulfill the mail-in requirement in your lease.
3. We will begin to market your home immediately (even without your mailed-in notice to us) due to the way demand for housing is in Denton.
4. Please be aware that we will try our best to be mindful of interrupting your life with showings of your property to potential clients. But, there is no other way for clients to see your place unless we show it to them.
To help minimize the number of times we will need to show your home, please help by:
a. CLEAN. Clean all surfaces with clean-smelling cleaner and additives. Don’t use "odor-cover-up" sprays and powders. Cleaning is the only way to have a fresh, presentable home.
b. PETS. Showing your home requires access to all bedrooms and all areas of the home. If you were allowed to have a pet, you must be sure the pet is inside an enclosure pen or carrier during all showings. Also, management is not responsible for animals that may depart out of the door(s) when opened.
c. PEOPLE. In an effort for us to be professional and quick, please have all people in your home step outside for the 4 to 8-minute showing so that potential clients feel comfortable with discussing things with the showing agent.
d. NOT HOME. If you are not home or do not answer the door when the showing appointment time arrives, the agent will enter to show the property and leave a note that they have visited. You will always be notified by text or email prior to any visit.
Moving out can be a challenge. We hope to assist you in making your part as easy for you as possible.
CLEANING. Remember, don't leave any trash "OUTSIDE" of your roller trash can. Everything must be inside the city-provided roller can, or you must take it with you to avoid heavy fines and fees. No furniture, large items, or any other trash or discards can be left behind. Take all trash and discards with you. Everything must be inside your city trash can (don't use other tenants’ cans, only your own).
KEYS. Leave your key (or written key code number if your locks are keyless) inside the freezer of your unit, and leave the door UN-locked. Text us when you have departed (text "we are out and the door is unlocked" to 940-799-4060).
DAMAGE or REPAIR: Contact us ahead of time if you have damages or issues that you know we will need to repair or tend to prior to a new tenant moving in. Please let us know 2 weeks early so that we may assist in the correction of the item(s) so that on the morning of the new person moving in, it isn’t a surprise to anyone.
CARPETS: Professionally steam clean all carpets (provide us with a copy of your receipt and leave it in the freezer). If we don't see a receipt, we will have to employ a carpet cleaning company to provide the service. If you had a pet and/ or a pet visitor: BE SURE to have a professional flea and tick treatment completed for your place (after the steam cleaning of the carpets), and also leave a receipt for the flea service in the freezer.
CLEANING: Be sure to do your complete cleaning, repair, and maintenance. We are very fair with all moving procedures. Your home has a complete file of pictures and videos the day prior to your move-in, and these are used for comparison at your move-out.
• Take all nails and screws out of the walls and ceiling and fill them professionally (not with spackle or caulk, but with sheetrock mud) . Use touch-up paint that matches. If the paint matches, the damage will likely not be charged back to you. If the repair can be seen, it is charged back due to the fact that the wall must be re-painted not just the little hole. To "see" if you have left damage on walls, one way is to look down the walls at an angle with a bright light; you will see wall damage easier.
• Dust the ceiling fixtures, lights, and fans. Replace bulbs that are out.
• Dust all ledges.
• Clean the windows, inside and out.
• Clean the doorknobs and doors.
• Clean all light switches and outlets.
• Clean the walls and baseboards.
• Vacuum (and then get carpet professionally steam-cleaned; submit a copy of the receipt for proof).
• Get rid of all cobwebs, debris, trash, marks, etc.
• If you had pets, be sure to use an exterminator for interior treatment.
• Get soap scum off the bathroom tiles and tub/shower and bleach the grout.
• Clean out the bathroom drawers and vanity, making sure you get all the hair out (and remove any liners).
• Clean the toilet, sink, countertop, and finally the floor (sweep and mop). If the toilet seat is unsavory looking, replace it.
• All p-traps and drains must be clear and clean.
• Clean the mirror.
• Vacuum out the surface of the exhaust fan and lights.
Kitchen:
- Carefully move the stove and fridge out from the wall so you can clean the floors under.
• Clean out all cabinets and liners.
• Wash the front and interior of the cabinets.
• Clean and disinfect all countertops.
• Clean and shine up the sink and faucet.
• Scrub the refrigerator inside and out. Remove all shelves and clean separately if necessary.
• Scrub the oven inside and out. Remove shelving, drip pans, and burners. Use steel wool; it is your friend on surfaces that don't scratch.
• Clean out the dishwasher.
• Clean the exhaust fan and filter.
• Carefully move (so that you don’t scratch or tear floors) all appliances and sweep and mop behind them.
• Dust, sweep, vacuum, and mop all rooms.
• Mow the grass, trim bushes.
• Pull the weeds.
• Change all A/C filters, using the correct size.
• Remove all of your items that might be stuck in the ground or hanging in trees. • Omit offensive smells using an appropriate disinfectant. • Clean the dishwasher and clothes dryer vent traps. • Keys, openers, remotes, and items that belong with the home: leave them on the kitchen countertop. Leave one door unlocked as you have all the keys. If you have an electronic lock, text us the door code, please, and lock the doors behind you. • Contact the office (test to 940-799-4060) and let them know you are out and finished cleaning.
IF YOU HAD PET(S): Be sure (100% sure) that you have your home professionally exterminated for fleas and take the extra time needed to rid the home of all signs of animal habitation. Fleas and urine in the carpets, pads, cement floors, etc. Problems really show up by turning off the air conditioner for 24 hours and letting the home warm up. If you smell that obvious odor of urine, extra cleaning or replacement is required. Please test your home prior to us testing it. Also, fleas and flea eggs are hard to detect when the animal is in the home but become readily apparent once the animal is gone. With the “host” gone, the left-behind fleas now attach themselves to the new people moving in. Sometimes a good test can be (1) the plug-in flea trap, or (2) white sticky traps with a light next to them for 24 hours; both usually will trap and show you if there is an issue. Not 100% exact but an indicator. Be sure to leave a copy of your professional exterminators’ flea treatment on the countertop.
This is not a complete checklist. Please just prepare your home for a usual individual like yourself to be moving in right behind you. Any item that needs to be cleaned or repaired needs to be addressed prior to your move-out.
Be sure to review your rent, utilities, and late fees payment history (if you have a roommate(s), remember since your lease is in "joint tenancy," all tenants are responsible for all charges together), as any late fees or repair costs you (and your roommate) have not yet paid will become a delinquency, and delinquencies must be reported to all credit reporting agencies for tenants and associated cosigners’ credit reports.
Text us (940-799-4060) the moment you are leaving for the final time, so that we know the home is empty. Leave keys and door openers on the kitchen counter and leave one door unlocked (as you, the client, have all the keys). If you have an electronic lock, please text us your code and then also leave the door unlocked when you leave.