Free printable checklist
Moving out checklist
Leave the place the way your lease asks and get your deposit back: notice, utilities, cleaning room by room, moving day and the keys. Tick it off as you go, or print it. No sign-up.
Your countdown
- Give notice, if your lease asks for 30 days30 days before
- Book movers or a truck28 days before
- Schedule the utilities off and the mail forwarded14 days before
- Walkthrough with the landlord7 days before
- Clean, room by room1 day before
- Move out: photos, keys, new addressMoving day
Your lease says how much notice it needs. The day stays on this phone or computer.
A month or more before
0/5Two weeks before
0/5Clean it, room by room
0/7On moving day
0/6Your security deposit
0/3
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Free from BoxTrack: box-track.com/free/moving-out-checklist
Questions
What should I clean before moving out?
Inside the fridge, freezer, oven and microwave, the cabinets and drawers, the bathrooms, the walls’ scuffs, windows and blinds, light fixtures, closets, and the floors last. Check your lease too: some say what must be cleaned, or charge for carpet cleaning.
How do I get my security deposit back?
Leave the place as clean as you found it, fix what you broke, return every key, and give your new address in writing. Photograph every room empty on the day you leave: if anything is taken out of the deposit, the photos show how you left it.
How much notice do I need to give before moving out?
Your lease says, and 30 days is common for month-to-month rentals. Give it in writing and keep a copy. Leaving before a fixed lease ends can cost more, so read that part too.
When should I turn off the utilities?
Schedule them off for the day after you leave, so you have lights and water while you clean, and on at the new place before you arrive. Internet often takes the longest to set up, so book it first.
How long does a landlord have to return a deposit?
It depends on your state: each sets its own deadline to return the deposit or send a list of what was kept. Look up yours, and make sure the landlord has your new address.