How to Get Your Security Deposit Back

5 Tips on How to Get Your Security Deposit Back

Follow these tips so your landlord doesn't pull a fast one on you.

hcornish1
hcornish1 Aug 29, 2018
456
views

Everyone knows how shady apartment complexes can be when it comes to security deposits. If you want to get your money when you move out, follow these 5 tips on how to get your security deposit back.

Carefully Fill Out the Apartment Move-In Checklist

When you move into a new apartment, your landlord will provide you with a move-in checklist where you can list current damages to the home. It is so important to carefully go through each item on the checklist and ensure that it is in great condition. If there are any issues with your apartment, you must document it on the checklist, otherwise, you will be charged for it when you move out, even if you didn't cause the damage. Don't dig yourself into a hole before you even officially move into your apartment.

Read Your Lease Thoroughly

When you sign your lease, make sure you read it carefully and thoroughly so you can see any hidden agreements in the lease. If you just blindly sign your lease, you could end up violating it and losing your security deposit along the way. For example, many apartment complexes require you to give notice if you do not plan on renewing your lease. If you fail to give notice, you will be automatically renewed for another year. Then when you try to cancel your renewed lease, they can keep your security deposit for breaking the lease.

Take Care of Your Carpets

One of the biggest reasons that tenants don't get their security deposits back is because their carpets are a mess. You might spill drinks or food on it, your pet might make a mess, or just normal wear and tear can happen. Make sure you read more about how to take special care of your carpets. You should always clean up messes right away and with the proper carpet cleaning materials so you don't pay for it with your security deposit.

Take Pictures Before You Move Out

It is so important to take pictures and document every part of your house that your landlord may try to charge you for. Take pictures of the walls, doors, floors, appliances, and anything else you can think of. This ensures that you have a record of exactly what your place looked like when you moved out. If your landlord tries to charge you for damage that wasn't there when you moved out, you can prove it with the pictures you've taken.

Be Present During the Walkthrough

You have the right to be present while your apartment company walks through your apartment to report any damages. You should definitely be present for this to ensure they aren't making up damages to get more money out of you. If you are present, you will know exactly what you are being charged for and won't be charged for anything that you shouldn't be charged for.

hcornish1
hcornish1 Aug 29, 2018

Popular Right Now

8 Types Of People Fetuses Grow Into That 'Pro-Lifers' Don't Give 2.5 Shits About

It is easy to fight for the life of someone who isn't born, and then forget that you wanted them to be alive when you decide to hate their existence.

Sara Petty
Sara Petty May 23, 2019
48
views

For those in support of the #AbortionBans happening all over the United States, please remember that the unborn will not always be a fetus — he or she may grow up to be just another person whose existence you don't support.

The fetus may grow up to be transgender — they may wear clothes you deem "not for them" and identify in a way you don't agree with, and their life will mean nothing to you when you call them a mentally unstable perv for trying to use the bathroom.

The fetus may grow up to be gay — they may find happiness and love in the arms of someone of the same gender, and their life will mean nothing to you when you call them "vile" and shield your children's eyes when they kiss their partner.

The fetus may grow up and go to school — to get shot by someone carrying a gun they should have never been able to acquire, and their life will mean nothing to you when your right to bear arms is on the line.

The fetus may be black — they may wear baggy pants and "look like a thug", and their life will mean nothing to you when you defend the police officer who had no reason to shoot.

The fetus may grow up to be a criminal — he might live on death row for a heinous crime, and his life will mean nothing to you when you fight for the use of lethal injection to end it.

The fetus may end up poor — living off of a minimum wage job and food stamps to survive, and their life will mean nothing to you when they ask for assistance and you call them a "freeloader" and refuse.

The fetus may end up addicted to drugs — an experimentation gone wrong that has led to a lifetime of getting high and their life will mean nothing to you when you see a report that they OD'd and you make a fuss about the availability of Narcan.

The fetus may one day need an abortion — from trauma or simply not being ready, and her life will mean nothing to you as you wave "murderer" and "God hates you" signs as she walks into the office for the procedure.

* * *

Do not tell me that you are pro-life when all of the above people could lose their lives in any way OUTSIDE of abortion and you wouldn't give 2.5 shits.

You fight for the baby to be born, but if he or she is gay or trans, you will berate them for who they are or not support them for who they love.

You fight for the baby to be born, but if he or she is poor or addicted, you will refuse the help they desperately need or consider their death a betterment of society.

You fight for the baby to be born, but when the used-to-be-classroom-of-fetuses is shot, you care more about your access to firearms than their lives.

It is easy to pretend you care about someone before they are even born, and easy to forget their birth was something you fought for when they are anything other than what you consider an ideal person.

Sara Petty
Sara Petty May 23, 2019
At Bowling Green State University

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3 Ways to Save Money on Utilities During Winter

As college students or young adults, we're always looking for ways to save some extra money each month. Here's how you can keep your house warm without spending a fortune on heating this winter.

hcornish1
hcornish1 Jan 7, 2019
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views

Don't leave your heater blasting for the next two months and pay a ton of money to the utility company. Here are three ways to keep warm and save money.

Make Sure Your Heating System Is Performing Optimally

Your heating system is what will keep your house warm throughout the winter months, but don't pay a ton of extra money because your system is working harder to heat your home. If your heating system is working at its best, it will save you a ton of money during the winter. If you think your system isn't working properly, you can have professionals come out and take a look.

Keep Your Home Insulated

Insulation helps to keep your home warm without using extra heat. By keeping your home insulated, you can save a fortune on utilities because your heating system will be doing a lot less heating. If you don't want to pay for insulation, you can do small things around the house to keep it warmer. Keep the curtains closed all the time to hold in heat. Have the fans turn the opposite way to circulate warm air. These small things can really make a difference.

Bundle Up

Instead of jumping straight to turn the heater on when it gets a bit cold in your home, bundle up with a sweater, sweatpants, and a blanket first. Keep yourself warm using comfy clothing instead of paying money to heat your home. You'll still feel just as toasty, and you'll see a big drop in your monthly utility bill from not using the heater as much.

hcornish1
hcornish1 Jan 7, 2019

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