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With school wrapping up, renting season is in full swing: move ins, move outs. So how do you get all your security deposit back? Don’t damage anything in the apartment - as useful advice as abstinence. Beautiful in theory. Less so in practice.

But you need that $300, $500, $700. ... How can you make sure it stays yours?

Most apartment complexes contract a third party to clean and touch up your place, so you really don’t need to power wash it. But leave acting like the cleaning service is your mom and they’ll start nickel and diming you for anything. Your security deposit largely depends on damage, but the last thing you want to do is give someone reason to walk around your place with an active red pen and a clipboard.

If possible, move first and return to clean up before the deadline of your inspection day. And before cleaning day, make sure you’ve already made a supply run – the only two stops on your list should be a dollar store and hardware shop.

Follow these tips and you’ll achieve that most Zen-like of move out feelings: standing in the doorway, hands pruned and raw from chemicals and scrubbing, you think, “I would move in to this place.”

Say hi to the bad guy

First, visit your landlord and get a list of move-out expectations. And, if you completed one, get a copy of your move-in inspection form so you can cross-reference what damage was there and what’s new.

“I worked at an apartment rental company for a few years,” said self-employed entrepreneur Scott Pusateri, “he gave lists of the stuff he charged for… [Following that] I’ve always gotten back a full deposit.”

Take a walk

Get your landlord or property manager to walk through your place and confirm what needs to be cleaned or repaired. Write down what the person specifies and have him/her sign it.

Chicago's Metropolitan Tenants Organization lists this as very important. Even having a friend walk through with you if the landloard is unavailable can reinforce your estimation should it come into question.

Make up with your walls

Remember when you hit the wall? How mad you were? Seems silly now doesn’t it?

Fixing fist- and foot-sized holes is easy though. Acquire drywall- or wood-filler. Buy the prerequisite gloves, some mesh screening if there are bigger holes, and fine-grade sand paper.  Follow the directions, making sure to let the filler dry before sanding the filled holes flush to the wall.

The Web site www.ehow.com has a very easy-to-follow, visually organized guide to patching holes if you’re still lost.

You’ll likely need paint even if your walls are hole-free. All the staple- and tack-holes need fixing, as will tape marks. Most landlords and apartment complexes can tell you the color used in your place. Get a pint of it, or more, and touch up where needed.

Paint like a pro: Make sure you have some painter’s tape on hand and put an old sheet down before you start brushing anything.

Check your move-out form, though. Some require walls only to be primed because the walls are professionally painted after you leave.

Bug out

Check light fixtures and window sills for dead insects and clean them out.

Kitchen duty

Landlord Norma Hayden, who manages several properties in diverse Rogers Park, said, “This is the one place I wish tenants did better. Clean up… and be as fussy about it moving out as when you move in.”

The refrigerator and oven: empty it, clean it, move it, clean around it, and make sure to remove shelves for separate cleaning.

The best thing you can do in general, but in this room especially, is to get everything out before you clean. Then simply wipe everything down, inside and out, making sure to get crumbs out of cabinets.
    
Bathe the bathroom

Sink, tub, toilet and shower: Get to know them like you never found the time to before.

Don’t kill yourself cleaning the shower curtain if it’s gone to mildew. New curtains are $5. 

Clean the bedrooms, living room, den and dining room. Wipe down any closet shelves and clean any mirrors.

Clean the windows and wash the blinds. Clean the blades of the ceiling fan and any light fixtures in the room. Spot treat any spots on the carpet. Vacuum or mop the floors.

Floor yourself

After cleaning everything else, sweep and then mop the floor. Extra points: clean behind the stove and refrigerator. To avoid scratching floors, put old washcloths underneath the appliance corners.

Definitely be wearing the gloves for this part. Civilizations of lost knick-knacks will be living where you’re cleaning.

Before you do it, find out whether your landlord or apartment complex automatically cleans the carpet.

If there are holes in the flooring or carpets that need patching, consult a professional.

Smile!

Take pictures of the apartment. Keep them available in case your landlord tries to double talk.  Poor-man’s proof: mail copies of the photos to yourself and save the USPS-dated package. Keep it in case the apartment complex says you damaged the place.

Just for fun*

*This isn't necessary, but it’s always interesting what you find hidden when you move in to a place. So, when you move out, leave a tidy keepsake or two around as welcoming talismans for the new occupants. I once moved in and found a ladybug notepad and a snowman figurine, I left two colored pencils and a dog toy – I have no pets. I loved that place.

Say bye

Return your keys at the move-out inspection. Get a copy of the inspection for your records. Give your new address to the landlord and hold on to your records: rental agreement, rent receipts, etc.

Follow up

According to City of Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, Municipal Code Title 5, Chapter 12:

“(d)The landlord shall, within 45 days after the date that the tenant vacates the dwelling unit or within 7 days after the date that the tenant provides notice of termination of the rental agreement … return to the tenant the security deposit or any balance thereof…”

And if your landlord deducts from the deposit, he or she has to tell you within 30 days of doing so.

Be cordial, but know your rights and make sure you get your money. After six months, you’re not only owed the security deposit but interest as well. For the full version of tenants rights, visit www.tenants-rights.org

If you’re having trouble collecting, seek legal help. Sometimes even threatening to seek legal help can get things moving.