Moving Out of Your Apartment Checklist

Moving out of an apartment can be stressful—whether your lease is up, you've just bought a new home, or you're relocating for a job on short notice. It's crucial to follow the proper procedures to abide by your lease and ensure you get your security deposit back. Below is a checklist for moving out of an apartment that guides you through the entire process to ease your transition!

Two Months Before Your Move

You'll want to get in touch with your landlord and start nailing down a moving plan about 60 days before your move. Here are a few tasks to take care of during this time.

Review Your Lease

As soon as you start thinking about moving out of your apartment, locate a copy of your lease so you can review the moving guidelines. Leaving your apartment in a condition that violates your lease means you'll be less likely to get your security deposit back. That's why it's important to be informed about specifics regarding how much notice is required, standards for cleaning, and other essential protocol before moving forward.

Notify Your Landlord

Once you're sure about moving out and you have an idea of your timeline, the next step is to notify your landlord. Send them a letter including your full name and contact information, the date you plan to vacate, and your new forwarding address. Typically, this notice must be submitted at least 30 days prior to your moving date, but double-check your lease's terms. Some landlords may require 60 days—and if you don't give the proper notice, you may face fees or risk not receiving your full security deposit refund.

Make Moving Day Plans

Determining plans for moving day early in the process is key to a smooth transition. Start by budgeting for moving costs—including any funds needed for hiring professional movers or renting a moving truck. Before you hire any movers, be sure to estimate what size moving truck you'll need to save yourself time and potentially money down the line. If you'll be using either of these services, it's best to book several weeks in advance to ensure availability. Additionally, take time to ask your landlord about move-out policies and procedures not outlined in your lease—including guidelines for parking a moving truck and reserving elevator time (if applicable). If you're planning to enlist help from family or friends on moving day, reach out now so they can mark their calendars! You'll also want to schedule time off from work now so you're available when the day rolls around.

One Month Before Your Move

After solidifying general plans to move out of your apartment, you can start diving into more specifics. A month before your move, it's best to tackle tasks that can be taken care of early—like updating your information with financial institutions, utility providers, and more so you don't have to worry about that later on. Check the following items off your to-do list the month before moving.

Reach Out to Your Renters Insurance Provider

If you have renters insurance, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to let them know you're moving. Provide them with your new address and schedule your policy to be transferred the day before you move out of your current apartment. Be sure to confirm that your new home will be covered under your current plan and discuss any potential adjustments to your premiums. This is also a good chance to ask what renters insurance covers for belongings while moving.

Contact Utility Providers

Schedule the transfer of your utilities about a month in advance to help avoid any issues when settling into your new home. This includes essential household services like electricity, gas, water, phone, and internet. To set up utilities before moving in, contact your local providers, ask them to transfer upon the move-in date, and provide your forwarding address. Depending on how far you're moving, keep in mind you may need to fully end your services and start service with new providers in your new location.

Update Your Address

Amidst the chaos of preparing to move, don’t forget to update your address! Prioritize your driver's license, voter registration, and services like Social Security first. Other parties to notify when moving include bank and credit card companies, insurance companies, subscription services, and your employer. Forwarding your mail is a great way to catch anything that slips through the cracks. You can do this online for $1.10 through a Change of Address form, or for free by filling it out at a U.S. Postal Service location near you.

Two to Three Weeks Before Your Move

The last few weeks leading up to your apartment move-out date should mainly consist of getting your space in order before packing up your belongings and doing the final walkthrough. Here are the most important things to take care of during this time.

Declutter Your Apartment

Going through and purging items you no longer use or need can make for an easier move, since you'll have less to pack and transport. When decluttering your home, it can be helpful to sort items into separate piles: things to throw away, things to donate or sell, things to store, and things to keep. If you're moving to a small space, you'll want to be more critical of the items you choose to keep. After decluttering, consider selling furniture online and giving unwanted belongings to friends and family. Or donate your items to a local thrift store, charity, or other organization.

Make Necessary Repairs

In order to get your full security deposit back, it's important to take care of any necessary apartment repairs before your landlord’s final inspection. Start by creating an apartment maintenance checklist, going room by room to identify any damage or wear that occurred during your stay—this can include broken drawer handles, leaky faucets, or scuffed walls. Now’s the time to patch holes and fix other minor damages you find. Be sure to touch base with your landlord about what items they're responsible for, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and general maintenance repairs.

Start Packing

Packing will take plenty of time—especially if you're moving alone—so don't wait any longer than two weeks before the big day to get started. Gather all the packing supplies you need, such as moving boxes, tape, packing paper, and more. Then start packing all your non-essentials—leaving items like clothes, toiletries, and food for closer to moving day. If you're moving a short distance, consider hacks like leaving clothes on hangers and packing by area. Other smart packing tips include labeling all moving boxes and marking fragile items accordingly, which can help keep your items safe in transit and easy to locate once you arrive.

Use Our Free Moving Box Calculator 📦

Get quick recommendations for moving boxes and packing supplies with our moving supplies calculator! Fill out a few details about your move, and we’ll provide a free estimate for how many moving boxes you’ll need, along with supplies like packing tape, bubble pack, and more!

Deep-Clean Your Apartment

To make sure your space is as close to its original condition as possible, perform an apartment deep-clean. As you move through your apartment move-out cleaning list, make sure you're aware of how to clean different types of furniture so you treat handle each surface properly. Start by tackling the walls, floors, counters, and appliances, ensuring all surfaces are free of dust, stains, and grime. Next clean the windows and wipe down all sinks, showers, and tubs. As you go, remember to return any fixtures you've replaced—such as knobs and handles, light fixtures, and window coverings—to their originals. Lastly, double-check every cabinet and drawer to ensure you haven't left anything behind.

The Week of Your Move

Moving day is almost here! Once everything in your apartment is in order and everything's packed, it's time to take care of finishing touches and set yourself up for a hassle-free moving day. Before leaving, complete these tasks.

Schedule a Walkthrough

Ask your landlord to perform an apartment inspection, then attend to any issues found during the walkthrough before you leave. If possible, try to be present during the inspection to address questions or concerns that arise. If you're not able to be there, take pictures of the condition in which you leave your space for documentation purposes. After the walkthrough is done, address any deductions (if necessary), then verify how much of your deposit you can expect to receive. Some landlords opt to put your security deposit toward your last month of rent, so be sure to ask about this, too.

Tie Up Loose Ends

Before leaving for the last time, read through your lease again to ensure you've followed all the move-out procedures. Take care of any lingering payments, as well. When you're ready, conduct a final apartment walkthrough on your own to make sure all your belongings are gone. Then lock the door, let your landlord know the apartment is vacant, and return your keys. Remember to return spare keys and any keys for other amenities—like a mail room or fitness center—to avoid unnecessary charges. And be sure your landlord has your phone number, email, and forwarding address so they can get in touch for any follow-up conversations!

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