There seems to be a lot more energy around the move-in date than the move-out date when it comes to renting out Indianapolis properties. However, the move-out process is just as important to you as an owner, and you need a process in place to ensure it’s simple and convenient.
When a tenant moves out of your rental home, you want to act quickly to get the property ready for a new tenant. That’s going to require checklists, inspections, and coordination with your maintenance team and your cleaning crew.
Here are a few steps we can share from the perspective of a professional Indianapolis property management company. We conduct successful tenant move-outs all the time, and we have our process in place.
Pull Up Your Move-In Checklist and Inspection Report
The move-out process actually begins when your tenant moves in. You’ll complete a thorough inspection of the property and document its condition with notes, pictures, and videos. Both you and your tenant will sign off on that report, agreeing to the condition of the home.
Why is this important to the move-out process? Because you’ll do a similar inspection after your tenants have moved out, and you’ll compare the inspection report then to the one you completed before the tenants took possession. This will show you whether any damage was done in the course of the tenancy.
Notice to Vacate and List of Requirements
When your tenants provide their notice to vacate, you’ll want to remind them of your expectations and their responsibilities as a tenant at the end of the tenancy. This should be spelled out in the lease agreement, but providing an informational letter or a checklist will help them stay organized and ensure essential things aren’t missed.
Thank the tenants for fulfilling their lease term. You want to end the relationship on a positive and supportive note. Provide all the procedures that will be necessary before they leave. If you give them detailed requirements, you’ll likely avoid any security deposit disputes later. Provide instructions on cleaning, returning the property to the move-in condition, and returning keys.
Always ask for a forwarding address. You’ll need to know where to send the security deposit or any additional correspondence.
Conduct Your Move-Out Inspection
After tenants have left, get inside the property as soon as possible. You want to inspect the home and schedule any work that may be needed.
You’ll have to be able to identify normal wear and tear and how it differs from tenant damage.
Wear and tear is the physical deterioration that occurs with normal use of the rental property. Normal wear and tear generally excludes a tenants’ or their guests’ negligence. Some examples of wear and tear that isn’t damage includes:
- Faded paint on walls, especially where sun hits. Damage would be scrapes on the paint or drawing on the walls.
- Faded or worn carpet, especially in high traffic areas. Damage would be holes or stains in the carpet, including pet stains and food remains.
- Scuffed walls and floors from furniture. Damage would be large holes in the walls or chipped flooring.
Return Your Tenant’s Security Deposit
After you inspect your rental property, you’ll determine whether the tenant is getting the entire security deposit back, some of the deposit, or none of it. Put together an itemization form that documents what you’re withholding, and why. Send this to the tenant with any part of the deposit that’s being returned.
If you’d like some help managing the move-out process or any part of your Indianapolis property management experience, please contact us at Red Door Property Management.
